Alexander, et al, v. St. James Parish
Date Filed:
August 30, 2023
Current Status
Plaintiffs have filed suit against the Parish in state court, appealing the Parish's decision to allow Koch Methanol to expand. On June 18, 2024, the trial court ruled against Plaintiffs, who have appealed that ruling to the court of appeal. On May 14, 2025, the Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the Plaintiffs that the Parish violated its own law when it approved Koch Methanol's expansion request.
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Pamela Spees
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Celine Zhu
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Astha Sharma Pokharel
Co-Counsel
Lisa Jordan
Clara Potter
Laura Derbonne
Tom Polites
Tulane Environmental Law Clinic
Client(s)
Inclusive Louisiana
Mount Triumph Baptist Church
Case Description
The Center Constitutional Rights represents Inclusive Louisiana and Mount Triumph Baptist Church in their appeal of the local government's approval of a request by Koch Methanol to expand its operations in the predominately Black 5th District of St. James Parish. The district is located in the heart of what has come to be known as "Cancer Alley," an 85-mile stretch of the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans where hundreds of petrochemical facilities and other heavy industry are located. In the wake of their filing of the historic case seeking a moratorium on the siting and expansions of such facilities in their communities, St. James Parish approved yet another request by industry to expand. While still fighting for the moratorium they have long been demanding, they are challenging this expansion too, which would greatly increase the already-significant amounts of toxic emissions.
May 14, 2025
Appellate Court Ruling
Appellate Court Rules in Plaintiffs' favor and agrees that Parish violated its own law when it approved Koch Methanol's expansion.
Plaintiffs appeal lower court ruling
December 16, 2024
Plaintiffs appeal lower court ruling
Plaintiffs appeal the lower court's ruling, arguing that Parish violated its own ordinance when it approved pipeline construction in wetlands without the required level of scrutiny.
Court rules against Plaintiffs
June 18, 2024
Court rules against Plaintiffs
Court rules against Plaintiffs, finding that Parish did not violate its own ordinance which requires stricter review of industrial projects in wetlands than Parish undertook.
March 18, 2024
Petitioners' reply brief
Residents file their brief replying to the arguments put forward by the parish and Koch Methanol.
Parish's opposition brief
March 8, 2024
Parish's opposition brief
Parish files brief opposing residents' appeal of its land use decision.
Koch Methanol opposition brief
March 8, 2024
Koch Methanol opposition brief
Koch Methanol files its brief opposing residents' challenge to its expansion.
Plaintiffs' opening brief
February 16, 2024
Plaintiffs' opening brief
Plaintiffs file their opening brief in state court arguing that the parish's approval of Koch Methanol's expansion request violated its own ordinance and was arbitrary and capricious.
Koch Methanol moves to intervene
December 21, 2023
Koch Methanol moves to intervene
December 21, 2023
Parish responds
The parish files an answer to the plaintiffs' complaint.
Residents take parish to court
October 27, 2023
Residents take parish to court
Plaintiffs file a petition with the state court to appeal the parish's decision allowing Koch Methanol's expansion.
Residents supplement their appeal
September 26, 2023
Residents supplement their appeal
Residents file additional information with the Parish Council.
Residents appeal land use decision
August 30, 2023
Residents appeal land use decision
Residents appeal the Planning Commission's approval of Koch Methanol's expansion request to the St. James Parish Council.
Last modified: May 15, 2025
