A jury in Plaquemines Parish has ruled that oil company Chevron must pay at least $740 million to restore damage it caused to southeast Louisiana’s coastal wetlands. The verdict, which could set a precedent for other oil and gas firms, found that Chevron’s predecessor, Texaco, violated Louisiana regulations governing coastal resources by failing to restore impacted wetlands.
The lawsuit, filed in 2013, alleged that Texaco, acquired by Chevron in 2001, had dumped billions of gallons of wastewater into the marsh and failed to clean up its mess. The jury awarded $575 million for land loss, $161 million for contamination, and $8 million for abandoned equipment.
Expert witnesses testified that Chevron chose profits over the environment, allowing environmental degradation to fester and spread. The company’s lead attorney argued that the extensive levee system blocking sediment deposits was a major cause of coastal erosion, but the jury held it responsible for exacerbating land loss in Louisiana.
The verdict is likely to be appealed, but it could provide a much-needed injection of funds for Louisiana’s ambitious coastal restoration plans. Supporters of the litigation say payouts will help support these efforts, while opponents argue that the lawsuit unfairly targets energy producers and undermines legal certainty.
Chevron’s heavy price tag could hasten other firms to seek settlements in dozens of other lawsuits across Louisiana. However, others have expressed concern that this precedent would deter future investment in the state.
Source: https://www.wbrz.com/news/jury-orders-chevron-to-pay-nearly-750-million-in-damages-after-plaquemines-parish-lawsuit