The Supreme Court seemed leery Monday of taking a legal battle over whether Louisiana can hold oil and gas companies accountable for its eroding coastline out of the state’s courts.
During oral arguments, justices considered industry’s argument that the cases should be heard in federal court because the companies were doing the bidding of the federal government and providing petroleum products to fill World War II era federal contracts for aviation gas, or avgas.
A win in Chevron v. Plaquemines Parish could make it easier for federal contractors and other private parties to move lawsuits against them to federal court, delaying proceedings and securing venues they see as more favorable to their arguments.
But the justices appeared wary of making it too easy for companies being sued in state court to drag the lawsuits into federal courts by relying on the federal officer removal statute.
