Reply #16: that would be a pretty silly legal argument. they're liable even if they dumped vinegar or sugar.

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if, for whatever reason, bp decided to dump a brazillian tons of vinegar or sugar or corn syrup or ho-hos or bundt cakes or souffles or dead cows or live turkeys or golf balls or hair or bad actors in the ocean and such dumping caused damage to innocent third parties, then they would be legally liable no matter what "approved" list such items were on.

they are responsible for the leak and any damage caused directly OR INDIRECTLY by it OR ANY EFFORTS TO STOP THE LEAK.



consider another example -- if i were to accidently set fire to your house, then put it out by getting the garden hose and spraying water all about, then i'm responsible not just for the fire/smoke damage but also for the water damage -- even if the 911 operator told me to turn on the garden hose.