SHREVEPORT — A small group of trial lawyers cannot be allowed to ruin Louisiana's future, the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association said after a survey showed that a majority of voters in Plaquemines Parish are opposed to coastal erosion lawsuits being filed against the industry.
According to the survey, conducted by the Louisiana Free Enterprise Institute and published on DailyCaller, 57 percent of likely voters in Plaquemines do not support lawsuits being brought against energy companies, while 99 percent believe the energy industry plays an important role in the local economy.
The survey sampled 300 likely voters and the margin of error was 5.6 percent.
Louisiana Oil and Gas Association President Gifford Briggs said the parish's residents had clearly indicated its support for the industry.
"We cannot allow a small group of trial lawyers to ruin the future of Louisiana," Briggs told the Louisana Record. "The people have spoken, and it's jobs over lawsuits."
Briggs added that local leaders were also against coastal lawsuits being brought against companies in the sector.
"Not only are the people of Plaquemines Parish against the coastal lawsuits, but a majority of the parish council," he said.
The Louisiana Free Enterprise Institute said the oil and gas industry provides more than 1,500 jobs in Plaquemines Parish and pays $20 million annually in parish property taxes, offering one explanation as to why lawsuits against the industry are seen as creating a hostile environment that could hinder one of the biggest employers in the state. Only 35 percent of respondents in the survey supported lawsuits against the industry.
Louisiana Oil and Gas Association said that it would work to make Louisiana less susceptible to excessive litigation.