Judge dismisses all Sucette Harbor lawsuits, orders sanctions hearing over fake case citations

Federal judge finds plaintiffs' attorneys cited fabricated court cases, false quotations, and inaccurate summaries of law

Feb. 5, 2026 at 6:39pm

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A federal judge has dismissed all remaining claims in the Sucette Harbor lawsuits against the City of Mandeville and City Councilman Jason Zuckerman, issuing a final judgment in favor of the defendants. The judge also ordered a separate hearing to determine whether the plaintiffs' attorneys should be sanctioned for citing fabricated court cases in their legal filings, which the judge said violated their obligations under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11.

Why it matters

This case highlights concerns about the integrity of the judicial process and the potential consequences for attorneys who submit false or misleading information to the court. The judge's findings raise questions about the plaintiffs' legal strategy and the due diligence conducted by their attorneys.

The details

U.S. District Judge Brandon S. Long dismissed the last surviving federal claims with prejudice, meaning they cannot be refiled. The ruling fully resolves the lawsuits brought by Woodward Harbor LLC and LSU Health Foundation New Orleans over the rejected Sucette Harbor development. In the same order, Long sharply criticized the plaintiffs' legal filings, finding that their opposition brief relied on non-existent court cases, false quotations, and inaccurate summaries of law.

  • On Wednesday, the federal judge dismissed all remaining claims in the Sucette Harbor lawsuits.
  • In March, the court had already dismissed all claims against Zuckerman individually and eliminated most of the case.
  • The upcoming sanctions hearing is scheduled for February 24 in New Orleans.

The players

Brandon S. Long

A U.S. District Judge who dismissed the Sucette Harbor lawsuits and ordered a sanctions hearing for the plaintiffs' attorneys.

Woodward Harbor LLC

One of the plaintiffs in the Sucette Harbor lawsuits against the City of Mandeville and City Councilman Jason Zuckerman.

LSU Health Foundation New Orleans

One of the plaintiffs in the Sucette Harbor lawsuits against the City of Mandeville and City Councilman Jason Zuckerman.

Jason Zuckerman

A Mandeville City Councilman who was named as a defendant in the Sucette Harbor lawsuits.

City of Mandeville

The defendant in the Sucette Harbor lawsuits, which unanimously rejected the Sucette Harbor development project.

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What they’re saying

“The court ordered four attorneys for the plaintiffs to appear at a show-cause hearing Feb. 24 in New Orleans, where they must explain why they should not be sanctioned for submitting what the judge described as 'hallucinated' legal authorities.”

— Brandon S. Long, U.S. District Judge (mandevilledaily.news)

“In unusually direct language, Long said the plaintiffs' filings undermined the integrity of the judicial process and wasted court resources.”

— Brandon S. Long, U.S. District Judge (mandevilledaily.news)

What’s next

The upcoming sanctions hearing on February 24 will determine whether the plaintiffs' attorneys will face any penalties, such as fines or payment of opposing counsel's fees, for their alleged misconduct in citing fabricated court cases.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of attorneys upholding their ethical obligations and the integrity of the judicial process. The judge's findings raise concerns about the plaintiffs' legal strategy and the due diligence conducted by their attorneys, which could have significant consequences if the allegations of submitting false information are proven true.