The Supreme Court issued a unanimous 8-0 procedural ruling in favor of oil and gas companies fighting lawsuits over environmental degradation and coastal land loss in Louisiana. The decision gives these companies a new day in federal court.
The ruling puts into question a state jury judgment that ordered Chevron to pay upward of $745 million to help restore wetlands. The damage to the state's coastline was linked to crude oil production during World War II.
Chevron argued that it was acting as a federal contractor to the US military at the time and that the case should be heard in federal court. The Supreme Court agreed with the company's position.