The trial is scheduled for January in the 24th Judicial District Court in Gretna.
Property owners suing Jefferson Parish and its imprisoned former President Aaron Broussard, for sending drainage pump operators out of town just before Hurricane Katrina, have filed their preliminary witness list. The plaintiffs filed the class action lawsuit in the 24th Judicial District Court in Gretna, alleging the parish's actions caused flooding that destroyed or damaged property.
The Broussard administration sent about 220 drainage pump operators to Washington Parish on the day before Katrina made landfall, Aug. 29, 2005. The plaintiffs plan to use Broussard's deposition, to be taken while he is serving a 46-month sentence in federal prison. He pleaded guilty to corruption unrelated to Katrina.
Broussard's former chief administrative officer, Tim Whitmer, and former parish attorney Tom Wilkinson, who also pleaded guilty but received no prison time, appear on the plaintiffs' witness list.
Incumbent Parish President John Young also is among the 26 fact and expert witnesses whom the plaintiffs' attorneys say they might call to testify. Young was a member of the Parish Council in 2005.
The week-long trial is scheduled to begin in January before retired Judge John Peytavin, who was appointed to preside over the case. Notices of the class action are being publicized.
In addition to Jefferson Parish residents, the plaintiffs' witness list includes:
- Kermit Williams, a Baton Rouge real estate agent and appraiser who would testify how the flooding diminished property values.
- William Sherman of Hopewell Junction, N.Y., forensic meteorologist with CompuWeather Inc., on rainfall amounts.
- Civil engineer Barry Benedict of the University of Texas at El Paso, who also is executive director of the Center for Environmental Research, to testify about the flooding.
- Philip Bedient, engineer at Rice University, who would testify about the flooding.
- Deano Bonano, who was Broussard's deputy chief administrative assistant during Katrina and now is an aide to Parish Council Chairman Chris Roberts.
- Walter Maestri, who was Broussard's emergency operations director during Katrina.
- Jose Gonzales, Brossard's public works director, who now holds that same post in Kenner.