WikimediaNEW ORLEANS (AP) — In a close vote, a New Orleans flood protection board has refused to abandon its appeal of the dismissal of a coastal erosion lawsuit against oil, gas and pipeline companies.
The Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East filed suit in 2013.
It sought damages over the loss of coastal wetlands that help protect New Orleans from hurricanes.
A federal judge recently ruled that the board had no legal standing to bring the suit and that the energy companies had no legal duty to protect the board from the effects of coastal erosion.
At Monday afternoon's meeting the vote was 5-4 against a motion to override the board president's decision to proceed with an appeal.