Attorneys Seek to Expand Lawsuit Arising from I-10 Well Blowout in La.

Attorneys for a Louisiana truck stop are seeking class-action status for a lawsuit against the company whose well blowout forced the closure of Interstate 10 last year.

Silver’s Travel Center in Breaux Bridge filed a federal lawsuit last year against Texas-based Beusa Energy, seeking damages for lost business during the road closure.

Attorneys for the truck stop have proposed expanding the list of potential plaintiffs to include businesses along Interstate 10 and along sections of Interstate 49 and U.S. 190 that suffered traffic snarls as a detour route.

The proposed class could include more than 200 plaintiffs in St. Martin, Lafayette, St. Landry, Iberville and West Baton Rouge parishes, according to court filings.

Most of I-10 between Lafayette and Baton Rouge was closed for 10 days in November while crews capped a well blowout next to the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge near Ramah.

No hearing date has been set on the class-action request.

Beusa Energy has argued that the accident was beyond the company’s control.

Information from: The Advocate, www.2theadvocate.com