BP Oil Spill Lawsuits Target MMS and the Government

Washington, DCIn addition to lawsuits filed against British Petroleum and other defendants for their alleged roles in the BP oil spill, a lawsuit has now been filed against the US Minerals Management Service (MMS) claiming the service also had a role in the disaster.


Filed on behalf of the Sierra Club and the Gulf Restoration Network, the lawsuit alleges that MMS waived safety regulations of oil exploration in parts of the Gulf of Mexico. According to Reuters on 5/18/10, the lawsuit alleges that MMS set aside requirements for documentation outlining what companies would do if a "worst-case scenario" spill were to happen. The lawsuit notes the documentation is required by law before exploratory offshore drilling is approved.

The waiver was given in 2008 and is valid through 2013. It exempts oil companies that drill in the Gulf of Mexico from disclosing blowout scenarios and response plans.

Meanwhile, coastal parishes filed lawsuits against BP, seeking money for damage to wildlife caused by the oil spill. Both Terrebonne and St. Tammany Parish filed lawsuits, and more parishes have considered following suit. Any money recovered from the lawsuit would be split between the State Conservation Fund and the district attorney's office.

An environmental group and a former BP subcontractor filed an unrelated lawsuit against the federal government to try to force BP to shut down its Atlantis oil platform, also in the Gulf of Mexico. The lawsuit alleges that Atlantis lacks engineering documents required for safe operation and seeks to have the oil platform shut down until the company provides the proper documentation.

According to the Associated Press and the Wall Street Journal on 5/17/10, complaints concerning Atlantis were first made last year. An independent firm investigated the complaints and found BP was in violation of its own policies because complete engineering documents were not on board Atlantis when its operations began.

Businesses that expect to lose money because of the oil spill have also filed lawsuits against BP. Louisiana and Florida restaurants filed a class action suit alleging they have suffered or will suffer loss of profits because of the oil spill. The class action was filed on behalf of restaurant owners and others involved in the seafood service industry.

Fishing, shrimping and other commercial activities have been suspended since the oil spill, putting many businesses at risk of losing money.