BP drops bid to oust Gulf spill claims administrator

By

BP Plc on Friday ended its bid to oust the administrator overseeing payouts to businesses and individuals claiming damages arising from the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, citing steps the administrator has taken to reduce the threat of fraud.

The British oil company withdrew its appeal of a federal judge's decision not to remove the administrator, Patrick Juneau, who is reviewing claims under a 2012 settlement tied to the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig.

BP had long complained that Juneau was awarding excessive payouts, including to claimants who suffered no harm, and was tainted by a conflict of interest.

But it said a review of payout procedures by former FBI director Louis Freeh shows that improvements have been made, including the addition of "scores" of fraud investigators.

"This marks the beginning of a new and more productive relationship between BP and the claims program," BP America President John Mingé said in a statement.

BP last month raised its estimate of the settlement's cost to $9.9 billion. It originally had estimated $7.8 billion.

Steve Herman and Jim Roy, lawyers who helped negotiate the settlement on behalf of claimants, said in a joint statement that they hope BP's decision will enable Juneau to "fully focus on getting the remaining claims paid as quickly as possible."

Tags
BP Plc, Settlement
Join the Discussion
More News
Georgia Man Chris Louis Leaves Children at McDonald's

Georgia Dad Left Young Children at McDonald's While He Went to a Job Interview. Cops Were Waiting When He Returned

Kolstad Stoeckel

Minnesota Man Begged Deputies to 'Put One in My Head' After Shooting Sleeping Roommate: Police

Florida Man Who Allegedly Terrorized Pregnant Girlfriend Sent Her Photos

Florida Man Who Allegedly Terrorized Pregnant Girlfriend Sent Her Photos of Her Toddlers Beaten After She Escaped: Police

Police Chief Spiked Officers' Coffee With Viagra, Left Body Hair

Police Chief Terrorized Staff by Pooping on the Floor, Spiking Coffee with Viagra and Sprinkling Body Hair on Food: Complaint