Transocean seeks delay of oil spill depositions
Owner of the Deepwater Horizon wants to push back collection of evidence until November
By RAMIT PLUSHNICK-MASTI, Associated Press
The company that owns the sunken Deepwater Horizon rig argued in federal court Tuesday that plaintiffs should not begin collecting evidence and testimony on the Gulf oil spill until the November deadline for claimants to file suit.
Transocean Ltd. made its arguments in Houston after the federal court there accepted the company's petition to limit its liability in the oil spill to less than $27 million, the amount the company says the sunken rig is worth.
U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison made no rulings Tuesday. He scheduled two more court dates for early June, noting he wants to focus on whether the suit should remain in Texas or move elsewhere and whether depositions should begin immediately.
Ellison indicated he didn't want to wait.
"Is that a luxury we have in this case? Isn't that an awful long delay?" he asked the Transocean attorneys who argued to wait until all the lawsuits have been filed.more...
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