BP charged $4 billion for Deepwater explosion, other oil rig explodes off Gulf Coast
On Friday November 16, an oil and gas rig 25 miles of the coast of Louisiana exploded and caught fire, injuring 11 workers and leaving two missing, according to the Wall Street Journal. The United States Coast Guard has told the source that a two mile oil sheen surrounds the site, created by about 16 barrels of leaked oil, and that the two missing workers may have gone overboard.
While the fire has been put out, the oil rig's explosion, owned by Black Elk energy, comes during the same day that British Petroleum (BP) has been charged for numerous criminal actions regarding the oil spill that took place on April 20, 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico, as well.
According to the Associated Press, BP has agreed to pay the largest criminal penalty in United States history – $4.5 billion. In addition, an-off-the-record source told the AP that two BP employees face manslaughter charges over the deaths of 11 people due to the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, which caused the spill.
As reported by this blog, deposition transcripts can, oftentimes, reveal deeper levels of complications in criminal cases. This was shown by Marcia McNutt's, head of the United States Geological Survey, deposition on the Deepwater Horizon spill, where she claimed a lack of cooperation between the United States government and BP.
As such, it's critical for litigators and judges involved in investigations as extensive as the BP oil spill to be equipped with the most accurate hearing and deposition transcripts. By partnering with Madison court reporters, these professionals can ensure that they will provide their best support with help from realtime court reporters.
