Gov. Jindal's Oil/Gas Crony Pulls Sanford's 'Oh My Heart' Stunt To Skip Court - Again (Video)

Despite Louisiana Oil & Gas Association (LOGA) President Don Briggs being told he’d be sentenced to jail that if failed again to appear in a Baton Rouge courtroom for a hearing, he’d go to jail. Briggs skipped out again, claiming his heart was bad.

Briggs was due to be at a hearing on the association’s lawsuit against Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell attempting to block wetlands litigation against 97 of the group’s oil and gas members. 

Not surprising in Louisiana, Brigg’s health excuse worked. The judge postponed the court date until March, giving Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal ample time to do some manipulating to replace enough levee authority members to vote against the lawsuit, and thus, protect his oil and gas cronies funding him.

LOGA’s Dec. lawsuit asked the court to rule Caldwell’s office improperly approved a contract between Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East (known as the levee authority) and Jones Swanson Huddell & Garrison law firm, that’s representing the levee authority in its suit against 97 oil, gas and pipeline companies, many being LOGA members.

Judge Janice Clark of the 19th Judicial District late Monday issued a bench warrant demanding Briggs appear Tuesday, or face a contempt of court ruling that could result in jail time. He skipped out again.

His oil and gas advocates say he skipped again because of his health. Others say he’s stalling to delay the levee authority’s lawsuit long enough to give oil puppet Gov. Bobby Jindal time to replace enough authority board members who’ll stop the suit.”

Briggs’ attorney gave new information about his “health problems” to the judge.  In a statement issued late Monday, LOGA said Briggs had a pre-existing heart issue aggravated when he was deposed Thursday by attorneys for Attorney General Buddy Caldwell and the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East.

“(Monday), despite his current health condition, the attorneys for the AG continued to insist that Mr. Briggs appear, resulting in the judge issuing a bench warrant for Mr. Briggs’ not appearing in court,” the statement said. 

Leo Honeycutt, Caldwell’s communications director said it was not the attorney general’s lawyers who pressed the issue of Briggs’ failure to appear, according to an email he sent from the courtroom Tuesday:

Judge Clark was angered because (1) Briggs filed the suit; (2) Briggs knew this court date was coming and the rest of us showed up; and (3) Briggs was subpoenaed but defied the subpoena because in his deposition last Thursday he discovered he had no evidence, no case, and hadn’t even read his own lawsuit.

Monday, an attorney representing Briggs presented a letter from his doctor explaining his absence. The judge called the doctor ”and said she could allay his concerns about his ability to handle the situation,” said E. Wade Shows, an attorney representing the Attorney General’s Office in the hearing.

“At that point, (Briggs) apparently went to another doctor,” Shows said. “The second doctor didn’t write a letter, but called and left a message with Mr. Briggs’ attorney, according to Shows.

The judge, however, didn’t buy the tactic. 

“LOGA will provide Don Briggs’ additional medical history tomorrow, February 25, 2014,” the statement said. 

Honeycutt said Briggs’ failure to show up also is curious due to his keynote speech to 300 people at Lafayette’s Petroleum Club only three weeks ago “in which he stated the oil industry was enjoying the best year in 40 years with the greatest potential he had ever seen.” 

“This is bizarre, unbelievable and ridiculous behavior by a man who constantly rails against frivolous lawsuits,” Honeycutt said. “Now, he is one.” 

Honeycutt accused Briggs of engaging in stall tactics aimed at delaying the levee authority’s lawsuit “long enough to give Jindal time to replace enough (authority) board members who’ll stop the suit.”

Sources: Sanford and Son, The Advertizer, YouTube, Times Picayune