Seeking Punitive Damages: Judge rules that states may seek compensation from BP

On Nov. 14, 2011, Judge Carl J. Barbier of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana ruled that Alabama and Louisiana may seek punitive damages in connection with the BP oil spill.

According to an article published by Reuters, Judge Barbier is allowing negligence and products liability claims but is not allowing claims under state law or those alleging nuisance or trespass. The states seek financial compensation for economic damages, as well as damages to natural resources and property.

Defendants in the states' cases include BP, Anadarko Petroleum Corp., Transocean ltd., Cameron International Corp., and Halliburton.

Judge Barbier has been overseeing thousands of claims since Aug. 10, 2010, when all federal BP oil spill lawsuits were consolidated in the MDL In re Oil Spill by the Oil Rig "Deepwater Horizon" in the Gulf of Mexico, on April 20, 2010.

Read the full article on the states' oil spill lawsuits in Reuters.

Read more about the BP oil spill and how Motley Rice oil spill lawyers are fighting on behalf of individuals and businesses suffering as a result of the spill damage.