Today’s decision regarding what has been named the “worst environmental spill is U.S. history” or otherwise known as the 2010 BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico brought to mind how quickly and easily the greedy actions of few can harm all of us. I snapped the picture below in 2008 while vacationing on the Gulf Coast of Florida. While I’m no photographer, I’ve always loved this shot because I felt that it captured some of the awe our family experienced while vacationing in a place that could have been named “paradise found”.
At the time, it would have been hard to believe that 2 summers later that same pristine beach would be covered with a gooey black oil slick that would kill wildlife, destroy livelihoods, and wreak havoc on the Gulf’s ecosystem for years to come.
United States District Court Judge Carl J. Barbier wrote, “BP’s conduct was reckless” and that BP was guilty making decisions that he says were “primarily driven by a desire to save time and money, rather than ensuring that the well was secure.”
Eleven men lost their lives on the Deepwater Horizon Rig and thousands of others lost their businesses and ultimately their way of life.
After the ruling, lawyers for plaintiff’s stated Thursday, “We hope that today’s judgment will bring some measure of closure to the families of the 11 men who tragically lost their lives, and to the thousands of people and businesses still trying to recover from the spill. The court has now laid bare the full extent of the level of BP’s misconduct.”
If you or someone you love has been harmed due to the negligence of someone else, call Roanoke Wrongful Death Lawyer Paul Thomson of The Thomson Law Firm today. A FREE consultation is just a phone call away. (877) 471-3353
