BP Wants Gulf Oil-Spill Litigation Combined in Houston Court

[G_j]

Source: Bloomberg

BP Wants Gulf Oil-Spill Litigation Combined in Houston Court

By Margaret Cronin Fisk and Laurel Brubaker Calkins

May 10 (Bloomberg) -- BP Plc asked a panel of judges to combine all lawsuits related to economic and environmental damages from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill in a federal court in Houston.

BP called the Houston court “the appropriate forum” for such lawsuits, Jeffrey Luthi, a spokesman for the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, said today. The panel hasn’t posted BP’s request on the court’s docket, he said.

Almost 100 lawsuits have been filed against BP and other companies involved in the April spill. Most of these are proposed class actions representing potentially thousands of commercial fishermen, shrimpers, seafood processors, property owners and tourism-related businesses harmed by the spill.

A lawyer representing several hundred of these businesses and individuals has asked for the oil-spill litigation to be consolidated before one of three federal judges in Louisiana. The multidistrict-litigation panel has agreed to hear arguments on the matter at its July session.

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601127&sid=af.bCRl3SjDg

[boomerbust]

1. Hmmm

Thats where the Exxon Valdez case was held.

[G_j]

8. interesting

not surprising, considering how long that case has dragged on.

[mrJJ]

2. I wonder why

Why was Rick Perry’s first instinct to protect BP?

Some would question why Rick Perry would stick his neck out for a corporation instead of worrying about Texans and hundreds of miles of coastline. A closer look reveals that Perry and BP have had a cozy relationship for years.

BP donates $250,000 to the Governor's mansion
When Rick Perry needed to raise money to restore the Governor's Mansion after a major fire, he turned to his friends at BP. According to the Austin American-Statesman, "The largest donation is $250,000 from energy giant BP America." (Source: Austin American-Statesman, January 30, 2009)

Perry paid BP for jobs already in Texas
Perry gave BP $750,000 to create 150 jobs in League City, Texas. It was soon revealed that, "50 already work for BP and live in the area." One expert called it, "a classic case of getting paid for doing what you're going to do anyway." (The Houston Chronicle, January 13, 2005)

Perry has been widely criticized for his Texas Enterprise Fund after a report revealed that almost half of the companies that received taxpayer dollars have, "failed or struggled to meet job goals." The companies, including key player in the subprime mortgage market Countrywide Home Loans, have been given a total of $363 million taxpayer dollars. (Source: Austin American-Statesman, January 28, 2010)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4AbJzhdwXE

[IScreamSundays]

3. BP Wants Gulf Oil-Spill Litigation Combined in Houston Court

Source: Bloomberg

May 10 (Bloomberg) -- BP Plc asked a panel of judges to combine all lawsuits related to economic and environmental damages from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill in a federal court in Houston.
BP called the Houston court “the appropriate forum” for such lawsuits, Jeffrey Luthi, a spokesman for the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, said today. The panel hasn’t posted BP’s request on the court’s docket, he said.
Almost 100 lawsuits have been filed against BP and other companies involved in the April spill. Most of these are proposed class actions representing potentially thousands of commercial fishermen, shrimpers, seafood processors, property owners and tourism-related businesses harmed by the spill.
A lawyer representing several hundred of these businesses and individuals has asked for the oil-spill litigation to be consolidated before one of three federal judges in Louisiana. The multidistrict-litigation panel has agreed to hear arguments on the matter at its July session.

Read more: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-05-10/bp-wants-gulf-oil-spill-litigation-combined-in-houston-court.html

---

Gee, I wonder why?

[AllentownJake]

4. Their losses are capped at 75 million dollars

Than the feds pick up the tab.

[flamingdem]

5. Whatever BP (BUTT PLUG) requests I suggest DO THE OPPOSITE

I'm just sayin'

[Dappleganger]

6. What judges/federal judges have they bought?

Whatever they want, the opposite should be done. As always, it's the little guy who will lose against big money.

[jtrockville]

7. Yes, we should make this as easy and convenient for BP as possible.

:rollseyes: