U.S. oil-spill ruling pleases plaintiff lawyers

[xchrom]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/27/us-bp-lawsuit-idUSTRE77P77W20110827

(Reuters) - Plaintiff lawyers claimed a victory on Friday when a federal judge overseeing hundreds of lawsuits against BP and others over last year's big oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico allowed much of the case to move ahead, including punitive damages claims.

"We are very pleased with the ruling," said Stephen Herman, a lead attorney for the plaintiffs, who include more than 100,000 individuals, businesses and property owners alleging spill-related losses. "The court agreed with us on all major points."

A spokeswoman for BP, the main defendant, said the company had no immediate comment.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier in New Orleans allows claims for punitive damages under general maritime law to move forward. BP and other defendants had asserted in court filings that the Oil Pollution Act does not allow plaintiffs to collect punitive damages.

[ixion]

1. Good. Sue them out of existence.

[xchrom]

2. indeed. nt

[Agony]

3. This might even provide a slight, transient leveling of our economic inequality problem.

at least theoretically and before the SCOTUS throws any award out on appeal à la the Exxon Valdez "settlement".

[MisterP]

4. first Liz Fowler gets it in the eye from the courts, and now Ken Feinberg

these are GOOD developments

[Downtown Hound]

5. Our corporate owned legal system did something right?

How the fuck did that happen? Not that I'm complaining, just surprised.

[TheWraith]

6. Perhaps because the world isn't as bad as pessimism claims it is. nt

[Downtown Hound]

7. Could have fooled me. n/t