The lawsuit, brought forth by the law firms Maples & Connick LLC and Romanucci & Blandin, argues that the attack was both predictable and preventable, highlighting past warnings and failures in city planning.

Among the plaintiffs is Antoinette Klima, who lost her partner Reggie Hunter, and she expressed the emotional toll on their child, who will miss significant milestones without his father.

Survivors of the attack, including Leo Spadoni and Daniel Ortega, have reported lasting trauma and a significant shift in their sense of safety and enjoyment of life.

For years, New Orleans had received warnings about the risks of vehicle-based attacks in crowded areas, yet the city allegedly did not take sufficient precautions to protect its citizens.

Aaron Maples, a partner at the law firm representing the plaintiffs, noted that the tragedy has deeply impacted the community, instilling fear and psychological trauma among residents and visitors.

In the early hours of January 1, 2025, a tragic terrorist attack unfolded in New Orleans when Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove a Ford F-150 through a crowd, resulting in 14 fatalities and 57 injuries before being shot by police.

In response to the attack, plaintiffs affected by the incident have filed a civil lawsuit against the city of New Orleans, the New Orleans Police Department, and private safety consultants, alleging negligence and failure to implement adequate security measures.

A 2019 security assessment had already identified Bourbon Street as a high-profile target for terrorism, stressing the need for effective bollard systems to safeguard pedestrians.

Just weeks before the attack, the city replaced essential bollards for crowd protection, but a temporary barrier was improperly installed, allowing vehicles to breach the area.