Pots, kettles and oil, all black…

In the latest from the MDL litigation, Transocean, the owner of the Deepwater Horizon, alleged that their contract with British Petroleum, the leaseholder of the Macondo Well, had indemnified them against any liabilities for pollution underneath the surface of the Gulf, and also against any civil penalties under the Clean Water Act or punitive damages from being declared grossly negligent. British Petroleum, of course asserted otherwise, as did … Continue reading Pots, kettles and oil, all black…

BP: Cleanup, restoration and data-tampering lawsuits…

When an employee of BP refuses to go along with the corporate narrative that all’s swell with Gulf cleanup, does BP change the narrative to make it more accurate? Does it admit there may be some problems, that they might not have done everything they promised to do? No, instead they run some feel good commercials enforcing their narrative about Gulf health. Oh…and that employee? … Continue reading BP: Cleanup, restoration and data-tampering lawsuits…

A lesson in spin…oil spills and states of unions

It really is this simple: At the height of British Petroleum’s catastraphuk…the scientists involved from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) were estimating at least 25,000 barrels per day were gushing from the well. But, the National Incident Command suggested they report the flow rate to be between 12,000-25,000 barrels per day. And a White House Communications person suggested they report the flow rate at 12,000-19,000 … Continue reading A lesson in spin…oil spills and states of unions

Everybody to blame, but me…

So, in determining guilt and any possible fines under the Clean Water Act, welcome to another day in court, another episode of the 3 Stooges, starring  BP, Transocean and Anadarko…Please, follow along and keep in mind that of course, no one is to blame except for everybody else. Duh… First, allow me to introduce Department of Justice Senior Attorney Steven O’Rourke who explained how simple this all … Continue reading Everybody to blame, but me…

The fear of not knowing…

“We all knew we were experiencing health problems, but if you don’t have money and access to health care, it’s a win for BP,” said Carol Farmer, 52, of Milton. “No one knows about us, and BP can brush it under the carpet.” Not knowing. The country remains largely unaware of health problems occurring to cleanup workers and others in the Gulf of Mexico and those … Continue reading The fear of not knowing…

BP serving free lemonade in the French Quarter…

So, I saw another BP commercial the other day, and it seemed a bit…disingenuous. I mean, we all want the Gulf to be okay. We do. It’s our finest hope that lives so rudely interrupted by BP’s catastraphuk can get back to normal…but these advertisements, the ones that make it look like maybe the oil spill was the best thing that could’ve happened to the … Continue reading BP serving free lemonade in the French Quarter…

Making it up as he goes…

Two days ago, Carl Barbier, the federal judge overseeing the Deepwater Horizon litigation decided that a gang of lawyers, so named the plaintiff steering committee, should benefit from a reimbursement fund, designed to pay them for the money they’re spending to sue BP on behalf of their clients. One of the many problems with this decision is this fund will not be paid for by … Continue reading Making it up as he goes…

Reason #183 BP’s cleanup was about PR from the very beginning…

Can’t you just imagine BP’s control room after the oil gushing into the Gulf  hit mainstream news worldwide? Bunch of sweaty suits and PR flacks sitting around, not concerned about the truth per se, but more about how to spin what couldn’t be denied, that the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf Coast were about to be really screwed, and for a long time… Oil … Continue reading Reason #183 BP’s cleanup was about PR from the very beginning…