The case for seizure from SeizeBP.org

[Donnachaidh]

http://seizebp.org/

By any number of economic, social and moral requirements, the assets of BP should be seized and used to provide comprehensive compensation and relief for those who have lost their jobs and whose livelihoods, homes and communities have been severely harmed or destroyed, and to clean up and restore the environment.

There is also a legal basis underlying a call for seizure.

Under deeply-rooted and long standing legal principles, BP should be responsible for all consequence of damage, not merely direct oil removal costs.

The doctrine of strict liability for ultrahazardous or inherently dangerous activities has deep roots within the law. See e.g., Rylands v. Fletcher, 3 H.L. 330 (1868) (landmark English tort law case applying the doctrine of strict liability for inherently dangerous activities in a case where an engineer constructed a reservoir on land to supply power to his steam-powered textile mill, the tanks collapsed and caused others’ property to become flooded).

Much as a keeper of a wild animal is held strictly liable for any damage the animal causes, regardless of fault, the doctrine of strict liability has been applied to industrial hazards, including drilling for oil. See, e.g., Green v. General Petroleum Corp., 205 Cal. 328 (1928) (case imposing strict liability, without showing of fault, upon oil drilling company that experienced well “blow-out” that spewed a steady stream of oil, gas, mud and rocks into the air for 24 hours, causing substantial damage).


MORE at the link ---

[salguine]

1. But in reality, they'll figure out how to give BP a $100 billion taxpayer bailout out of this.

[Donnachaidh]

2. agreed. But you cannot expect a constitutional scholar to actually DO something legally, can we?

The whole situation is obscene.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. or..BP will declare bankruptcy, wiping out all debts, then re-organize

under a new name and business as usual will go on.

[Donnachaidh]

5. if their assets are SEIZED, what will they have to re-organize with?

We physically seize everything a drug dealer has -- why not do the same with BP? WHY is THAT different?

[blindpig]

4. I honestly don't care if it is legal or not

Expropriate without compensation

[leftstreet]

6. K&R

[NeedleCast]

7. What are they planning to seize? Who will they give the seized assets to?

[jayfish]

8. Great Site!

I thought I was one of the only ones espousing this idea.

FSH