http://www.abajournal.com/news/ en Copyright 2013 2013-06-19T15:37:18-06:00 http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/judge_nixes_attorneys_fees_for_lawyer_in_oil_spill_case_says_clients_signat/ Saying that he believes a plaintiff's signature on a legal representation document concerning the Gulf of Mexico oil spill was forged, a federal judge in New Orleans nixed attorney fees for a Texas lawyer. Attorney Brent Coon had sought a 25 percent share of an undisclosed settlement his claimed client,… Energy Law, Oil Spill, Trials & Litigation, Attorney Fees, Verdicts & Settlements, 5th Circuit Court, States, Louisiana Fri, 05 Apr 2013 12:25:42 -0500 43614.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/federal_bench_trial_begins_to_apportion_fault_for_gulf_oil_spill_among_bp_a/ A federal judge in New Orleans began hearing opening statements Monday in a trial to determine how to apportion blame between BP Plc and its subcontractors for the massive oil spill that began April 20, 2010 with a blowout of an undersea well after the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded… Admiralty & Maritime Law, Corporate Law, Criminal Justice, Environmental Law, Government Law, Oil Spill, Tort Law, Trials & Litigation, 5th Circuit Court, States, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas Mon, 25 Feb 2013 13:16:31 -0600 42993.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/judge_approves_guilty_plea_in_gulf_oil_spill/ A federal judge in Houston has approved a plea agreement with Transocean, the Swiss-based owner and operator of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, for its role in the 2010 oil well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico that left 11 workers dead and resulted in… Criminal Justice, Environmental Law, Oil Spill, Natural Disasters Fri, 15 Feb 2013 17:05:46 -0600 42896.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/judge_oks_bp_plea_deal_despite_objections_pollution_case_looms/ A federal judge on Tuesday approved a plea deal in which BP agreed to pay $4 billion to resolve criminal charges over the Gulf oil spill. U.S District Judge Sarah Vance of New Orleans approved the deal on Tuesday despite emotional testimony and letters from several dozen… Criminal Justice, Environmental Law, Oil Spill, Trials & Litigation Wed, 30 Jan 2013 11:48:25 -0600 42613.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/transocean_to_pay_1.4b_to_end_doj_criminal_probe_and_other_federal_claims/ The company that owned the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig and safety equipment involved in the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill nearly three years ago has agreed to pay $1.4 billion to settle federal claims over the fatal environmental disaster. Transocean Ltd. will plead guilty to violating the Clean Water… Administrative Law, Corporate Law, Criminal Justice, Environmental Law, Legal History, Oil Spill, Trials & Litigation, Verdicts & Settlements, 5th Circuit Court, States, District of Columbia, Louisiana Thu, 03 Jan 2013 17:52:01 -0600 42215.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/its_not_just_money_fears_blocking_access_to_legal_help_lawyer_distrust_is_g/ ABA Journal, Law Scribbler, Business of Law, Law Practice Management, Oil Spill, Trials & Litigation, Business of Law Sat, 01 Dec 2012 03:20:27 -0600 41594.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/misinterpreted_pressure_readings_cited_in_manslaughter_indictment_against_t/ Two BP supervisors have been charged with manslaughter in the Gulf oil disaster in an indictment that accuses them of misinterpreting pressure readings just before the blowout that killed 11 workers. The United States on Thursday announced charges of involuntary manslaughter and seaman’s manslaughter against Donald Vidrine and Robert Kaluza,… Attorney General, Criminal Justice, Oil Spill Fri, 16 Nov 2012 07:40:58 -0600 41663.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/bp_says_it_will_pay_4.5b_to_resolve_federal_criminal_and_securities_allegat/ Updated and corrected: BP has announced it will pay $4.5 billion to resolve federal criminal and securities allegations in connection with the Gulf oil spill. The company will pay $4 billion over five years in a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department and $525 million over three… Attorney General, Criminal Justice, Environmental Law, Oil Spill, Securities Law, Trials & Litigation, Verdicts & Settlements Thu, 15 Nov 2012 11:38:53 -0600 41650.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/bp_said_to_be_near_federal_plea_deal_in_oil_spill_with_record_criminal_pena/ U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is reportedly set to announce a plea deal with BP that will include a record criminal penalty for its actions in the Gulf oil spill. A source tells Reuters the penalty will top the record amount of $1.3 billion paid in 2009 by… Attorney General, Criminal Justice, Environmental Law, Oil Spill, Securities Law, Trials & Litigation, Verdicts & Settlements Thu, 15 Nov 2012 07:43:46 -0600 41645.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/biloxi_blues_legal-cost_fears/ Business of Law, Law Practice Management, Pro Bono, Careers, Lawyer Pay, Insurance Law, Labor & Employment, Oil Spill, Recession, Features Thu, 01 Nov 2012 05:08:04 -0500 41081.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/bp_focused_too_narrowly_on_worker_safety_missed_big-picture_issues_resultin/ Focused on worker safety, BP failed to anticipate adequately big-picture risks that led to the 2010 explosion and fire in its Gulf of Mexico oil rig that killed 11 people and resulted in a massive petroleum spill, members of a federal investigatory panel said Tuesday. Preliminary findings by the U.S.… Corporate Law, Energy Law, Environmental Law, Oil Spill Tue, 24 Jul 2012 17:57:18 -0500 39869.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/jury_sides_with_kevin_costner_in_stephen_baldwins_17m_suit_over_oil_spill/ Kevin Costner. s_bukley / Shutterstock.com Stephen Baldwin. s_bukley / Shutterstock.com A federal jury in New Orleans sided with Kevin Costner… Celebrities, Corporate Law, Oil Spill, Trials & Litigation, Verdicts & Settlements, 5th Circuit Court, States, Louisiana Fri, 15 Jun 2012 12:37:26 -0500 39285.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/trial_looms_in_legal_battle_of_actors_kevin_costner_and_stephen_baldwin_re_/ Kevin Costner. s_bukley / Shutterstock.com Stephen Baldwin. s_bukley / Shutterstock.com An invention spearheaded by actor Kevin Costner, who invested millions… Celebrities, Contracts, Corporate Law, Oil Spill, Trials & Litigation, 5th Circuit Court, States, Louisiana Fri, 01 Jun 2012 12:15:16 -0500 39053.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/judge_gives_preliminary_ok_to_7.8b_bp_deal_government_plaintiffs_will_have_/ A trial to determine BP’s liability for the Gulf oil spill has been pushed back until January, giving the company more time to reach a deal with litigants not covered by a proposed $7.8 billion settlement. U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier gave preliminary approval to the settlement with individuals and… Attorney General, Oil Spill, Tort Law, Trials & Litigation, Verdicts & Settlements, States, Louisiana Fri, 04 May 2012 07:05:55 -0500 38633.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/doj_files_first_criminal_charges_in_bp_oil_spill_engineer_is_accused_of_del/ The first criminal charges have been filed by the federal government relating to the BP oil spill. A former BP engineer, Kurt Mix of Katy, Texas, is accused of deleting more than 300 text messages about the amount of oil leaking from the well, according to the Criminal Justice, Oil Spill, Trials & Litigation, Evidence Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:12:28 -0500 38460.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/bp_reaches_estimated_7.8b_deal_in_oil_spill_will_feinberg_claimants_benefit/ BP has agreed to pay an estimated $7.8 billion to settle a class action by around 100,000 plaintiffs and businesses harmed by the Gulf oil spill. If U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier of New Orleans approves the deal, it will be among the largest class action settlements in history, the… Environmental Law, Oil Spill, Trials & Litigation Mon, 05 Mar 2012 06:30:37 -0600 37613.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/back_to_the_big_easy_aba_to_hold_its_first_major_post-katrina_meeting/ Bar Associations, ABA, Midyear Meeting, Judiciary, Oil Spill, Natural Disasters, States, Louisiana, Your ABA Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:50:34 -0600 36837.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/bp_claims_halliburton_destroyed_oil_spill_evidence_seeks_sanctions/ BP claims in court papers filed Monday that its contractor Halliburton has intentionally destroyed damaging evidence about cement tests that could be used in a trial assessing liability for the Gulf Oil spill. BP cites deposition testimony by a Halliburton technician who said he threw… Civil Procedure, Legal Ethics, Oil Spill, Tort Law, Trials & Litigation, Evidence Tue, 06 Dec 2011 11:25:00 -0600 36333.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/feds_blame_bp_shortcuts_for_gulf_oil_spill_in_new_report_released_today/ Reaching conclusions similar to those of earlier investigators, in the most comprehensive report to date on the cause of disastrous Gulf of Mexico oil spill that began on April 20, 2010, when the Deepwater Horizon blew up in a fiery explosion, a joint task force today blames BP and two… Administrative Law, Corporate Law, Environmental Law, Oil Spill, Tort Law, Trials & Litigation, 5th Circuit Court, States, Louisiana Wed, 14 Sep 2011 16:00:25 -0500 34952.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/brief_calls_bp_compensation_process_an_abject_failure_seeks_special_master/ Lawyers suing BP over the Gulf oil spill would like a new person to oversee the $20 billion compensation fund: a court-appointed special master. A supplemental brief (PDF) says the fund has paid only 16 percent of interim claims filed, according to the New… Oil Spill, Trials & Litigation Tue, 26 Jul 2011 07:23:06 -0500 34098.abajournal.com