Attorney General Buddy Caldwell says he won't approve a Cameron Parish Police Jury resolution to hire outside attorneys for such a lawsuit until the resolution is amended. Caldwell's Sept. 15 letter says the resolution must make clear that those attorneys will represent the parish alone - not the state.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A letter from Louisiana's attorney general appears to throw up at least a temporary roadblock for a parish that is considering lawsuits against oil and gas companies over coastal damage.
Attorney General Buddy Caldwell says he won't approve a Cameron Parish Police Jury resolution to hire outside attorneys for such a lawsuit until the resolution is amended. Caldwell's Sept. 15 letter says the resolution must make clear that those attorneys will represent the parish alone - not the state.
Caldwell said he was concerned because court transcripts from a Plaquemines Parish oil industry lawsuit indicate one of the outside lawyers incorrectly claimed to represent the state as well the parish.
A Cameron official referred questions Wednesday to attorneys, who did not immediately respond to requests for comment.