Wednesday, June 4, 2014

LOUISIANA HOUSE PASSES SENATE BILL 469

By TONI ELLINGTON

On May 29, 2014, the Louisiana House voted to pass Senate Bill 469, which would kill the lawsuit filed by the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East against 97 oil and gas companies for environmental damage to the state’s wetlands.

Senate Bill 469 now returns to the Louisiana Senate for consideration of amendments added by the House committee.  One key amendment added by the House is specific language opposing the lawsuit, and language which would negate litigation currently pending in a court.  Because of the retroactivity language, the amended version may face a close vote in the Senate.  In addition, legal challenges to the legislation may be likely, since a state district court judge has already ruled that public agencies under the law that organized the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East do have the authority to file some lawsuits.

The legislation will not impact similar lawsuits filed in Jefferson and Plaquemines Parishes.

For further updates, check this blog, or contact Toni Ellington at (504) 599-8502.

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