Former Shreveport NAACP president files lawsuit over allegations

SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) - A former president of the Shreveport NAACP and former comptroller of Woodlawn Terrace Apartments is suing over false claims and defamatory comments he claims caused him anxiety, mental anguish, embarrassment and loss of future potential employment.

Michael Lafitte’s attorney filed the petition last month against Barbara Smith-Iverson and Michael Williams. Lafitte says at the time he was responsible for the Caddo Parish Rental Assistance Program, which is designed to help renters who are behind on rent and facing eviction stay in their homes.

The lawsuit says Smith-Iverson and Williams led protests at the apartment complex and made false and defamatory accusations toward Lafitte while on social media. It also says the plaintiffs told several people that Lafitte engaged in an illegal sexual relationship with one or more teenage girls and requested favors from individuals.

The lawsuit goes on to say that Smith-Iverson went as far as to accuse Lafitte of being a pedophile on Facebook. Lafitte has denied those accusations.

KSLA News 12 reached out to Smith-Iverson, who has since been elected to the Caddo Parish School Board; she declined to comment. We are still working to get in contact with Williams.

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