Following a very difficult trial wherein ABK worked with Bill Quigley from Loyola University New Orleans and Pamela Spees of the Center for Constitutional Rights in representing three courageous landowners who took a stand against a company who had trespassed and constructed a pipeline on their property and sought after-the-fact permission from a Louisiana court for their conduct, there has been an outpouring of frustration, anger and disbelief from the public. From your team at ABK, we recognize these legitimate and voiced opinions. However, from our perspective, this case is not a loss and is far from over. The very fact that you all have shared your opinions and followed the stories is in one sense a victory. Public awareness around these issues has been seemingly nonexistent before this case. Any of our victories are nothing without public engagement, and it is all of us (the public) that holds the power to make real change. To that end, we encourage you to continue to stay informed, educated, and active. Please don’t forget that this is a marathon, not a race, and that each step in the direction of truth, educating our public, advocacy and engagement, is positive and worth acknowledging.
In Louisiana, we have witnessed a serious disconnect between compliance with and enforcement of the law that has been ongoing for many years. So much is already lost because of it! We are paying the consequences and our kids will pay a bigger price. It is a topic that is at the top of our list of concerns as we see daily the effects that relaxed or failed enforcement and compliance has on our Basin, our commercial fishing and ecotourism jobs, our ecosystems, our ability to contain flood waters and protect surrounding communities, and our Coast.
This case presents no exception. If you find yourself in disbelief with the outcome of this matter, or others, you are not alone. However, there are active steps you can take to help change the state of affairs Louisiana.
First, stay educated and informed, change will never happen if people don’t know the truth. Please help to educate others with respect. Share our postings.
Second, act. Follow ABK as we continue this fight and learn how you can engage. Become a member, donate and consider volunteering. Our work would not be possible without your support.
Finally, we want to reiterate that we empathize and feel just as you all do the sense of great injustice in many of our battles, this matter being no exception. However, it is how we conduct ourselves in the face of these perceived setbacks that matters. We will continue to fight for justice, for the protection of our communities and our natural resources, our Basin and our Coast.
This case is far from over. We hope you will continue to fight alongside us. Sharing ideas with respect will go a long way in our goal to educate others, helping to create a united front, that we so desperately need, for change in Louisiana.
Thank You for all of your support and encouragement – The ABK Team
