Wimberley
Four Southeast Texas marine-based entities have filed separate suits against BP and several other companies, alleging the April 20, 2010, oil spill has hurt their business.
The Sabine Pass Port Authority, Sterling Shipyard in Port Neches, Action Restoration in Port Arthur and the Pleasure Island Commission of Port Arthur filed their suits on April 19 in Jefferson County District Court.
All four suits name BP and its subsidiaries as defendants. Transocean, Halliburton, Cameron International, Anadarko Petroleum and Moex Offshore are also named as defendants.
According to the lawsuits, BP is the holder of a lease known as the Macondo Prospect in the Gulf of Mexico. Anadarko and Moex also own interests in the Macondo oil well. BP contracted with Transocean to have the Deepwater Horizon rig conduct drilling operations at the site. Halliburton conducted cementing operations on the well and well cap.
On April 20, 2010, an explosion erupted on the Deepwater Horizon, causing at least 5,000 barrels of oil to spill into the Gulf until the leak was capped.
All the plaintiffs allege the spill has had detrimental effects on the Gulf's marine and coastal environments and is to this day affecting business and their ability to generate revenue.
The suits accuse the defendants of negligently failing to maintain the rig and warn of the dangers.
The suits further accuse the defendants of violating the Oil Pollution Act and Texas Products Liability Act.
The plaintiffs are suing for punitive, exemplary, compensatory and economic damages.
Attorneys Gordon Friesz and James Wimberley of the Port Arthur law firm McPherson, Hughes, Bradley, Wimberley, Steele & Chatelain represent them.
Case Nos. B192-340, B192-341, A192-342 and D192-343