A United States federal judge has ruled that BP was not negligent in a case arising from a 2009 spill in Alaska. The judge also found that the company did not violate the terms of its probation from an earlier accident.
In the US District Court of Alaska, Judge Ralph Beistline dismissed a petition from federal prosecutors seeking additional punishment for the company arising from the 2009 spill. Prosecuters had been seeking to revoke BP’s probation from an earlier 2007 settlement, claiming that the company continued a pattern of sloppy management. However, in a written judgement, Beistline concluded that no criminal negligence had taken place.
“Things could have been done differently that may, or may not, have prevented this spill,” he wrote “But in the instant case, the court concludes, based on the evidence presented, that BP was following accepted industry practices at all relevant times and could not have reasonably expected a blow-out.”
Beistline added, however, that the company had to prevent further spills, and that similar incidents would change the court’s attitude. “It is incumbent upon BP to make sure this does not happen again,” he added.
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