BP's 'gross negligence' in Gulf oil spill could cost it another $18 billion

BP's 'gross negligence' in Gulf oil spill could cost it another $18 billion
(Image credit: US Coast Guard via Getty Images)

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier in New Orleans ruled that BP's "gross negligence" and "reckless" and "willful misconduct" were the main culprits behind the massive 2010 oil gusher in the Gulf of Mexico. The ruling opened BP up to federal fines of as much as $4,300 a barrel spilled — or up to $18 billion in new civil penalties — under the Clean Water Act.

BP, which has set aside $3.5 billion for Clean Water Act fines, said it "strongly disagrees" with the ruling and will appeal it, because "proving gross negligence is a very high bar that was not met in this case." BP has already spent more than $28 billion on cleaning up the spill and damage claim payouts, and expects to pay about $9.2 billion more on private settlements. BP shares fell 6 percent on Thursday after the ruling.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.