Leadership on BP claims committee changes

A state lawmaker from Assumption Parish is the newest chairman of a legislative committee created to investigate the claims process associated with last year’s oil spill. State Rep. Joe Harrison, R-Napoleonville, said the Select Committee on Oversight of the Gulf Coast Claims Facility will probably meet for the first time over the next week or so. “I think our first big gathering may even be in Terrebonne Parish,” Harrison says. “Right now we’re looking at a three-judge panel that would issue summary judgments based on claims to so we can make some kind of informed demand of BP.” Harrison replaces Rep. Walt Leger III, D-New Orleans, who stepped down from the position recently due to a conflict of interest created by the law firm where he is employed. His partner and father, plaintiff lawyer Walter Leger Jr., has been retained by St. Tammany, St. Bernard and Lafourche parishes to handle potential oil spill litigation. The senior Leger was named by former Gov. Kathleen Blanco to the now-defunct Louisiana Recovery Authority after Hurricane Katrina — before his son ran for the state House — and was re-appointed by Gov. Bobby Jindal. To read the full story, click here. – Jeremy Alford