Louisiana Court Reverses Sewerage & Water Board Employee Termination

Appellate court finds due process violations in pre-termination notices and hearing process

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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A Louisiana appellate court has reversed the termination of a classified employee by the Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans, finding that the employee's due process rights were violated during the pre-termination process.

Why it matters

This ruling highlights the importance of following proper procedures when terminating public sector employees, who have certain constitutional protections around due process that private sector workers may not have.

The details

The Louisiana Court of Appeal, Fourth Circuit found that the Sewerage & Water Board provided inconsistent notices to the employee regarding the basis for termination, failed to consider her written response submitted in lieu of attending the pre-termination hearing, and exceeded the violations set forth in the initial pre-termination notice.

  • The termination decision was made by the Sewerage & Water Board.
  • The employee appealed the termination to the Civil Service Commission.
  • The Louisiana Court of Appeal, Fourth Circuit issued its ruling on March 9, 2026 reversing the termination.

The players

Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans

The public utility that provides water, sewerage and drainage services for the city of New Orleans.

Louisiana Court of Appeal, Fourth Circuit

The state appellate court that issued the ruling reversing the termination of the Sewerage & Water Board employee.

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The takeaway

This case highlights the importance for public sector employers to strictly adhere to due process requirements when terminating classified employees, as they have certain constitutional protections that can lead to termination decisions being overturned if proper procedures are not followed.