Impact of the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Disaster

Tens of billions of dollars in losses have been incurred due to the Gulf Coast Deepwater Horizon oil spill. There have been thousands of square miles of waters closed to fishing, swimming and/or boating, and thousands of square miles of historic coastal marshes, cypress forests, barrier islands, and white sand beaches compromised. Fishermen and marine businesses have lost and continue to lose income and be put out of business; the tourism industry and hotels, resorts, restaurant owners, and other tourism-reliant businesses are losing income; and property values along the Gulf of Mexico coastline are decreasing due to the oil spill.

While it has been reported that the majority of the surface oil has now been collected, burned, dispersed or broken down, the subsurface plumes still cover extensive areas potentially larger than the surface slicks ever were, continuing to threaten ecosystems throughout the water column and the economy of the Gulf Coast.

This environmental and economic disaster would never have occurred if BP and the other companies involved in drilling at the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, as alleged in class action complaints, followed required safety protocols and precautionary procedures, properly maintained equipment, and used widely available emergency safety technology. Instead, they chose to skimp on safety and cut costs in a short-sighted effort to maximize profits.

Gulf Oil Spill Lawsuit News

On August 10, 2010, all cases filed against defendants in federal court were transferred to U.S. District Court Judge Barbier in the Eastern District of Louisiana.

On August 20, 2010, a group of Gulf Coast fishermen, property owners, business owners, and wage earners filed a nationwide class action lawsuit against BP, Transocean, Cameron International, and Halliburton seeking certification of a class for the purpose of determining punitive damages against defendants for the April 20, 2010, explosion and resulting oil spill from the Deep Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. The complaint seeks the establishment of a nationwide punishment fund and that the funds be distributed under Court supervision to all class members for their benefit and that of society.

Many Individuals, Businesses and Communities May Be Eligible to Bring Legal Claims

The BP Deep water horizon oil disaster poses a severe threat to the economic welfare of the Gulf Coast, including:

1. Companies and individuals involved in the commercial fishing, oyster and shrimping industries;
2. Companies and individuals involved in wholesale seafood sales and the seafood processing/packaging industry;
3. Dock and marina owners/operators;
4. Restaurants;
5. Commercial and private boat owners;
6. Property owners and developers;
7. City, county or state governments.

Each of these victims of the Gulf Spill may be eligible to bring legal claims against BP and the other defendants.

Damages related to this disaster may include real or personal property damages; loss of profits and earning capacity; loss of subsistence use of natural resources; increased costs of public services; and, loss of government revenue.