Federal Judge Finds "Reckless" and "Grossly Negligent" Conduct By BP Led to 2010 Oil Spill

Originally published by Francisco Garcia .

The almost 4-year long court battle surrounding the BP Oil Spill seems to have taken a turn for the worst for BP. Last week, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana determined the London-based company’s gross negligence and willful misconduct led to millions of gallons of oil being spilled into the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. This means BP could face “enhanced civil penalties” under the Clean Water Act – which nearly quadruples if a discharge of oil results from gross negligence or willful misconduct.

In a detailed, 152-page “Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law” issued last Thursday, U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier discussed several acts or omissions by BP which he believed amounted to gross negligence or willful misconduct. First, there was the negative pressure test (a safety procedure which determines whether heavy drilling mud could be safely removed) which BP admittedly misinterpreted. The court found that BP’s Well…

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