Woman accused of cheating dismisses case against Delta Downs

Connie Sue Broussard and Delta Downs Racetrack Casino Hotel have filed a joint a motion to dismiss a lawsuit centered on a malfunctioning slot machine. 

As previously reported, Broussard filed suit against Delta Downs and casino employee Travis Waters on Feb. 4, 2010, in Jefferson County District Court.

She claimed the casino wrongfully accused her of cheating and tampering with a slot machine.

In June, the Louisiana casino demanded the local resident drop her lawsuit after surveillance video showed her stealing.

Court records show that on June 16, the attorney for the defendants, James Doyle, filed a letter notifying the plaintiff’s counsel that he obtained video surveillance of Broussard stealing money from a malfunctioning machine that she knew was not working properly.

On Sept. 27 the parties filed a joint motion to dismiss, asking the court to dismiss the case with prejudice and that each party bear its own costs, court papers say.

That same day, Judge Donald Floyd, 172nd District Court, granted the motion.

In her suit, 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.

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.”

Waters then allegedly 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, 2009, the casino dropped the felony theft charge against Broussard and the money was returned to her on Jan. 15, 2010, according to the complaint.

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.

Broussard is 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.

Case No. E185-861