Chevron, Other Oil Firms Gain US Supreme Court Backing in Louisiana Lawsuits
Chevron (CVX), Exxon Mobil (XOM) and other major oil companies received backing from the US Supreme Court on Friday as the court ruled that lawsuits filed by Louisiana officials accusing them of harming the state's coastal areas should be transferred out of the state courts and into federal court, according to a court document.The court issued an 8-0 ruling in a case brought by Plaquemines and Cameron parishes -- one of the 42 lawsuits filed in 2013 by several Louisiana coastal parishes and the state's attorney general seeking billions of dollars from energy firms to cover restoration and remediation costs.The parishes alleged the companies violated state law by failing to secure required coastal use permits, leading to environmental damage along the coastline.In an emailed statement to, Chevron applauded the Supreme Court's decision and said the plaintiffs' claims are "flawed as a matter of both state law and federal law" and it "looks forward to litigating these cases in federal court, where they belong."Shares of Chevron and Exxon Mobil were down 2.4% and 3.7%, respectively, in Friday afternoon trading.Price: $183.67, Change: $-4.48, Percent Change: -2.38%