The Supreme Court heard arguments yesterday over lawsuits filed by coastal parishes against oil and gas companies for damages to the coastline caused by drilling. Chevron argued that those cases belong in federal court, citing federal contracts. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says they’re citing the Federal Officer Removal Statute.
“The issue before the Supreme Court is whether the statute is broad enough to include lawsuits arising out of activities that are related to the federal interest in getting oil for aviation contracts for World War II,” Ciolino explained.
The state, however, is arguing that the cases should remain in state court. Ciolino says those contracts from more than 80 years are irrelevant in these cases.
“These lawsuits aren’t related to any aviation fuel. They weren’t related to World War II activities, but to much more recent activities involving commercial oil and gas exploration and development,” Ciolino said.
The oral arguments come in the wake of a Plaquemines Parish jury awarding the parish almost $745 million against Chevron last year. Ciolino says Chevron wants to move the cases to federal court, because those courts tend to be more conservative and defendant friendly.
“There are many more of these cases in the pipeline, so speak, that will be tried in state court, unless the U.S. Supreme Court grants the relief that the oil companies are seeking,” Ciolino said.