NEW ORLEANS – A longtime Terrebonne Parish employee claims she has been the target of racial and sexual discrimination and retaliation after Jason Bergeron was named parish president.
Plaintiff Tammy E. Triggs filed her lawsuit against Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government, or TPCG, in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
In her 18-page complaint, Triggs, who is Black, alleges TPCG discriminated against her, created a hostile work environment, and retaliated against her in violation of the Civil Rights Act and Louisiana Employment Discrimination Law.
“Similarly situated white male directors were not subjected to the same scrutiny, investigations, public accusations, oversight, and treatment imposed upon Plaintiff,” the lawsuit states.
Triggs claims she has devoted many years of service to Terrebonne Parish government, serving as council minute clerk, senior minute clerk and now council clerk.
According to the lawsuit, Bergeron assumed office as parish president in January 2024.
Soon after, Triggs alleges she began experiencing “hostility, scrutiny, and interference” from executive administration officials.
In one instance, on March 13, 2024, Triggs contends TPCG Chief Communications Officer Robbie Lee told her after a meeting, “They were coming for you on ten, but I diffused it because I know how to keep Black women on four.”
“The statement explicitly referenced Plaintiff's race and sex,” her lawsuit states. “Plaintiff reasonably perceived the statement as discriminatory, demeaning, threatening, and reflective of race-based and sex-based animus.”
Triggs alleges she reported the incident two days later, in writing, to senior council members. She contends she told them she would not tolerate harassment, discrimination, or intimidation.
“Following Plaintiff's complaint, Defendant began subjecting Plaintiff to heightened scrutiny, criticism, investigations, accusations, and adverse treatment,” her filing states.
For example, she alleges her parking accommodations were altered and she was repeatedly accused of misconduct, including bullying and improperly handling agendas.
Triggs contends TPCG frequently refused to identify complainants or provide sufficient factual information to allow her to defend herself.
Soon after, TPCG retained an outside law firm, Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson LLP in Baton Rouge, to conduct an independent investigation into the allegations against Triggs, according to the lawsuit.
But the investigation failed to corroborate the allegations made against her.
“Despite the absence of corroborating evidence and despite the findings of its own independent investigator, Defendant continued to subject Plaintiff to scrutiny, criticism, oversight, and adverse treatment,” her complaint states.
“Defendant continued to characterize Plaintiff as an obstructionist and a source of conflict despite the lack of investigative findings supporting such conclusions.”
Triggs argues that under Terrebonne Parish procedures, adverse action against her required an ordinance and approval by a majority vote of the Terrebonne Parish Council.
Although efforts were made to impose adverse consequences upon her, Triggs notes that she was never formally suspended, demoted, terminated, placed on probation, or subjected to a reduction in pay.
“Nevertheless, the repeated investigations, public accusations, executive-session discussions, threats of discipline, oversight, reputational attacks, and continuing scrutiny materially altered the conditions of Plaintiff's employment,” the complaint states.
“Plaintiff suffered anxiety, humiliation, embarrassment, emotional distress, loss of sleep, reputational injury, and mental anguish.”
Triggs claims she was forced to seek treatment by mental health professionals as a result of TPCG’s conduct, which continued throughout 2024, 2025, and until present.
She notes that after the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or EEOC, issued her a right to sue letter, TPCG referred her conduct to the state Attorney General’s Office.
Triggs seeks compensatory damages, emotional distress damages, reputational damages, injunctive relief, legal interest and attorney fees.
The Bagneris Firm LLC in New Orleans is representing her in the lawsuit.
