Trial of BP Over Deepwater Horizon Set for MondayJeremy Truitt It all started in April 2010 when a massive explosion on board the platform killed 11 workers and injured many others. The platform ultimately sank and set off a 3-month frenzy to cap the well as oil continued to gush into the Gulf. BP says it will fight the governments charges of gross negligence, saying We have always been open to settlements on reasonable terms faced with demands that are excessive and not based on reality or the merits of the case, we are going to trial. Transcript with links continues below According to the Times-Picayune, the difference between negligence and gross negligence under the Clean Water Act means the difference between a $4 billion fine and a $17 billion fine. The editorial cites previous BP safety violations, saying The bottom line is simple: BP should pay the highest penalties possible to undo the grievous damage it has done. Were in a situation now where BP is pointing fingers at people but the reality is, why dont we sit down and just try to get this settled, BP? And why dont you just accept that it was a very terrible situation that you created? So why hasnt BP simply settled? A lawyer involved with the case told Bloomberg that with BP shifting blame to its sub-contractors Halliburton and Transocean and with 5 states involved, the case is simply too complex. The Anniston Star sums up the difficulty, saying: Even if all are determined, in some way, to be guilty, how does one divide the blame in dollars? It will not be an easy task. The company still has time to settle should they come to a last minute agreement with government lawyers, but since its already been several years, that seems unlikely. Original link can be found here: RELATED ACTIVIST POST ARTICLE: linkwithin_text=Related Articles: 