FILE – Louisiana State Freeway 1 is seen from above Grand Isle, La., on July 27, 2010. Grand Isle will repeal an anti-obscenity ordinance and let a contractor fly a flag from his truck that carries an obscenity aimed toward President Joe Biden, underneath the phrases of a lawsuit settlement filed Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, in federal courtroom. (AP Picture/Patrick Semansky, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A resort island city on the Louisiana coast will repeal an anti-obscenity ordinance and let a contractor fly a flag from his truck that carries an obscenity aimed toward President Joe Biden, underneath the phrases of a lawsuit settlement filed Friday in federal courtroom.
The settlement got here in a lawsuit the Tulane First Modification Legislation Clinic filed in January in opposition to the city of Grand Isle on behalf of Ross Brunet of Minimize Off, Louisiana, who works on the island usually. The go well with stated he repeatedly flew three flags from his truck. One promoted breast most cancers consciousness. Two bore vulgarities aimed toward Biden and individuals who voted for him.
Brunet was ticketed seven instances, in response to the lawsuit. He efficiently defended himself in opposition to 4 tickets. Regardless of successful these instances, he was later ticketed three extra instances. The final three instances have been dropped after the city adopted an ordinance stating that indicators on autos “shall not include language deemed offensive and vulgar nor obscene in nature and can’t include language that describes a intercourse act.”
Friday’s settlement settlement states that Brunet “was wrongfully cited for partaking in constitutionally protected speech of flying flags with political messages.” It says Brunet will obtain $40,000 in damages and authorized charges. And it says Grand Isle officers will repeal the ordinance by Oct. 20. In return, Brunet will drop the lawsuit.
The settlement is awaiting approval from a federal choose.