There’s been a delay in the federal trial to determine damages from the BP oil spill. Judge Carl Barbier is giving parties another week for settlement negotiations to continue.
Judge Barbier is presiding at the trial to determine liability for the oil giant and other companies involved. He planned proceedings to decide matters in three phases – the April 2010 explosion and oil rig fire that killed 11 men, the containment and the clean-up. Thousands of plaintiffs include fishermen, property owners and businesses affected by the spill. They also include states along the Gulf Coast and the federal government seeking damages from the Clean Water Act. BP has so far paid out more than $6 billion from a $20 billion fund negotiated by the White House. Billions more are at stake. The trial is now set to start next Monday.
