The Supreme Court hands a win to oil and gas companies fighting environmental lawsuits in Louisiana

The Supreme Court unanimously sided with oil and gas companies in a dispute over environmental lawsuits in Louisiana. The ruling allows the companies to have their case heard in federal court after a state jury ordered Chevron to pay over $740 million for coastal damage. The companies, supported by the Trump administration, argued the case belongs in federal court because their work during World War II to increase aviation gasoline supply for the U.S. government. Justice Thomas stated Congress has long allowed lawsuits against government contractors to be heard in federal court, and this suit relates to Chevron's wartime efforts. Louisiana has lost significant coastal land, partly due to oil and gas infrastructure, and local leaders plan to continue pursuing the lawsuits despite disagreeing with the Supreme Court's decision.

The Supreme Court sided with oil and gas companies in an 8-0 decision regarding Louisiana coastal damage lawsuits. The ruling allows the companies to have their case heard in federal court, after a state jury ordered Chevron to pay $740 million for coastal damage. The companies, backed by the Trump administration, argue the case belongs in federal court because their oil production and refining occurred during WWII as US contractors. Louisiana parishes have lost over 2,000 sq miles of land in the past century, partly due to oil and gas infrastructure. The lawsuits, filed in 2013, allege that oil companies violated state environmental laws for decades. The companies appealed after a lower court allowed the suit to stay in state court.