Compromise

This afternoon the SLFPA-E attorneys finally answered one of the Jindal administration's loudest complaints against their lawsuit. They offered to reduce their so-called "poison pill" fees correction: standard contingency fees in exchange for a negotiated settlement with the oil and gas companies named in the suit.

Spokes-Lucys for Jindal and the industry immediately yanked the football away.

NEW ORLEANS — Lawyers for the levee board suing oil and gas companies over coastal land loss offered to reduce their fees Tuesday if any of the 97 defendants settle, but the Jindal administration called the offer empty rhetoric.

Glad Jones, the lead attorney hired by the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority – East, said his law firm would accept mutually agreed upon or arbitrated fees from any defendant who comes to the table and settles the lawsuit within six months.

The industry did not see Jones' offer as a worthy olive branch.

"If these attorneys are truly concerned for the citizens and taxpayers of Louisiana, then they will do what's right for the people and dismiss this suit altogether," said Don Briggs, head of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association.

Neither did Gov. Bobby Jindal's Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.

Their position is no settlement, no lawsuit, nothing.  They are able to take such a hard line because they have nearly all of the elected representatives of the state government backing them up.

If only one major statewide official would speak on behalf of the levee board's case, things might go differently.  Unfortunately...

Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., said Monday that a more equitable division of offshore oil and gas energy revenue, not legal action, is the key to saving Louisiana’s disappearing coastline.

“Lawsuits will not save the coast of Louisiana,” Landrieu told reporters.

Her comments came during and after an appearance at the Press Club of Baton Rouge.
Landrieu is seeking her fourth term in the Senate this year.

Oh well.