The civil case against the US Army Corps of Engineers being presented in United States District Court in New Orleans continues. The six plaintiffs are presenting their case against the Corps of Engineers to District Judge Stanwood Duval. The stakes to the community are very high. The Corps of Engineers believe the potential damages may be as much as $100 billion.
The basis for the community’s complaint against the Corps of Engineers is the Corps design, construction and maintenance of the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (“MRGO”) which is blamed for funneling hurricane storm surge toward St. Bernard Parish and New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. Because of the damage that MRGO has caused to the coastal wetlands south of New Orleans, the Corps has closed the waterway to navigation.
For a good account of why this trial is so important to members of the New Orleans and St. Bernard Parish communities, see the news article by Patrik Jonsson published in the April 22, 2009 edition of the Christian Science Monitor entitled, Katrina trial: New Orleans truth commission which is an apt title if I have ever seen one.
Special thanks to the Patrik Jonsson, Christian Science Monitor and other national media publications for sending reporters to follow this important trial. Thanks also to the Christian Science Monitor for their past thoughtful coverage of coastal issues in Louisiana. We need the help of the nation as a whole if we are going to address the loss of coastal wetlands in Louisiana.
When will this case be concluded? What is the judgement for the people who lived in St. Bernard Parish? What type of settlement has been reached?