Environmental Law Firm Baron & Budd Says Decision of High Court Vindicates BP Oil Spill Plaintiffs

Baron and Budd represents companies, individuals and public entities harmed by the Gulf Oil Spill

DALLAS, December 9, 2014 — Yesterday’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to deny BP’s petition to reopen the Deepwater Horizon oil spill settlement agreement that BP signed in 2010 is a victory for residents and businesses in the affected Gulf of Mexico region, according to Dallas-based national law firm Baron & Budd, P.C., a leader in environmental litigation.

“The high court’s decision vindicates plaintiffs throughout the Gulf,” said Baron & Budd attorney Scott Summy, who is a member of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee (PSC), the group spearheading the litigation. He is also a member of PSC’s executive committee.

“It’s time for BP to honor its agreement,” Summy said. “The decision is also a reminder that residents still have six months to exercise their right to file a claim for damages.”

The agreement set up a class of claimants covering the residents of four counties in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and the Gulf Coast of Florida from Alabama to Key West.

Summy explained that BP had been trying to back out of a contract it negotiated and signed “with eyes wide open.” He termed the original settlement agreement “fair, objective, and transparent.” He noted that BP got the deal it wanted, but began backpedaling when it realized the settlement would cost more than it predicted.

“BP got buyer’s remorse,” Summy said. “Today’s ruling lays to rest BP’s attack on its own settlement. It means the claims administrator can proceed with processing eligible claims.”

Summy believes BP signed a good deal. “Look, BP doesn’t have to litigate each claim, and, as part of the deal, BP got a release on lawsuits from every person and business in the Gulf. It agreed to a far-reaching settlement because of the spill’s far-reaching impact.

“The lesson from the BP case,” Summy concluded, “is that if you aren’t reckless in the first place, if you exercise due care and diligence, and don’t sacrifice safety for profit at every turn, you’re probably not going to find yourself in this position to begin with. The truth is, the entire Deepwater Horizon tragedy was as preventable as it was predictable.”

About Baron & Budd, P.C.

With a history of more than 35 years of “Protecting What’s Right” for individuals, communities, and governmental entities, Baron & Budd, P.C., is devoted to making a meaningful difference in the lives of Americans. With law offices in Dallas, Austin, Los Angeles, and Baton Rouge, Baron & Budd is renowned for tackling complex cases in the litigation sectors of harmful drugs, dangerous medical devices, environmental contamination, financial fraud, and deceptive advertising.

Please contact us by filling our our online form if you suffered damages from the BP Gulf Oil Spill and wish to make a claim.