WHEELING - An Ohio County woman who came to West Virginia after her home in New Orleans was destroyed has filed a suit against an automobile rental company who reported the rental car she was using as being stolen.
Debra Jarrell Broussard filed the complaint against Budget Rent-a-Car Systems after she was arrested during a routine traffic stop because her rental car had been reported as stolen.
On Sept. 3, 2005, Broussard rented a car from Budge Rent-a-Car, and used it to travel to Wheeling. During the time of her rental agreement, the suit says Broussard extended the period of her rental.
On Jan. 22, 2006, she was arrested on felony charges because the car she was driving has been reported as being stolen.
The suit claims Budget Rent-a-Car is negligent because the procedures and policies of the company caused Broussard to be arrested.
Because of her arrest, the suit says that Broussard has suffered personal injury, expenses, embarrassment and humiliation, pain and suffering, mental anguish and other such emotions.
Broussard is seeking compensatory and punitive damages.
The suit was filed Jan. 22 by Quan S. Le.
Ohio Circuit Court case number 07-C-28
Katrina evacuee blames Budget Rent-a-Car for arrest
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