BP must cover some Transocean liabilities for oil spill

[Eugene]

Source: BBC

26 January 2012 Last updated at 23:44 GMT

BP must cover some Transocean liabilities for oil spill

BP must cover some but not all of oil rig owner Transocean's liabilities for the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, a US judge has ruled.

US District Judge Carl Barbier said that Transocean was shielded by its contract with BP from having to pay many pollution claims.

But Transocean must cover its own legal fees and is not exempt from paying punitive damages and civil penalties.

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16753061

[alp227]

1. throughout the American media the focus has been on the judge clearing some damages.

CNN: "Judge clears Transocean of some damages in Deepwater Horizon spill"
Wall Street Journal: "Rig Owner Spared Some Spill Costs" (didn't provide a link, google the title for full WSJ articles)
New York Times: "Ruling Favors Owner of Rig in Gulf Spill"
New Orleans Times-Picayune: "Judge says Transocean will be shielded from paying pollution claims"
Associated Press: "Judge: BP contract shields rig owner Transocean from some Gulf spill claims"

vs. the British media:
The Guardian: "Gulf of Mexico oil spill: BP loses bid to make others pay compensation"
The Telegraph: "BP contract shields Transocean from some Gulf spill claims, judge rules" (the title of this article is more like the American titles)
Financial Times: "BP blow in legal fight over gulf spill" (http://liveweb.archive.org/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/42702470-486a-11e1-941c-00144feabdc0.html)

So basically by reading the American news you'd think BP got off the hook, but by reading the British media (including your BBC link) you'd cheer because BP would still be held accountable.

[dipsydoodle]

2. Reuters didn't

BP must cover some Transocean oil spill damages.

(Reuters) - A federal judge on Thursday said BP Plc must indemnify Transocean Ltd for some compensatory damage claims over the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier, who oversees multistate litigation over the spill, agreed with Transocean that the Swiss driller was not responsible for compensatory damage claims raised by third parties for oil spilled below the ocean surface.

He also ruled, however, that London-based BP need not indemnify Transocean for punitive damages, or civil penalties imposed by the U.S. government under the federal Clean Water Act.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/27/us-bp-transocean-idUSTRE80Q00E20120127