A newly filed federal civil rights lawsuit alleges former St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith attacked one of his outspoken critics in retaliation for protected speech and is now seeking to hold Smith and the Sheriff’s Office financially responsible for alleged constitutional violations.
Robert “Bobby” Couvillion and his wife, Tara Ingraham, filed the 25 page complaint September 11 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. The lawsuit names Smith, Gregory Saurage, Troy Sider and Interim Sheriff Bret Ibert as defendants. Ibert is sued only in his official capacity, and the complaint specifically states that he did not participate in the attack.
At the center of the case is the May 29 incident at Keith Young’s Steakhouse in Madisonville.
The complaint alleges Couvillion had repeatedly criticized Smith and the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office through social media and the Couyon Show podcast. Plaintiffs argue that criticism ultimately became the motivation for Smith’s attack.
According to allegations contained in the lawsuit and information attributed to the criminal investigation, Saurage pointed Couvillion out to Smith and made what investigators described as aggressive gestures. The complaint quotes investigators as concluding that Saurage “signaled Randy Smith to execute an attack on Robert Couvillion.”
The complaint alleges Smith then approached Couvillion from behind, placed him in a chokehold and pulled him from an elevated bar stool onto the concrete floor. It cites the arrest warrant as stating that multiple witnesses said Smith initiated the attack without a prior confrontation. The filing also alleges Sider attempted to prevent bystanders from intervening and stepped or stomped on Couvillion while he was on the floor.
Couvillion was taken to an emergency room. The complaint, again citing the criminal investigation, says he suffered numerous injuries including a level two concussion and injuries that moved his two front teeth from their normal position.
One of the biggest issues raised by the federal lawsuit is whether Smith was acting under color of law when the attack occurred.
The plaintiffs allege Smith was on duty, arrived and left in an STPSO vehicle, possessed his STPSO firearm and was attending a lunch related to Sheriff’s Office business. Those allegations are important because the lawsuit is attempting to establish official capacity liability in addition to personal liability against Smith.
Smith has already pleaded guilty in the criminal case arising from the incident.
On June 24, Smith pleaded guilty to second degree battery and disturbing the peace through public intoxication and resigned as St. Tammany Parish Sheriff the same day. The plea agreement included two years of supervised probation and a specialty court program.
The new civil case goes considerably further than the criminal prosecution.
Couvillion alleges Smith violated his First and Fourteenth Amendment rights by retaliating against him for protected speech. He also alleges Smith violated his Fourth Amendment rights through an unreasonable seizure and excessive force.
The lawsuit also brings Louisiana claims for battery and assault. Ingraham, who witnessed the attack and alleges Smith later cursed at her and lunged toward her, brings claims involving emotional distress. Saurage and Sider are additionally accused of conspiracy in connection with the attack.
The complaint also spends several pages detailing previous controversies involving Smith, including lawsuits involving deputies who supported a political opponent, former Chief Deputy Fred Oswald and federal agent Jerry Rogers. The plaintiffs present those incidents as evidence supporting their allegation that Smith had a history of retaliating against critics. Those portions represent the plaintiffs’ allegations and legal arguments in this case, not new findings by the federal court.
The plaintiffs are asking for declaratory relief, compensatory damages, special and punitive damages, attorney fees, court costs and interest. The complaint does not specify a dollar amount.
The federal case is Couvillion et al. v. Smith et al., Civil Action 26 cv 2038. Federal docket records confirm the complaint was filed September 11, 2026, with a jury trial requested.
The filing of a civil complaint is not a finding of liability. The allegations against the defendants will have to be addressed through the federal court process.
Editor’s note: APR redacted the medical photograph included in the federal court filing out of respect for the plaintiff’s privacy. No other portion of the filing was altered.
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