International Law

McClatchy: Criminal Charges Likely In Gulf Oil Catastrophe

Marisa Taylor of McClatchy Newspapers:

WASHINGTON ? 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.

...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.

- Garry J. Wise, Toronto

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Full post as published by Wise Law Blog on May 13, 2010 (boomark / email).