Florida Pipeline Rupture Case Hinges on Rival Record Arguments

A Fifth Circuit panel seemed confused Wednesday about the sufficiency of opposing records presented by a pipeline company and the Transportation Department disputing penalties following a 2020 pipeline rupture in Florida.

“This was a pretty bad event, and you don’t think your client should have to pay anything for having been the reason for a huge problem on the pipeline?” asked Judge Catharina Haynes.

“It’s not a matter of we don’t think we should pay something because it was a rupture,” said Dana Livingston of Cokinos Young PC on behalf of Florida Gas Transmission Co. LLC.

“We have to ...