We are proud to represent Dr. Donna Lou and Dr. Daren Parsa in suing the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office for the death of their only son, Eric Parsa.

One year ago, Eric experienced a meltdown caused by his severe autism in a Metairie parking lot. One JPSO deputy arrived and then others joined him, and together they subdued Eric. They did so by placing Eric facedown on the cement, sitting on him, and then handcuffing his hands behind his back.

But even after Eric was subdued - and according to the deputies, the situation “was calm, everything was fine” - the deputies failed to take their weight off Eric or roll him onto his side so he could breathe. One deputy and then another sat on Eric for a total of nine minutes and six seconds. They sat on Eric until he stopped breathing and died.

Dr. Lou and Dr. Parsa have shown enormous courage in telling Eric’s story. “Never did we ever think that our 16-year-old son with special needs would die in front of our eyes at this age and in the hands of law enforcement,” said Dr. Lou. They ask that Eric’s story be told so as to reduce the risk that any other family will lose a child the way they did.

You can read more about Eric’s story here:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/15/us/eric-parsa-death-police.html

https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/15/us/teenager-autism-dies-louisiana-sheriff-lawsuit-trnd/index.html

https://www.nola.com/news/crime_police/article_9e1b9612-569b-11eb-84db-cb6250a14479.html