"BP gross negligence ruling: Federal judge rejects attempts to amend judgment", 13 Nov 2014

A [US] judge...is sticking to his ruling that...BP's conduct in the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil rig disaster amounted to "gross negligence." It could mean close to $18 billion in federal penalties...U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier...rejected BP's call to...amend his...September...judgment or hold a new trial...BP attorneys argu[ed] that a key finding that led to the "gross negligence" ruling was based on testimony about cement used...before the...explosion of...Deepwater Horizon...BP asserted that...testimony...had been excluded from...trial...Barbier said there was no basis for BP's claim that the testimony was unfair or prejudicial...BP spokesman...said...that the company disagrees...and will appeal the September ruling...Barbier has scheduled a January trial to determine how much in...fines BP will face...[A] polluter can be forced to pay a maximum of...$4,300 per barrel of spilled oil [if] the company is found grossly negligent...