State Law Won't Apply in Recovery of Gulf Damages

Sabrina Canfield at the Courthouse News Service is reporting thatU.S. District Judge Carl Barbier ruled that Alabama and Louisiana may recover damages arising from the April 2010 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig, including punitive damages, under the federal Oil Pollution Act and maritime law. But Barbier said damages under state law cannot be applied.The article also reports, "Barbier this week granted in part and denied in part oil spill defendants' motions to dismiss complaints from the states of Alabama and Louisiana. In a separate ruling, Barbier said BP cannot use Transocean's liability insurance."You can read the full article here.