Category: Government

Judge Barbier Allows Some Plaintiffs to Collect Punitive Damages in BP Gulf Oil Spill Lawsuits

Posted in BP British Petroleum,Deepwater Horizon,Environment,Florida Maritime News,Government,Gulf Coast,Louisiana Maritime News,Maritime Accidents,Maritime Law,Maritime Lawsuits,Mississippi Maritime News,Texas Maritime News,World Maritime News on September 1, 2011

NEW ORLEANS, La. – U.S. District Court Judge Carl Barbier in a major 39-page ruling dismissed all state law claims, but instead adopted an expansive view of economic damage that could result from the oil spill and said that some plaintiffs may be able to collect punitive damages from the companies involved in the Deepwater… read more

BP Investigated by DOJ for Faulty Oil Spill (VIDEO)

Posted in BP British Petroleum,Deepwater Horizon,Government,Gulf Coast,Maritime Accidents on August 29, 2011

The Huffington Post has launched an investigation raising serious questions about BP’s role in estimating the size of the undersea gusher well over a year after the the Deepwater Horizon explosion on April 29, 2010. WATCH VIDEO Source: Huffington Post Published by maritime lawyer Gordon & Elias, LLP

Feinberg Wants Federal Court to Preside Over Mississippi Lawsuit

Posted in BP British Petroleum,Deepwater Horizon,Government,Gulf Coast,Maritime Law,Maritime Lawsuits,Mississippi Maritime News,World Maritime News on August 22, 2011

JACKSON, MS. – Kenneth Feinberg, the administrator of BP’s $20 billion oil spill fund, wants a federal court to preside over a Mississippi lawsuit, instead of the state court where the suit was filed.

Federal Magistrate Denies BP Request to Obtain White House Emails Related To Gulf Oil Spill Response

Posted in BP British Petroleum,Environment,Florida Maritime News,Government,Gulf Coast,Louisiana Maritime News,Maritime Accidents,Maritime Law,Maritime Lawsuits,World Maritime News on August 1, 2011

NEW ORLEANS, La. – BP, who was seeking a court order Wednesday, July 20, compelling the White House to turn over emails by a former top adviser to President Barack Obama, has been denied by U.S. Magistrate Sally Shushan.

BP Claims Fund Accused of Using Coercive Tactics to Force Victims to Agree to Final Settlements

Posted in Alabama Maritime News,BP British Petroleum,Deepwater Horizon,Environment,Florida Maritime News,Government,Gulf Coast,Louisiana Maritime News,Maritime Law,Maritime Lawsuits,Mississippi Maritime News,Texas Maritime News on July 28, 2011

NEW ORLEANS, La – Lawyers for victims of the April 20, 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill say that BP is using “coercive tactics” to force the victims to agree to final settlements with its claims fund. Attorneys representing property owners, businesses and others claiming harm say victims have been forced to sign releases for… read more

Louisiana Slated to Receive Largest Portion of BP Oil Spill Fines After Compromise

Posted in Alabama Maritime News,BP British Petroleum,Environment,Florida Maritime News,Government,Gulf Coast,Maritime Accidents,Texas Maritime News on July 25, 2011

WASHINGTON — Louisiana appears to be the frontrunner in a senate compromise proposal of the plan to distribute Clean Water Act fine money and is likely to get the biggest chunk of remaining money, which is largely reserved for environmental restoration. Negotiations, which have stalled over the past several months on how to distribute billions… read more

Eric Holder Announces Independent Audit of BP Gulf Oil Spill Claims Fund

Posted in Alabama Maritime News,BP British Petroleum,Deepwater Horizon,Environment,Government,Gulf Coast,Jones Act,Louisiana Maritime News,Maritime Accidents,Maritime Law,Maritime Lawsuits,Mississippi Maritime News,Missouri Maritime News,Texas Maritime News,World Maritime News on July 21, 2011

WASHINGTON – Attorney General Eric Holder has annouced Wednesday, July 20, that an independent audit will be performed on the $20 billion fund set up to compensate victims of the BP oil spill.

BP Announces New Safety Standards for Gulf Drilling

Posted in BP British Petroleum,Deepwater Horizon,Environment,Government,Gulf Coast,Louisiana Maritime News,Mississippi Maritime News,Texas Maritime News,World Maritime News on July 18, 2011

WASHINGTON – In a letter to federal regulators on Friday, July 15, BP announced that they have adopted new safety standards at drilling projects in the Gulf of Mexico. In the letter, BP told regulators that the standards exceed existing federal requirements and demonstrate the company’s commitment to preventing a repeat of the Deepwater Horizon… read more

BP Argues Most Gulf Oil Spill Victims Should Not Receive Any More Payouts

Posted in BP British Petroleum,Deepwater Horizon,Environment,Florida Maritime News,Government,Gulf Coast,Jones Act,Louisiana Maritime News,Maritime Law,Maritime Lawsuits,Mississippi Maritime News,World Maritime News on July 12, 2011

NEW ORLEANS, La —  BP Oil Company filed a 29 page document with the Gulf Coast Claims Facility on Friday, July 8, arguing that most Gulf Oil Spill victims should not receive anymore payouts for future losses. The oil company’s argument is that the hardest-hit areas are recovering and the economy is growing.

Gulf Oil Spill Senate Hearings Organized by Sen. Marco Rubio to Be Held in Pensacola

Posted in Deepwater Horizon,Florida Maritime News,Government,Gulf Coast,Maritime Accidents on June 30, 2011

WASHINGTON — A Senate hearing before the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee will be held in Pensacola on July 11, 2011 where business leaders from Florida’s Panhandle will describe the region’s economic and environmental recovery from last year’s Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Witnesses at the hearing will include Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll; Collier Merrill,… read more