LOUISIANA VICTORY AGAINST BP EXTENDED NATIONWIDE!

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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)

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Stuart H. Smith is an attorney based in New Orleans fighting major oil companies and other polluters.
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