BP Will Receive Documents from U.S. Gov’t on Size of Gulf Oil Spill

Posted in BP British Petroleum,Deepwater Horizon,Government,Gulf Coast,Louisiana Maritime News,Maritime Law,Maritime Lawsuits,World Maritime News on April 16, 2012

NEW ORLEANS, La. — BP Plc is finally going to receive government documents that may shed light on the size of the April 10, 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

In a court filing in New Orleans on Wednesday, April 11, the U.S. government said it will produce 100 documents that BP requested, citing “the importance of this case and the desire of the court to keep this case moving expeditiously.”

The government finally agreed to produce the documents after just two weeks before BP had accused it of unfairly withholding the documents because they were privileged.

BP considers these documents to be a crucial factor in determining the oil company’s liability.

On March 29, BP accused the government of improperly withholding more than 10,000 documents because they reflected policy deliberations.

In Wednesday’s filing, the government said it expects to re-review about 13,000 documents by May 15, and invoke privilege as needed to ensure that decision-making is not impeded.

U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier has scheduled a May 3 meeting with lawyers to discuss how the case should proceed.

The case is In re: Oil Spill by the Oil Rig “Deepwater Horizon” in the Gulf of Mexico, on April 20, 2010, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, No. 10-md-02179.

Posted by Louisiana maritime lawyer, Gordon, Elias & Seely, LLP