BP buying up Gulf scientists for legal defense, newspaper alleges.

[dixiegrrrrl]

The Mobile Press-Register published an article on its website Friday alleging that BP has been offering lucrative contracts and signing bonuses to top scientists at universities around the Gulf of Mexico as part of its defense against oil spill litigation.

BP PLC even tried to sign up the entire marine sciences department at an Alabama university. The university declined due to confidentiality requirements the company sought to impose.

Scientists from Louisiana State University, Mississippi State University and Texas A&M University have already accepted offers, according to academic officials.

Robert Wiygul, an Ocean Springs, Miss., lawyer who specializes in environmental law, said after reviewing a copy of an agreement, said: "This is not an agreement to do research for BP. This is an agreement to join BP's legal team." He also said it buys silence as well as services, due to its confidentiality clauses.

More:

http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2010/07/bp_buying_up_gulf_scientists_f.html

[spanone]

1. they will spend a billion to save 20 billion.

[caboose]

2. Well, they're doing everything possible to mitigate losses to their stockholders

which is exactly what the executive team of any company is supposed to do. I guess a lot of people would like for this to end up like Enron where millions of stockholders lost billions and many thousands lost jobs and pensions.

[izquierdista]

4. And I'm one of them

Companies that externalize more costs than they are worth need to get the shit can. Sooner rather than later.

[caboose]

7. Regardless of who it hurts? How compassionate.

...

[izquierdista]

8. Guess that's why I'm not a conservative

I have no compassion for people who throw their money in with a bunch of clowns out to wreck the planet.

[pocoloco]

5. WTF?

Better stockholders than residents of the Gulf Coast!!

[blindpig]

3. They are good, diligent capitalists.....

which makes them rotten human beings and a danger to us all.

Kill Capitalism

[ArcticFox]

6. dirty litigation trick

They're certainly trying to discuss the matter with as many experts as possible to keep the plaintiffs (people injured by the spill) from having any experts to make their case against BP.