Criminal charges likely from Gulf oil spill, legal experts say

Source: McClatchy

WASHINGTON — Federal investigators are likely to file criminal charges against at least one of the companies involved in the Gulf of Mexico spill, raising the prospects of significantly higher penalties than a current $75 million cap on civil liability, legal experts say.

The inquiry by the Homeland Security and Interior Departments into how the spill occurred is still in its early stages and authorities have not confirmed whether a criminal investigation has been launched.

But environmental law experts say it's just a matter of time until the Justice Department steps in - if it hasn't already - to initiate a criminal inquiry and take punitive action.

"There is no question there'll be an enforcement action," said David M. Uhlmann, who headed the Justice Department's environmental crimes section for seven years during the Clinton and Bush administrations. "And, it's very likely that there will be at least some criminal charges brought."



Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/05/12/94061/federal-laws-point-to-criminal.html

Hate to be a cynic, but BP should have been indicted for the Texas refinery fire.

that reveals the criminality of BP or others will be dealt with promptly and completely. It's what's for dinner in America these days.

When it happens, I will cheer.

are systematic changes making regulations enforceable and disallowing profit to trump the interests of the people (and the natural world).

Otherwise this will just happen again. It's not like throwing one criminal in jail stops all others from committing a crime.

The Execs...nah.

Thanks for the thread, kpete.

Just watch.