Metairie, LA: Mom sues Jefferson Parish officials, claims deputies tortured with Taser, stun gun

A Metairie mother has sued the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, claiming deputies tortured her with a Taser and a stun gun during an incident near Gretna last year. Madelyn Zuppardo says she received burns on one of her breasts from the stun gun and also alleges a deputy slapped her teenage daughter during the incident in which a stun gun was used excessively on teenagers who were handcuffed together.

The civil rights lawsuit, filed in April in U.S. District Court in New Orleans by Zuppardo’s attorney Glenn McGovern, seeks unspecified damages. Madelyn Zuppardo filed on behalf of herself and her daughter Sabrina Zuppardo, now 17.

It names former Deputy Frank Caracci, Deputy Sean Williams, Sheriff Newell Normand in their individual and official capacities. Sheriff’s Office attorneys have not yet filed a response to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit stems from a May 14, 2011 incident in which deputies were investigating a gathering at an apartment at 1784 Carol Sue Ave., where alcohol and drugs were used. Madelyn Zuppardo was contacted by phone and asked to retrieve Sabrina, then 16. The teen was frightened and heard over the phone saying “Please hurry because they are tasing people for no reason,” according to the lawsuit.

Caracci allegedly called Sabrina “a little whore,” and admonished her for telling her mother what was happening, according to the lawsuit. Caracci allegedly slapped the girl several times and pulled her hair.

Madelyn Zuppardo seeks a jury trial. The case has been assigned to Judge Susie Morgan.

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