Chevron Sues to Overturn $745 Million Verdict Over Coastline Damage

Chevron is trying to overturn a $745 million verdict related to coastline damage in Louisiana. The company claims that lawsuits by the state and its parishes belong in federal court, not state court.

Chevron argues that part of the claims relate to oil drilling during World War II, when its predecessor, the Texas Company, contracted with the federal government to refine aviation fuel for the war effort. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in April that the Texas Company's oil drilling activities were sufficiently related to its contract with the federal government to support removal under the federal officer removal statute.

Chevron says this ruling applies to the current case, but Louisiana Solicitor General Benjamin Aguiñaga disagrees. He claims Chevron hasn't provided any evidence that 'a single drop of oil' from the field at issue in this case was used to make aviation fuel.