Operating in violation of both the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), ATP Infrastructure Partners LP (ATP-IP) has agreed to pay a $1 million civil penalty to settle a federal lawsuit over illegal discharges of oil and chemicals from an oil platform in the…
Articles Posted in Boating Accidents
Study Reveals Correlation Between Daylight Savings Time and Higher Rates of Traffic Fatalities
Reduction of traffic accidents—particularly fatal traffic accidents—has long been at the center of public debate and the ambition of state and federal policymakers. The 1960s proved a watershed decade for transformation of traffic safety. With traffic fatalities on the rise in the 1960s, spiking at 49,000 traffic fatalities in 1965,…
Federal Government Agrees to Settlement with Gulf-Polluting ATP Infrastructure Partners, LP
Operating in violation of both the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), ATP Infrastructure Partners LP (ATP-IP) has agreed to pay a $1 million civil penalty to settle a federal lawsuit over illegal discharges of oil and chemicals from an oil platform in the…
Products Liability in Louisiana under the LPLA
As Halloween approaches, I’m reminded of a story I was told growing up–a story that has spread like wildfire and survived the ages. It’s the story of a young child, happily trick-or-treating in his neighborhood and too fixated on his chocolate, sugary boon to care about any potential for harm.…
BP’s “Gross Negligence” Under the Clean Water Act: A Deeper Look
Almost two weeks have passed since Judge Carl Barbier handed down his blistering opinion apportioning a majority of the fault to BP for the 2010 Gulf oil spill. As a follow-up to last week’s article, which detailed Judge Barbier’s ruling, we aim to dig deeper: Judge Barbier found that BP’s…
Federal Judge Finds BP “Grossly Negligent,” Allocates Majority of Fault for 2010 Oil Spill to BP
In a recent ruling handed down in Federal District Court in New Orleans, Federal District Judge Carl Barbier assigned the majority of the responsibility to BP for the 2010 explosion of Deepwater Horizon. Judge Barbier found the discharge of oil to be the result of BP’s “gross negligence” and “willful…
Boating Accident Leaves One Dead
A boat crashed near Pilottown, killing one and injuring another. The injured were taken via helicopter to New Orleans for medical treatment and the survivor’s condition is critical. As the summer months approach and the heat intensifies in Louisiana, many people will be taking their boats on the water to…
Alabama Barge Explosions Injure Many
Two fuel barges carrying natural gas exploded in Mobile, Alabama. The explosions resulted in the evacuation of a nearby docked cruise ship and critical burns on at least three individuals. The barges, owned by a Houston company, were in Mobile for cleaning and had been carrying natural gasoline. Accidents on…
Passengers file lawsuits in the weeks after the Triumph disaster
In the weeks following the Triumph’s return to shore, several passengers have filed lawsuits against Carnival Corporation. In their complaints, passengers allege that Carnival “recklessly and intentionally” risked their lives on board the Triumph. The passengers further allege that Carnival “knew or should have known” that the cruise ship would…
NYC Ferry Crash Victims Seek Millions in Damages
In the weeks following the tragic New York City ferry crash, survivors and their families have filed lawsuits against the ferry’s operator under maritime law. More than 70 people were injured in the accident, and several victims remain in intensive care. A new National Transportation Safety Board report details the…