Reply #5: It depends on the order [View All]

[Sgent]

and the legal basis for it.

I haven't read the judicial order, but I'm assuming in this case Bush designated the oil companies as federal contractors with immunity through the FTCA (or similar). Assuming that is the case, then they have recieved irreversable immunity for the purposes of fulfilling that specific contract(s).

You could sue them, but they would be considered agents of the federal government. This means that soveriegn immunity would exist, and most lawsuits would fail. There may exist some method to recoup expense only in the case of personal injury torts -- but that money would come from the Federal Govt, and US Attorney's would provide the defense.