A Jefferson County woman has filed suit against Delta Downs Racetrack Casino Hotel, alleging she was wrongfully accused of cheating the casino, detained by employees and arrested.
Connie Sue Broussard claims she and her husband decided to travel to Delta Downs in Vinton, La., on Feb. 5, 2009.
Arriving between 11 a.m. and noon, Broussard proceeded to play various slot machines for several hours, winning money on some machines and losing on others, according to the complaint filed Feb. 4 in Jefferson County District Court.
After several hours, Broussard claims that when she attempted to cash her ticket vouchers several employees approached and detained her, the suit states.
"When she inquired about the detention, an employee of Defendant Delta Downs publicly stated that 'you know what you did' and further publicly and falsely accused Plaintiff of 'milking' the casino 'for over $13,000,'" the complaint says.
"Employees of Defendant Delta Downs then publicly seized the casino money vouchers as well as all cash in Plaintiff's possession."
According to Broussard, defendant Travis Waters then led her to an isolated room where he and other employees interrogated her for an hour and a half. Broussard said they accused her of tampering with one of the slot machines so it would pay her more often, according to the complaint.
The suit states employees took all of Broussard's money from her, then took her to jail.
On Nov. 16, the casino dropped the felony theft charge against Broussard and the money was returned to her on Jan. 15, according to the complaint.
Nonetheless, Broussard claims she experienced humiliation, embarrassment, emotional distress, mental anguish, fright, anger, aggravation, worry, loss of enjoyment of life, deprivation of liberty, invasion of privacy and pain from the incident.
The suit alleges the following acts of negligence on the part of defendants Delta Downs and Waters:
Broussard is seeking up to $75,000 and other relief to which she may be entitled.
She will be represented by Robert Keith Wade of the Law Offices of Robert Keith Wade in Beaumont and by Brian D. Sutton of Sutton and Jacobs in Beaumont.
The case has been assigned to Judge Donald Floyd, 172nd District Court.
Jefferson County District Court case number: E185-861.