Title:Judge raps Corps of Engineers but throws out Katrina lawsuit
current event
Who:U.S. District Judge Stanwood Duval
What:A federal judge has thrown out a class action lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over the failure of levees in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina
When:The Corps designed the levee system that was supposed to protect the low-lying city. But after Katrina stuck the Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005, steel-and-concrete levees eroded and failed in several areas, flooding about 80 percent of the city with water up to 20 feet deep.
Where:New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.
why:In 2007, the Insurance Information Institute estimated insured losses for Katrina across Louisiana at $25.3 billion.
In his ruling, Stanwood said the Corps deserves blame for its role in the flooding even if it can't be held legally responsible.
"While the United States government is immune ... it is not free, nor should it be, from posterity's judgment concerning its failure to accomplish what was its task," Stanwood said, lamenting his inability to take further action.
how:Levees failed in several areas, flooding about 80 percent of New Orleans with water up to 20 feet deep.
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