LLAW responds to April 4 decision in Plaquemines Parish coastal lawsuit

Baton Rouge, La. – For more than a decade, Louisiana’s oil and gas industry has been targeted by the trial bar. Friday’s decision in the 25 th Judicial District Court in  Plaquemines Parish sends a serious warning shot across the bow, signaling job creators to think twice when it comes to doing business in Louisiana.

“Lawsuits are not economic development, yet these coastal suits have become a cottage industry for a small number of well-heeled firms pursuing big payouts. This flagrant ‘jackpot justice’ further validates Louisiana’s longstanding moniker as a Judicial Hellhole®, with excessive lawsuits, outrageous damage awards and a legal climate that favors the trial bar over taxpayers and job creators,” said Lana Venable, Executive Director of Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch.

“We agree with Chevron’s claims that the lawsuit should have been heard in federal court and that the 1980 law in question was not meant to address activities that occurred previously.”

This verdict is a bellwether for the remaining coastal lawsuits, reinforcing Louisiana’s long-held reputation as one of the worst states for doing business in the country, making us less competitive compared to neighboring states. Simply put, this judgement poses a significant threat to long-term economic growth and opportunity for Louisiana residents.

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About Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch:

Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch (LLAW) is a high-impact watchdog group with nearly 20,000 supporters across the state dedicated to fixing Louisiana’s broken legal system through transparency, accountability and lawsuit reform. Learn more at www.llaw.org.