Victims of New Orleans Truck Attack Sue City and Contractors Over Safety Lapses

Lawsuit Alleges Attack Was Preventable

Six victims of the tragic New Year’s truck attack in New Orleans and the father of a man killed in the incident have filed a lawsuit against the City of New Orleans and contractors Mott MacDonald and Hard Rock Construction. The lawsuit claims these parties failed to implement adequate safety measures to protect the public from the attack, which killed 14 people and injured at least 30.

Filed in Orleans Parish Civil District Court, the lawsuit describes the attack as preventable and accuses the defendants of negligence in securing the area.

Details of the Attack and Its Aftermath

The incident occurred when Shamsud-Din Jabbar, an Army veteran, drove a Ford F-150 truck past a police blockade on Canal Street and raced down Bourbon Street. Jabbar struck multiple pedestrians before being killed in a shootout with police.

Among the plaintiffs are six individuals who sustained severe injuries, including broken bones and gunshot wounds, as well as Joseph Taylor, the father of Brandon Taylor, a 43-year-old restaurant cook killed in the attack.

“Brandon loved music, especially rap, and leaves behind his fiancée and grieving family,” said the lawsuit.

Safety Failures Cited in Lawsuit

The lawsuit highlights systemic failures in implementing a reliable safety system for Bourbon Street, citing a history of vehicular attacks worldwide and previous warnings about vulnerabilities in the French Quarter.

New Orleans invested $40 million in public safety projects, including acquiring portable bollards designed to block vehicle traffic. However, these bollards were frequently disabled due to debris, rainwater, and other obstructions, according to the lawsuit.

A 2019 report from New York-based Interfor International identified the French Quarter as a high-risk area for vehicular attacks, specifically noting the ineffectiveness of the bollard system.

Delayed Construction and Vulnerabilities

The lawsuit also criticizes contractors for delays in updating the bollard system. A report by Mott MacDonald in April 2024 warned of the possibility of a vehicle, such as a Ford F-150, accessing Bourbon Street, but the bollard replacement project did not prioritize fixed bollards for the area.

Construction work began in November but was incomplete by New Year’s Day. “Appropriate barriers, temporary or otherwise, were not erected in the construction site,” the lawsuit claims.

Additional Lawsuits Expected

Two other law firms announced they represent nearly two dozen victims of the attack and are conducting independent investigations. In a statement, they said, “Officials were tragically aware and did not protect the public.”

Seeking Justice for the Victims

The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages for the physical and emotional suffering caused by the attack. The lawsuit underscores the need for accountability and improved safety measures to prevent future tragedies.

Neither the City of New Orleans, Mayor LaToya Cantrell, nor the contractors named in the lawsuit have responded to requests for comment.