6 replies to this topic

[Hayden]

Via TreeHugger Blog...

Late last week a judge found that BP is liable for civil damages resulting from the Gulf Oil Spill. Now, the civil trial between BP and the Plaintiff's Steering Committee (the group of lawyers representing spill victims), which had be scheduled to start today, has been put off one week so that settlement talks can continue.

A statement from the PSC says:

Quote

This adjournment is intended to allow BP and the PSC more time to continue settlement discussion and attempt to reach and agreement. BP and the PSC are working to reach agreement to fairly compensate people and business affected by the Deepwater Horizon accident and oil spill. There can be no assurance that these discussions will lead to a settlement agreement. (BBC News)

Source: http://www.treehugge...ed-march-5.html

[mariaandrea]

Hm. Makes you wonder if the only thing really being done with the extra week is BP accountants and executives and lawyers running calculations to see which will cost them less - a settlement or trial. I hope we really stick it to them, but I'm not really that hopeful.

[jasserEnv]

But of course, it is always going to be about minimizing the costs for these companies. They can think of any of this as a cost of doing business and will do whatever they can to minimize the costs. My only hope is that the government doesn't get tired and agree to a much lower settlement in exchange for a faster resolution. I think that it is really important to set a precedent that the cost of doing this type of business is high enough to think about the consequences in more detail.

[iebo]

They are just trying to talk down the people who were damaged from the oil and all those chemicals they used to clean it up. I am sure they will delay any payments anyways, either through bureaucracy or appeals. They are still trying to blame the mess on Halliburton, although I'm sure both could be held liable to an extent.

[mariaandrea]

Just got this in a breaking news email from the New York Times:

BP and Plaintiffs in Gulf Oil Spill Case Reach Settlement

Quote

A federal judge said Friday night that BP had reached a settlement with a group suing the company over the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The trial in the case, which was scheduled to begin on Monday, was postponed by United States District Judge Carl J. Barbier, in order to allow the court to review the settlement.

Details of the settlement were not immediately available.

The full article is here:
http://www.nytimes.c...tml?_r=1&emc=na

[artistry]

That is what I was going to state, that I just read that BP and the plaintiffs have reached a settlement in the case.  Now. I wonder how long it will take before any of the plaintiffs will see any payment from BP..

[Shortpoet-GTD]

And even if people/businesses are compensated at some point in time, what about the eco-systems?
The swamps, wetlands and the animals, birds, fish-do not have representation.
Barrels of oil still remain in those wetlands. Will it ever be cleaned up? Doubtful.