Lafourche looking into suit

Lafourche Parish has hired a local law firm to look into possible damages related to oil and gas exploration.

The parish council voted to hire Block Law Firm from Thibodaux to look into damages related to coastal use permits by oil and gas companies at the June 28 council meeting. The investigation would look into whether dredging of canals, pollution and other activities played a role in land loss in the parish, and if the parish could receive damages for the loss.

Lafourche’s investigation into damages has been spurred on by the actions of other parishes and the state attorney general. Plaquemines, Cameron and Jefferson parishes have already filed a total of 39 suits against oil companies. Jerald Block, representing Block Law Firm at the council meeting, said Vermillion Parish is in the process of joining the suit, and Terrebonne, St. Bernard and St. Mary parishes have retained counsel to look into possible damages.

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry is trying to intervene in the lawsuits and file them on the state’s behalf. However, Parish President Jimmy Cantrelle said Landry informed him Lafourche would have time to file a suit before the state goes ahead. According to Block, if Lafourche files before the state, it could receive 100 percent of possible damages. If the state files first, Lafourche would only receive a portion. Lafourche is paying Block no money up front to investigate possible damages; a favorable judgment could earn the firm money on the back end.

At the council meeting, Cantrelle said the hiring of Block was to ensure Lafourche got its fair share.

“If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu, and we’re on the menu,” Cantrelle said.

During the meeting, Council Chairman Jerry Lafont expressed hesitance to support the hiring of Block, saying he did not want the parish to file a lawsuit against the oil industry. The parish president adopted the same tone in a press release the following day.

“I would like to make it clear that Lafourche Parish has no intention of filing suit against any oil company. We have never considered joining or filing a lawsuit,” Cantrelle said. “The council was simply asked to retain legal representation to assist in quantifying potential damages the parish may have incurred through coastal use permits and activities associated with them. The parish needs to preserve its rights should the State of Louisiana bring forward some sort of settlement with the energy industry and retaining counsel allows us to preserve those rights.”