YES!!! Judge: Corps Of Engineers Can Be Sued Over Katrina Flooding - New Orleans News Story - WDSU New Orleans
May 2, 2008 by Laura | Trackback URI
Comment later…. but this is Very Good News. Locals begged for DECADES to have the “Mr. Go” closed. I don’t care if nobody gets a dime, I want the Corps in a courtroom and held accountable. Just once. It’s high time.
Judge: Corps Of Engineers Can Be Sued Over Katrina Flooding - New Orleans News Story - WDSU New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS — A federal judge said Friday that the Army Corps of Engineers can be held liable for flood damage caused by a “hurricane highway,” a navigation channel that is believed to have funneled Hurricane Katrina’s storm surge into the city.The Corps of Engineers had argued that it was immune from liability because the channel is part of New Orleans’ flood control system. The law said the federal government cannot be sued if something goes wrong with a flood control project such as a levee, reservoir or dam.
Judge Stanwood Duval dismissed that argument. He said the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet was clearly a ship channel and not a flood control project.
Plaintiffs’ lawyers call the decision a victory for homeowners, who have suffered setbacks in their efforts to hold the government legally responsible for storm damage. They also said it clears the way for a trial on Sept. 8.
In January, Duval ruled that the corps was entitled to immunity over flood damage from levee breaches elsewhere in New Orleans.
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