The Iberia Parish Clerk of Court’s Office is beginning the process of refunding $362,000 to litigants whose advance court costs went unused.
The refunds stem from the Legislative Auditor’s investigation that led to former Clerk Michael Thibodeaux’s conviction on 14 felony counts in May. Thibodeaux was accused of stealing the advance court costs that were either due back to people who filed in court or to the state as unclaimed property.
Thibodeaux was charged with one count of racketeering; two counts of theft of more than $25,000; one count of theft between $5,000 – $25,000; two counts of filing or maintaining false public records; seven counts of malfeasance in office and one count perjury.
Thibodeaux was scheduled to appear in court Friday, June 21, for sentencing in the case. However, his sentencing date was continued to Aug. 2.
Ditch says in a release that his staff and software company Tyler Technologies of Plano, Texas worked together for three weeks to identify the litigants who were owed.
The Clerk’s Office has also entered into an agreement with the company to implement civil e-filing. The service is another in the list of technology advancements for the Clerk’s Office. Other improvements include, electronic recording of Mortgage and Conveyance records, participation in The Louisiana Clerk’s Remote Access Authority platform and upgraded IT and web-based services.
