Oil and Gas

'Big Oil' lawsuit survives in 4-4 vote

by Walter Pierce

A south Louisiana flood control board isn't ready to give up yet on its lawsuit against 97 oil, gas and pipeline companies over coastal wetlands damage -- despite a new law aimed at squelching the suit.

CHALMETTE, La. (AP) - A south Louisiana flood control board isn't ready to give up yet on its lawsuit against 97 oil, gas and pipeline companies over coastal wetlands damage -- despite a new law aimed at squelching the suit.

A motion to kill the suit died on a 4-4 tie vote Thursday during a meeting of the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East.

Gov. Bobby Jindal opposes the lawsuit. His four newest appointees voted to kill the suit. Four others voted against killing it. One member of the nine-member board was absent.

Supporters of the lawsuit say the law aimed at retroactively killing the suit is unconstitutional. Oil companies, however, are expected to ask for dismissal of the suit, based on that law.