Doerle suing parish

After being sued by Iberia Parish, landfill owner Gordon Doerle is suing back.

On Wednesday, a recoventional demand for declaratory relief and damages was filed by Edward Landry, the lawyer representing Doerle’s company, Gordon’s Landfill and Disposal LLC.

Doerle is seeking $65 million in damages through state district court in Iberia Parish for having “suffered damages of loss of income, loss of property values, as well as other damages” stemming from the parish’s efforts to block the expansion of his landfill located on Coteau Road near the end of the main runway of Acadiana Regional Airport.

Assistant District Attorney Eric Duplantis said Doerle’s action is comparable to a countersuit. He also said the dollar amount Doerle is requesting is arbitrary.

“He just throws that number out there,” Duplantis said. “None of the petition specifies that.”

Duplantis said specifying a dollar amount in this sort of legal action is unusual.

“In petitions such as these, dollar values for damages are usually not included,” he said. “The jury, or judge, in the trial decides that.”

Duplantis said no court dates in the lawsuit have been filed as of yet, and when the case likely will be decided by a judge, as opposed to having a jury trial.

Doerle said the $65 million in lost revenue is based on his landfill being unable, per parish action, to expand an additional 60 acres.

“Each acre represents about $1.3 million of revenue, debris it can hold, so we’re basing our calculations on that,” Doerle said.

With respect to the overall lawsuit, after five public hearings, four private ones and completing various applications, Doerle said he’s “had enough.”

“We’ve done everything they’ve requested,” Doerle said. “Now, it’s time for the parish to put its money where its mouth is. Let’s let the judge decide.”

Doerle said no matter the outcome of the lawsuit, the taxpayers are the ones who lose.

“If I lose this expansion, it could cost the city of New Iberia an additional $400,000 a year for waste disposal, as I will have to bring the waste to another landfill,” Doerle said. If I win, it will cost taxpayers another $65 million.

“They are playing politics with taxpayer money. No one wins in this case. That’s what is sad about it. It’s a no-win situation for either party.”