Criminal charges likely from Gulf oil spill, legal experts say

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"Federal investigators are likely to file criminal charges against at least one of the companies involved in the Gulf of Mexico spill, raising the prospects of significantly higher penalties than a current $75 million cap on civil liability, legal experts say.

The inquiry by the Homeland Security and Interior Departments into how the spill occurred is still in its early stages and authorities have not confirmed whether a criminal investigation has been launched.

But environmental law experts say it's just a matter of time until the Justice Department steps in - if it hasn't already - to initiate a criminal inquiry and take punitive action.

"There is no question there'll be an enforcement action," said David M. Uhlmann, who headed the Justice Department's environmental crimes section for seven years during the Clinton and Bush administrations. "And, it's very likely that there will be at least some criminal charges brought."

Such a likelihood has broad legal implications for BP and the two other companies involved — not the least of which is the amount of money any responsible party could be required to pay. The White House is asking Congress to lift the current $75 million cap on liability under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, but there's no cap on criminal penalties. In fact, prosecutors in such cases can seek twice the cost of environmental and economic damages resulting from the spill."

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/05/12/1626648/federal-laws-point-to-criminal.html#ixzz0npwHeRL2

[Warpy]

1. Considering the list of things I read yesterday

about the dead battery, the leaking hydraulics, and the fact that the blade wasn't hefty enough to slice through the pipe even if it had worked correctly lead me to think this was criminal negligence.

Let the games begin. It's going to be a great time to be a Louisiana lawyer.

[Scuba]

2. Criminal negligence. Murder. Indict them now.