In Re: Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. LLC, No. 08-30738

By FindLaw Staff on October 15, 2010 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

Hurricane Katrina-Related Negligence Action

In In Re: Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. LLC, No. 08-30738, an action alleging damages from the flooding of Orleans and St. Bernard Parishes in New Orleans when several levee systems failed as a result of the erosion of protective wetlands allegedly caused by defendants' negligent maintenance dredging operations, the court affirmed the dismissal of the action where the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina was not a foreseeable result of the allegedly negligent conduct of any defendant.

As the court wrote:  "In this consolidated limitation action, Claimants, Hurricane Katrina flood
victims, filed claims against the Limitation Petitioners, private companies that operated twenty-two dredging vessels along the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet pursuant to contracts with the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Claimants suffered damages from the flooding of Orleans and St. Bernard Parishes when several levee systems failed as a result of the erosion of protective wetlands allegedly caused by the Limitation Petitioners' negligent maintenance dredging operations."

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