BP Asks for Review of Gross Negligence Ruling

Oil major BP asked on Thursday a U.S. court to review the ruling that found the company “grossly negligent” for the Deeepwater Horizon oil spill from 2010, the worst in U.S. history.

The ruling issued by U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier in September, said BP was subject to enhanced civil penalties under the Clean Water Act, increasing the company’s potential liabilities by about USD 18 billion.

According to the motion filed in Louisiana, Barbier’s ruling was based on evidence he had agreed to exclude from the trial, therefore, the company should be entitled to a new trial, writes Reuters.

The evidence in question, relates to expert testimony about how the Macondo well’s casing was weakened and breached, which contributed to the blowout.

BP has already agreed to pay USD 4 billion in penalties and fines in connection with what is known as the worst oil spill in U.S. history.

Overall, total civil and criminal settlements, along with cleanup and related costs has cost BP USD 43 billion, including the USD 3.5 billion set aside for the Clean Water Act penalty.

Based on the estimates of the US government  a total of 4.2 million barrels was spilled into the Gulf.