Any lawyer who has ever been involved in litigation against the powerful and politically influential oil industry knows how little regard the companies have for safety. If anybody really believes that BP intends to fully compensate the victims of this disaster, without being forced to do so, they have never dealt with one of the major oil companies. BP has promised to reimburse the state for any cleanup or mitigation costs it incurs. BP might keep that promise, but again I have serious doubts as to the company’s sincerity. The State of Alabama saw firsthand in the state’s litigation against Exxon how “tricky” and powerful the oil companies are.

While BP first said it would compensate all those affected by the oil spill, that story has now changed drastically. Originally the company said it was taking full responsibility for the spill and promised to clean it up and pay all losses incurred by the victims. But a few days later, the oil giant started to point fingers at others who it says were more to blame than was BP. It didn’t take BP very long to break its original promise. BP even tried to trick folks by including a release form in employment contracts required to be signed by folks along the coast who were hired to help with the clean-up. Fortunately, a federal judge stopped that practice. What BP was doing was both illegal and morally wrong. The court’s order will protect the rights of those whose livelihoods are most impacted by this incident. Trying to trick and cheat its victims is pretty low down. BP should be ashamed of its conduct.