BP (NYSE:BP): Lawsuit Settlements, Judge Panel Says No Way

In New Orleans federal court, BP (NYSE:BP) is facing hundreds of lawsuits. BP was wanting to consolidate all of the lawsuits. A panel of judges said no, this is a victory for the plaintiffs who are seeking billions in damages. There will be no lawsuit settlements.

The judge presiding over these cases is U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier. The cases include wrongful death claims, submitted by the families of the deceased workers who lost their lives caused by the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig. Other claims are those submitted by BP investors, Gulf Coast businesses and for environmental damage.

During the decision the panel said, "Without discounting the spills effects on other states, if there is a geographic and physiological 'center of gravity' in this docket, then the Eastern District of Louisiana is closest to it."

Supreme Court Denies Claim Against Halliburton (NYSE:HAL)

Annette Carmichael of Atlanta, Georgia filed a lawsuit on behalf of her husband Sargent Keith Carmichael against Halliburton (NYSE:HAL). In papers filed with the court, Mrs. Carmichael was claimed that her husband suffered brain injury when a truck in a fuel convoy crashed into him.

He was assigned to ride a tanker truck operated by Kellogg, Brown & Root, Halliburton's former subsidiary during a 2004 convoy. When a civilian failed to make a curve, Mr. Carmichael was thrown and pinned under the truck. He was left in a permanent vegetative state.

The case was originally filed in Georgia State court in 2006. The lawsuit was transferred at the request of the companies to federal court where they won full dismissal. Mrs. Carmichael appealed the decision. The Obama administration recommending full denial of the appeal. The federal appeals court ruled without comment, dismissing the lawsuit.