The U.S. Supreme Court on April 17 sided unanimously with oil company Chevron, ruling that a pollution lawsuit in Louisiana should be heard in federal court.
The court’s 8–0 opinion in Chevron USA Inc. v. Plaquemines Parish was authored by Justice Clarence Thomas. Justice Samuel Alito previously recused himself from the case, citing a financial conflict of interest.
Louisiana localities alleged that the state’s wetlands were damaged, dating back to when oil production activities were carried out to honor federal refinery contracts during World War II.
Starting in 2013, six parishes along the Gulf of America coastline in Louisiana initiated 42 lawsuits accusing oil and gas companies of violating a state permitting law, the State and Local Coastal Resources Management Act of 1978….