‘Big Oil’ Lawsuit Supporter’s Term Is Over

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell says a south Louisiana flood board member who supports the board's environmental lawsuit against the oil and gas industry has reached the end of his term.

That means that Gov. Bobby Jindal, who opposes the suit, may soon be able to replace lawsuit supporter Paul Kemp on the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East. And that could mean an end to the lawsuit, with supporters of the suit losing their 5-4 majority on the board.

Caldwell's opinion was issued to help clear up a disagreement between the board, which has records indicating Kemp's term expires next year, and the independent nominating committee, which said Kemp's term ended this year.

Caldwell acknowledged that his opinion is not law and that the matter could wind up in court.