District 2 Councilman Joel Robert
Ascension Parish Councilman Joel Robert was sued yesterday, the Petition for Damages alleging that Robert made “false, scandalous and defamatory” allegations about the petitioner, Gerald Phillips, Jr. Petitioner is the spouse of Ruth Phillips who happens to be one of Parish President Clint Cointment’s top aides. The suit stems from a social media back and forth between Robert and Ascension Parish Political Rumors (APPR) Facebook page which, according to Robert, is run by Ruth Phillips (she adamantly denies any affiliation with the page).
The councilman took offense to APPR’s sharing of a separate post wherein a young woman advertises babysitting services, eliciting an off-color jest from Robert. Robert took to his own page to reply, labeling Ruth Phillips as APPR’s “current content creator” before telling the tale of a social engagement at the Phillips’ home on Diversion Canal. It is that tale which includes the “defamatory” allegations aimed at Mr. Phillips.
Excerpts of the Petition for Damages (Factual Allegations):
Joel Robert is a businessman and elected official in Ascension Parish.
In the past, Mr. Robert had a friendly relationship with Ruth Phillips, a government employee in Ascension Parish, and her husband, Gerald Phillips, Jr.
For reasons unknown to Plaintiff, (Robert) recently thought it wise to publish scandalous and false allegations about Gerald Phillips on social media.
In his post, Robert alleges that he and his girlfriend were socializing at the Phillips’ home “the last time” in Livingston Parish off the Diversion canal.
According to (Robert’s) post, Gerald Phillips asked the girlfriend…for a “lap dance”. This allegation is false, scandalous and defamatory.
According to the post, (Robert) alleges that Gerald Phillips “stood in front of myself, my girlfriend and Ruth Phillips and dropped his bottom including underwear to his ankles and stood there.”
This allegation is false, scandalous and defamatory per se, as it is a false accusation of the crime of obscenity within Louisiana law.
According to the post, (Robert) alleges that Gerald Phillips “asked defendant to find him some cocaine.”
This allegation is false, scandalous and defamatory.
Robert does not deny the factual allegations, justifying his post as a proportional response to the previous APPR post about him. Again, Ruth Phillips adamantly denies any affiliation with the page.
Beginning Monday there was discussion among Joel Robert’s council colleagues who considered censuring Robert for a second time. During his first term in office Robert was censured for inflammatory remarks left on the Council Secretary’s voicemail. The councilman appears wholly unconcerned, relishing the chance to make his case.
Censure will not be taken up at the council’s Thursday meeting in Donaldsonville.
Whether council chamber or courtroom, both sides insist they will see the matter through to its conclusion…at trial. Robert even threatened his own “countersuit” based on defamation for what he claims are false allegations in the Phillips’ Petition for Damages.
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