The opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA
LAFAYETTE DIVISION
QUAYLAIN BROWN CASE NO. 6:24-CV-01494
VERSUS JUDGE S. MAURICE HICKS, JR.
CITY OF ABBEVILLE ET AL MAGISTRATE JUDGE DAVID J. AYO
O R D E R
By Order of August 24, 2025, this Court directed the parties to file simultaneous briefs
addressing the status of defendant Shawna Miguez’s (“Miguez”) underlying state criminal
prosecution. (Rec. Doc. 40). The parties timely filed all requested briefs. (Rec. Docs. 41, 42).
Review of Defendants’ brief indicates that Miguez’s state criminal prosecution
remains pending in the 15th Judicial District Court for Vermilion Parish, Louisiana. (Rec.
Doc. 42 at p. 2). For this reason, the parties agree that a stay is warranted to avoid potential
prejudice to Miguez in her defense of those criminal charges.
Looking to the factors courts should consider when determining whether a civil action
should be stayed, this Court finds that (1) Plaintiff’s allegations in this case overlap
substantially, if not completely, with the conduct alleged in Miguez’s indictment; (2) Miguez’s
criminal prosecution is ongoing as of the date of this Order; (3) Plaintiff agrees that a stay is
proper as long as Miguez’s criminal prosecution remains ongoing; (4) defense of the claims
asserted in the instant civil matter would present an undue burden on Miguez at this time
and might prejudice Miguez’s criminal defense; and (5) the public’s interest is well served by
permitting the orderly disposition of Miguez’s criminal prosecution prior to litigation of any
potential civil liability based on the same conduct. Brown v. Stalder, 2025 WL 2004687 at 2
(M.D. La. July 17, 2025) (slip copy) (citing Alcala v. Texas Webb County, 625 F. Supp. 2d 391,
398–99 (S.D. Tex. 2009)). Considering the foregoing, it is hereby
ORDERED that the instant civil action is STAYED pending resolution of the
underlying criminal prosecution as to defendant Shawna Miguez. It is further
ORDERED that the parties will promptly file an appropriate motion to lift the stay
upon the conclusion of this underlying criminal prosecution.
SO ORDERED at Lafayette, Louisiana this 12th day of September, 2025.
DAVID J. AYO
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE