After an emergency hearing in federal court, British Petroleum today entered a consent agreement that affirms the legal rights of any U.S. citizen helping with cleanup efforts related to the DEEPWATER HORIZON catastrophe.
On Sunday, the U.S. District Court Eastern District said Louisiana fishermen were not bound by offensive language in work agreements signed to participate in cleanup and mitigation efforts organized by BP. Today’s consent agreement applies these same protections to any U.S. citizen, said Attorney Stuart Smith, of Smith Stag, LLC.
“A fisherman who cannot fish because of the pollution and who entered into a contract to help clean up BP’s mess was required to forfeit or minimize his right to make a claim for losses related to the explosion and resultant oil spill,” said Attorney Calvin Fayard. “This may have been a shrewd tactic on BP’s part, although its counsel argued it was a mistake.
The outcome should protect some the rights of those whose livelihoods are most impacted by this incident.”
The consent agreement protects fishermen’s existing and future rights and potential legal claims. Attorney Jim Garner explained the offensive language in forms which BP required workers to sign that is now “null and void”:
– BP, which is mandated to take 100 percent responsibility for the oil clean-up, demanded that the volunteers IMDEMNIFY IT for any accidents that might occur from the volunteers’ efforts (Art. 13(F));
– BP demanded that the volunteers WAIVE their First Amendment constitutional free speech rights about the volunteer’s participation in the clean-up efforts of the disaster; for example, if a commercial fisherman signed this agreement he or she could not then speak to anyone about the disaster or clean-up efforts until BP first “approves” of what the volunteer wants to say (Art. 22);
– BP demanded a FREE-RIDE on the volunteers’ insurance policies so that if there is damage to a volunteer’s vessel or other injuries, such as to a crew member, BP will be an “additional insured” and the financial responsibility for the damage will rest on the volunteer’s insurance carrier, NOT BP; quite obviously, the volunteers paid good money for this insurance and BP should not be allowed after-the-fact to worm their way into that contract so that it can attempt to avoid further legal responsibility for the very volunteers it is asking for aid and assistance; (Art. 13(A)); and
– BP demanded 30 days of notice before any volunteer is allowed to pursue legal claims against BP, and there are no exceptions made for emergencies (Art. 13(I) [sic (G]).
LEGAL CONTACTS
STUART SMITH
Smith Stag, LLC
Phone: (504)-593-9600
Cell: (786) 879-9601
VAL EXNICIOS
Liska, Exnicios & Nungesser
Phone: (504) 410-9611
Cell: (504) 495-9666
JIM GARNER
Sher Garner Cahill et al
(504) 299-2100
GLAD JONES
Jones, Swanson, Huddell & Garrison, LLC
(504) 523-2500
Cell: (504) 616-6333
ATTACHED IS THE CONSENT DECREE or download it from
http://www.kreweoftruth.com
PRESS CONTACTS
C. BRYLSKI (504) 897-6110 (LOUISIANA PRESS)
J. OLDHAM (OUTSIDE LOUISIANA/ NATIONAL PRESS) 703-519-1283 (w) 571-296-7747 (c) or 703 371 7143 (c)
