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Reuters (9/5, Ingram) reports that the US
Justice Department has sharply criticized BP PLC in new court papers regarding
the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The papers describe allegations of
negligence and misconduct on BP's part, and the court filing represents the
sharpest position yet taken by the US government in its effort to hold the firm
accountable in the largest oil spill in US history. Reuters adds that BP and
the US government are currently in talks about settling civil and potential
criminal liability.
Forbes (9/5, Helman) reports that "among
a litany of condemnations, DOJ's attorneys assert that the behavior of BP
executives in the days leading up to the disaster 'would not be tolerated in a
middling size company manufacturing dry goods for sale in a suburban mall."
Forbes adds, "The DOJ filed its 39-page brief in US District Court in
Louisiana where BP is in the process of settling the civil damages case brought
by a giant group of fishermen, hoteliers and citizens damaged by the
spill."
CNBC (9/5, Crooks) reports, "If the DoJ
can establish gross negligence, the penalties under the Clean Water Act would
be up to $21 billion, depending on how much oil was spilled. Compensatory and
punitive damages would come on top of that sum. BP has always denied gross
negligence and said in a statement on Tuesday that it 'looks forward to
presenting evidence on this issue at trial in January.'"
The Financial Times (9/5, Crooks, Subscription
Publication) also reports this story.
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