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ARTICLE · 19 DECEMBER 2013

Key Deepwater Horizon Criminal Charges Dismissed Against Two BP Officials

Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
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Reining in one of the most aggressive environmental crimes prosecutions, a federal district judge has dismissed half of the manslaughter claims filed against two BP officials in connection with the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

United StatesEnvironment
Ronald Sarachan
Ronald Sarachan
Tracy S. Combs
Tracy S. Combs

Reining in one of the most aggressive environmental crimes prosecutions, a federal district judge has dismissed half of the manslaughter claims filed against two BP officials in connection with the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

Rober Kaluza and Donald Vidrine, the two top BP officials on board the oil rig at the time of its explosion in April 2010, had been indicted and charged with one misdemeanor count under the Clean Water Act and 22 counts of manslaughter. The dismissal of half the manslaughter counts is an early victory for both men, and could have a significant impact on their trial. The decision could also have significant implications for environmental crimes prosecutions generally.

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