The BP Oil Spill. It was-and remains-a disaster of unprecedented, unimaginable proportions. For months after the April 2010 explosion and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig, oil gushed uncontrollably into the Gulf of Mexico.
British Petroleum-the oil giant operating the deep-water well-scrambled to stem the flow. As much as 60,000 barrels a day poured into the water before the leak was capped in July. In all, more than 200 million gallons of oil was spilled. It's a staggering figure. The most notorious previous spill-the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster-totaled 11 million gallons.
The environmental and financial consequences of the BP spill have been staggering, too.
Download: FRLA Letter Below
Every Gulf Coast state was impacted: Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Experts still don't know with certainty-and likely will not know for years, or even decades-the full extent of the damage to marine and wildlife habitats.
But the damage to Gulf Coast businesses has been all too clear. The fishing and tourism industries have been devastated. So, too, has every other business that depends on them. These figures are unprecedented and unimaginable as well. The U.S. Travel Association estimates that the economic impact of the oil spill just on the Gulf Coast's tourism industry could top $23 billion over the next three years.
For the thousands of companies and individuals who have suffered-and are struggling-because of this disaster, the news has been grim. But the future offers hope. BP is being held responsible for the environmental and financial damage caused by the Gulf spill, and is creating a $20 billion fund to cover cleanup and compensation costs-including the financial damages incurred by businesses affected by the catastrophe.
BP has said it will make this right. And the lawyers at Cooney & Conway are going to make sure that they do.
In the aftermath of the Exxon Valdez spill, Congress passed the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. It provides that those responsible for an oil spill-in this case, BP-must pay for the damages the spill causes, including lost profits to local businesses and loss of income to individuals whose work is interrupted. The law isn't just a lifeline for those whose livelihood-and way of life-have been thrown into disarray by an event completely out of their control. It is justice and fairness. It is their future.
For more than half a century, the attorneys of Cooney & Conway have helped those injured by the negligence of others get answers and recovery. We've taken on the toughest causes-like asbestos litigation and catastrophic injuries-and gone up against the biggest companies. Among our successes: multibillion-dollar settlements against corporate titans like Haliburton, Owens Corning Fiberglass, United States Gypsum, and Armstrong. Those are companies that know a thing or two about litigation. Fortunately, we do, too.
If you have been impacted financially by the Gulf oil disaster-or fear you will be-contact us. Our team of experienced trial lawyers can explain your rights, and discuss your options. But most important, we can fight for you, see that justice prevails, and ensure a bright future for you.
Download: FRLA Letter Below
