St. Bernard Parish President Louis Pomes provided an update Thursday regarding an ongoing lawsuit the parish filed against Port NOLA.
The suit was filed in 2023 after Port NOLA moved forward with plans to build the Louisiana International Terminal.
That project is still moving forward. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved a permit for it last month.
The lawsuit challenges whether Port NOLA has jurisdictional authority to operate in St. Bernard Parish.
According to President Pomes, a ruling is expected as soon as next week.
Read the full statement from Pomes:
“St. Bernard Parish Government appeared before the 34th Judicial District Court, Division D, Hon. Darren Roy presiding, this morning in its case against the Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans (“Port NOLA”) and the Port of St. Bernard, case no. 23-1006.
The Parish filed suit after Port NOLA moved forward with plans to construct the Louisiana International Port within St. Bernard Parish without the jurisdictional authority to do so. Today’s hearing addressed exceptions of no cause of action filed by Port NOLA and the Port of St. Bernard, following full briefing by all parties.
Parish counsel, Kyle Kirsch, presented the Parish’s position clearly and thoroughly to the Court. The hearing proceeded without objection from the bench, and at the close of arguments, the Court took the matter under advisement. The presiding judge indicated a ruling is expected as early as next week.”
The plans to build the 614-acre shipping container terminal have caused controversy in the parish. There was a heated exchange over the topic at the St. Bernard Parish Council meeting Tuesday night.
There are two other lawsuits challenging the port currently moving through the court system.
One involves environmental concerns, and the other was filed by the St. Bernard School District, regarding the site’s proximity to W. Smith Jr. Elementary School.
The St. Bernard District Attorney announced in August that the school board will be seeking a trial date in the ongoing injunction lawsuit against Port NOLA.
Port NOLA hopes to begin construction on the terminal sometime this year.
READ MORE:St. Bernard Parish President expects ruling in Port NOLA lawsuit soon
