[StBernard] Fishermen File Class Action Suit

[Westley Annis]

Fishermen file suit over oil damage from Katrina
 
09:58 AM CDT on Tuesday, September 20, 2005
 

Associated Press
 


HOUMA -- A group of commercial fishermen has filed a suit over suspected
damage to fisheries caused by oil that spilled after Hurricane Katrina tore
through southeastern Louisiana. 


The suit, which asks for class-action status, is among at least five filed
in federal court against oil companies in hurricane-related cases. Three of
the suits are targeted at Murphy Oil Co. for a spill at its refinery in St.
Bernard Parish. Another suit blames a long list of oil companies for the
loss of wetlands that could have buffered the state from Katrina's
devastation. 


The fisheries case, filed Monday in federal court in Houma, seeks
unspecified damages from Shell Pipeline Co., Chevron Corp., Bass Enterprises
Production Co. and Sundown Energy. Hurricane damage to the companies'
facilities resulted in more than 5 million gallons of oil spilling into
coastal waters, according to the suit. 


The U.S. Coast Guard has estimated that about 6.7 million gallons spilled as
Katrina flooded and oil facilities. 


Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association spokesman Larry Wall said
the industry group had not seen the suit and could not comment. He said all
storm-related oil spills have been contained and companies are developing
remediation plans. 


Mid-Continent issued a written response Monday to the suit over wetlands
damage. 


"People have died. Lives have been changed. Property has been destroyed.
Yet, a group of trial lawyers are using this disaster, not as a reason to
help the people of this state, but instead to further their own personal
agenda," the group's president, Jim Porter, said in the statement. 


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Information from: The Advocate, http://www.theadvocate.com