A US judge refused Friday to temporarily shut down a multibillion-dollar settlement program for compensating victims of BP's 2010 Gulf oil spill, saying he has seen no evidence of widespread fraud among the tens of thousands of claims.
The judge also said he was offended by what he saw as attempts to smear the lawyer administering the claims.BP argued that all payments to Gulf coast residents and businesses should be suspended while former FBI director Louis Freeh investigates alleged misconduct by a lawyer who worked for claims administrator Patrick Juneau on the settlement program.US district judge Carl Barbier said he was troubled by the allegations but didn't see any reason to take the "drastic step" of shutting down the program without evidence of widespread fraud.Lionel H Sutton III, a target of Freeh's probe, allegedly received a portion of settlement proceeds for claims he referred to a law firm before joining Juneau's staff.Sutton, who resigned on June 21, has denied the allegations. Sutton's wife, Christine Reitano, who also worked as a lawyer for the settlement program, had her contract terminated June 26.
ok so they are denying their obligation to those actually effected by their shortcuting no regulation responsibility because those who were suppose to be advocates were dipping in the jar, get new people, would we be reading this if they were allowed to carry out the payback themselves?
Sutton, who resigned on June 21, has denied the allegations. Sutton's wife, Christine Reitano, who also worked as a lawyer for the settlement program, had her contract terminated June 26.Barbier lashed out at critics who have questioned Juneau's objectivity and have tried to portray the Lafayette-based lawyer as a "good ol' boy" who is beholden to plaintiffs' attorneys."I find the recent attacks on Mr Juneau's character are highly offensive, [and] inappropriate," Barbier said.Barbier said he found it "especially offensive" that BP chief executive Robert Dudley claimed during an interview televised by CNBC on Thursday that the settlement process has been "hijacked"."Personal attacks, hyperbole and use of such language in my opinion crosses the line," he said.BP says there is a risk that hundreds of millions of dollars in claims payments could be tainted by fraud."We didn't sign up for a deal in which this type of corruption would enter the program," BP attorney Jeff Clark told Barbier before he ruled.
my first thought, when you're dealing with those lofty levels of court order paybacks there is always some body within looking for the loophole that can release the obligation. if they had won they would have further held payments claiming they need to investigate that fraud, leaving those recipients in the middle of almost there.
wouldn't be surprised if there was created fraud by BP cheaper to by a fraud then continue paying off, which would be considerably lower then their obligation
