Louisiana coastal lawsuits shift to federal court

(The Center Square) — Louisiana’s long-running coastal damage lawsuits are shifting into federal court after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling opened a new path for oil and gas companies to move the cases out of state court.

Recent filings include nine Cameron Parish cases in the Western District of Louisiana and two Plaquemines Parish cases in the Eastern District. Dozens of related cases involving Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Bernard and other parishes are already pending in federal court or before the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, according to court records.

In several cases, some defendants, including BP and Chevron, have been dismissed, though both remain involved in other coastal litigation. It is unclear from the filings whether those dismissals are final or could be refiled.

The lawsuits, filed by local governments, allege oil and gas companies and their predecessors damaged Louisiana’s coast through decades of exploration, production, canals and pipeline activity that contributed to pollution, wetland loss...