USA: Judge says BP oil spill clean-up workers can bring claims before jury over health issues following Gulf of Mexico disaster
"Oil Spill Cleanup Workers Can Seek Trial", 30 Apr 2015
Workers who developed late-onset medical conditions after cleaning up the 2010 BP oil spill have a right to a jury trial, a federal judge ruled Monday. U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier said...that claimants who were "back ended" into the oil spill litigation - that is, claimants whose symptoms did not exist at the time the medical class settlement was made - have the right to sue BP on their own terms...When the medical class action settlement was reached almost three years ago between BP and plaintiffs the plaintiffs agreed to waive certain ailments that were the result of exposure to oil during the course of helping to clean up the oil spill...But plaintiffs retained their rights to sue down the road if more complicated conditions, such as cancer, arose...Geoff Morrell, BP's senior vice president for U.S. communications and external affairs, said "BP disagrees with the Court's ruling and is considering its options."