Justice Department To Be Added to Suit In Gulf Oil Spill

The Justice Department is seeking to join the civil lawsuits resulting from the disastrous Gulf oil spill that sent over four million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.  The spill followed an explosion onboard the Deepwater Horizon earlier in the year. The incident claimed the lives of 11 maritime workers.

The Justice Department is looking to position itself as a major player in the upcoming litigation. The move is intended to assist the U.S. Government in its ongoing probe into the offshore rig accident and help build a civil and criminal case against the responsible companies.

Dozens of Lawsuits
Currently, there are dozens of private-party lawsuits against BP and its contractors for damages resulting from the disaster. These suits have been consolidated in so-called multidistrict litigation in federal court in Louisiana. The move by the Justice Department is expected to give more “teeth” in the effort to hold the various companies liable.

The Justice Department's complaint indicates that the government is expected to allege violations of environmental-protection regulations. The move could elicit penalties under laws, such as the Clean Water Act and the Oil Pollution Act.

If successful, the Clean Water Act could result in penalties between $4.5 billion and $21 billion. That equates to between $1,100 and $4,300 for each of the estimated 4.1 million barrels of oil spilled in the Gulf region.

We Can Help
If you have been injured in an oil rig accident, such as the Deepwater Horizon explosion, contact an experienced maritime attorney at our office today. You can reach us by calling 877.724.7800. 



Be sure to order a FREE copy of my book, The Insider's Guide to Winning Your Maritime Injury Case. It has information you need to read, as an injured offshore worker.