In a dramatic legal battle that underscores the complexities of employment law and due process, a long-serving civil service employee is challenging his termination from a municipal position. David Campagna has filed a complaint against the City of Baton Rouge/Parish of East Baton Rouge in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana on January 23, 2026. The lawsuit alleges violations of constitutional rights following his dismissal after more than two decades of service.
The case traces back to November 21, 2019, when Campagna received his first-ever “poor” performance rating under new management by Darla Vaughn. This rating came as a shock to Campagna, who had previously maintained an unblemished record with favorable evaluations throughout his career as a Field Auditor in the Finance Department. The performance review cited several deficiencies including tardiness and inadequate communication, which Campagna disputes as unfounded opinions rather than factual assessments. He contends that these allegations were not reflective of his actual job performance and were inconsistent with how other auditors were evaluated.
Campagna’s appeal against this evaluation led to further complications. According to city rules, an employee receiving a “poor” rating must be re-evaluated within ninety days; failure to improve results in automatic termination. On February 21, 2020, he was again rated poorly and subsequently terminated without what he claims was due process—a violation of both state and federal constitutional protections.
The plaintiff argues that the procedural handling of his case violated due process rights guaranteed under the Fourteenth Amendment and Louisiana Constitution. He highlights that despite requesting access to pertinent records and evidence to support his defense against the poor ratings, these requests were denied by the Personnel Board. Furthermore, during an appeal hearing on March 12, 2020, Campagna alleges he was unjustly barred from presenting critical evidence while opposing counsel was allowed to argue similar points freely.
Campagna’s legal battle continued through various judicial reviews. In April 2022, a district court reversed the Personnel Board’s decision citing manifest error and remanded for further hearings—only for parts of this decision to be overturned by an appellate court in April 2023. Despite these setbacks, Campagna persists in seeking justice through federal court intervention.
The lawsuit seeks multiple forms of relief including reinstatement with back pay and benefits or alternatively equitable relief requiring a proper post-termination hearing per state constitutional requirements. Additionally, compensatory damages are sought for emotional distress and interference with livelihood alongside attorney fees under relevant U.S.C provisions.
Representing David Campagna are attorneys J. Arthur Smith III from Smith Law Firm and Michael Jefferson; they aim to prove systemic failings within municipal employment practices regarding procedural fairness for classified employees like their client. The case is presided over by Judge Brian A Jackson (BAJ) with Magistrate Judge Erin Wilder-Doomes (EWD) assisting under Case ID: 3:26-cv-00094-BAJ-EWD.
Source: 326cv94_David_Campagna_v_City_of_Baton_Complaint_Middle_District_of_Louisiana.pdf
