BATON ROUGE, LA – Today, Judge Timothy Kelley of the 19th Judicial
District Court heard and ruled on a significant legal question about the right
to privacy and the confidentiality of employees who make workplace complaints.
Angelique Freel, Civil Director of the Louisiana
Department of Justice, issued the following statement after today's decision in
Landry vs. Gallo:
"We thank Judge Kelly for his attentiveness and
thoroughness in remedying the situation. We appreciate his decision which
protects the rights of the complainant, witnesses, and other employees who
expect to report in confidence and without fear of retaliation.
As Judge Kelly declared our office ‘followed the letter
of the law…sought guidance from the Court and did everything a public official
must do;’ we were ‘not arbitrary or capricious in any way’; we were ‘diligent’
in handling the matter.
We are grateful the Court has answered our petition and
offered clarity in this sensitive and important matter.”