Murrill defends lawsuit against Chevron, ‘multi-billions’ at stake for Louisiana coast

(The Center Square) − A closely watched Louisiana wetlands case that could help secure billions of dollars for the state’s coast is on the U.S. Supreme Court’s agenda next week.

The question before justices in Chevron v. Plaquemines is whether Chevron can remove the lawsuit from state court to federal court if they are sued over actions connected to federal contracts?

Louisiana disputes the premise entirely, arguing the case against Chevron has nothing to do with a federal contract.

“There is no federal contract that this arises under,” Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said in an interview. “Hard stop – we win.”

There were indeed federal contracts between the U.S. government and Texaco, later acquired by Chevron, to refine aviation gasoline for the war effort during World War II. But those were purchase agreements, not directives, Louisiana argues – deals that didn’t tell Texaco where to drill, how to operate in Louisiana’s coas...