On September 4, 2014, United States District Court Judge Carl Barbier in the Eastern District of Louisiana (New Orleans) found that BP actions and decisions were "profit-driven," reckless, grossly negligent and made with willful miscondut in causing the Deepwater Horizon disaster on April 20, 2010 that killed 11 men and resulted in the world's greatest environmental disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. Judge Barbier also found that Transocean (the owner of the rig) and Halliburton were negligent in causing the disaster.
After months of trial in 2013 that was lead by the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee, Judge Barbier issued his Findings of Fact and Conclusion of Law stating that BP is subject to enhanced penalties under the Clean Water Act because the discharge of oil was the result of BP's "gross negligence" and "willful misconduct." Further, Judge Barbier stated that "BP's conduct was reckless[,]" that "Transocean's conduct was negligent[,]" and that "Halliburton's conduct was negligent." Fault was apportioned at 67% to BP, 30% to Transocean and 3% to Halliburton.
Phase_One_Findings.09.04.14.pdf
This ruling again exposes BP's lack of safety culture and reckless "profit-driven" behavior that has lead to disaster after disaster and the deaths of many people.