BP has indicated that talks with the US Department of Justice are unlikely to reach a settlement ahead of the date set for the trial – 25 February.
Reasonable terms
BP’s general counsel, Rupert Bondy, told the Financial Times newspaper: ‘In a way we are looking forward to the trial. We have said all along we would be prepared to settle on reasonable terms, [but] we are prepared to go to trial.’
According to the report, BP disputes both the amount of oil spilled and the level of negligence involved in the incident.
'High bar'
BP faces a charge of gross negligence, which carries a maximum penalty of $4,300 per barrel, rather than ordinary negligence which carries a penalty of up to $1,100 per barrel. BP also argues that the volume of oil spilled into the water was much less than 4.9m barrels suggested, and at most in the region of 3.2m barrels.
‘What is clear is that [gross negligence] is a very high bar, and we firmly believe the bar is not met in this case,’ added Mr Bondy.
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