Port Allen Pays $300,000 To Settle Two Lawsuits

PORT ALLEN, La. (AP) — Port Allen paid two former city employees $330,000 to end civil suits over alleged sexual harassment and race discrimination. That's according to municipal documents released Thursday.

Former Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Cenceria Dalcourt and her attorneys received $167,500 of that money.

Another $162,500 went to former Assistant Chief Financial Officer Philip Mason.

On Wednesday, Mayor Demetric Slaughter told city council members her proposed $9.7 million budget includes $400,000 to cover several recent settlements of lawsuits.

In the settlement agreements, city officials do not admit any of the allegations contained in the suits by Dalcourt and Mason.

Both former city employees were fired after complaining that former Mayor Derek Lewis sexually harassed female city employees.