The case in a nutshell

What is it? A federal proposed class action – Hardnett v. City of Baton Rouge–Parish of East Baton Rouge – alleges BRPD maintained a policy or practice of conducting strip searches on people who hadn’t been arrested and without the constitutionally required basis. The complaint seeks damages and court orders stopping the practice.

Why does it matter? Strip searches are among the most intrusive forms of police conduct. The suit claims BRPD used them to “humiliate, denigrate, and intimidate” rather than for legitimate safety or evidence reasons.

How we got here: the “Brave Cave” and a federal investigation

Beginning in 2023, multiple lawsuits and news reports alleged BRPD officers detained people at an off-site warehouse, nicknamed the “Brave Cave”, where abusive tactics, including invasive strip searches, were carried out. In response, city leaders closed the facility, disbanded the street-crimes unit tied to the allegations, and the FBI opened a civil-rights investigation. Several officers were later arrested in a related incident involving a strip search cover-up.

The pivotal court ruling (July 12–13, 2024)

In July 2024, Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana ruled that BRPD’s policy allowing strip searches of people who had not been arrested was “unconstitutional on its face.” The court held that probable cause, not merely “reasonable suspicion”, is required before police can conduct a strip search in this context and ordered BRPD to revise its policy. BRPD publicly stated it would conform its practices to the court’s decision.

What this means for victims: If you were strip-searched by BRPD without probable cause, especially before any arrest, the court has recognized that practice as unconstitutional. That strengthens individual civil-rights claims and supports the class allegations.

Where things stand now (2025)

Related civil-rights suits tied to the Brave Cave allegations are moving forward. In early 2025, a federal court declined to dismiss a case brought by a grandmother who alleges she was detained and subjected to a body-cavity strip search at the facility, allowing her claims to proceed.

Who may be included in the proposed class?

According to the Hardnett complaint, the proposed class includes people taken into BRPD custody who were strip-searched without probable cause or individualized reasonable suspicion under BRPD’s policy/practice. (Class certification is not yet decided—this is what plaintiffs are asking the court to approve.)

You may qualify if, for example, you:

• Were stopped or detained by BRPD, transported to a police facility or other location, and told to remove clothing; and
• There was no probable cause you possessed a weapon or contraband at the time the search occurred.

What compensation and remedies are possible?

Victims of unconstitutional strip searches can seek compensatory damages (for emotional distress, medical costs, etc.) and, in some cases, punitive damages against individual officers. (Under Supreme Court precedent, punitive damages are not available against municipalities like a city itself in §1983 cases.) Claims against the City must generally show an official policy or custom caused the violation—often called Monell liability.

Deadlines: how long do I have to act?

Civil-rights claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 borrow the forum state’s general personal-injury time limit. Historically in Louisiana that period was one year—and courts repeatedly applied that to §1983 claims. But Louisiana law changed for new incidents: effective July 1, 2024, Louisiana enacted a two-year prescriptive period for delictual (tort) actions, applied prospectively to harms arising after that date. For incidents before July 1, 2024, the prior one-year period typically applies.

Bottom line: If your strip search happened before July 1, 2024, you may have had one year from that date to sue (subject to tolling/notice issues). If it happened on or after July 1, 2024, you may have two years. Because timing can be complex, speak with counsel promptly to avoid missing deadlines.

What to do now (practical steps)

1. Write down everything you remember (date, time, location, officers’ names/badge numbers, witnesses, patrol car numbers, who ordered the search, and what you were told).
2. Preserve records: citations, arrest/disposition paperwork, discharge papers if you were taken to a hospital, photos of any injuries.
3. Request video/evidence early: body-worn camera, dash cam, and facility videos can be requested—but some data may be overwritten on short cycles.
4. Avoid posting details online that could be misconstrued or used against you.
5. Consult a civil-rights attorney experienced with §1983 and Monell claims to evaluate eligibility for the class and potential individual claims. (Municipal-liability issues and damages theories are nuanced.)

How McEldrew Purtell can help

Our civil-rights team is actively reviewing BRPD strip-search cases tied to the Hardnett litigation and the Brave Cave fallout. We approach these matters with care and discretion, and we’re available to confidentially evaluate your experience, timeline, and potential remedies.

Key sources and further reading

• Federal court ruling finding BRPD’s pre-arrest strip-search policy unconstitutional and requiring probable cause; BRPD’s commitment to revise policy
• The Hardnett proposed class action complaint and case summary
• FBI probe and Brave Cave coverage, arrests, and unit shutdown
• 2025 update: a related Brave Cave civil-rights case allowed to proceed
• Statutes of limitations in Louisiana (§1983 borrowing rule and two-year prospective change)
• Damages against municipalities and the Monell framework