Beasley Allen Files BP Lawsuit in the Southern District of Alabama

Lawsuit filed on behalf of Gulf Coast residents for personal injuries and property damage as a result of BP's use of dispersants

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Beasley Allen Law Firm

Jul 27, 2010, 01:41 ET

MONTGOMERY, Ala., July 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C. has filed a class action lawsuit in the Southern District of Alabama against British Petroleum and Nalco Company. The firm represents class representatives Glynis Wright and Janille Turner, who claim personal injuries and property damage related to BP's oil spill remediation activities on the Gulf Coast.

The Plaintiffs claim that BP was negligent and reckless in dumping toxic dispersant chemicals on and adjacent to their properties. Since the spill began, BP has dumped millions of gallons of dispersant chemicals, either underwater, by boat or by air, to sink the crude oil to the bottom of the ocean. One of the chemicals used, called Corexit® 9500, is considered 4 times more toxic than sweet crude oil. Because of its toxicity to humans and marine environments, the United Kingdom has banned its use. The Plaintiffs claim their breathing and gastrointestinal problems, as well as the widespread respiratory problems being experienced by people on the Gulf Coast, are directly related to BP's use of the toxic chemicals.

"BP is using these dispersants at an unprecedented rate not seen in other oil disasters," says Rhon Jones, head of Beasley Allen's Toxic Torts division. "What you are seeing is a company that is doing anything to keep the oil out of sight and out of mind. They are using these chemicals close to the shore, and predictably, people are starting to feel the effects."

While this case marks the first spill-related personal injury suit filed by the firm, Beasley Allen has filed a number of lawsuits in District Courts in Alabama, Florida and Louisiana to help protect businesses and individuals harmed by the oil spill. The first suits were filed on behalf of Plaintiffs in the commercial fishing and restaurant industries, as well as on behalf of Gulf Coast real estate management companies, a commercial charter fishing guide, a commercial fishing deckhand, and a SCUBA diving business. Recently, Beasley Allen also filed its first case in state court, on behalf of property owners whose investments have lost value as a result of the oil spill.

This latest suit alleges the Defendants are liable to the Plaintiffs and the Class for negligence and wanton misconduct, as well as nuisance, trespass, battery and medical monitoring.

About Beasley Allen Law Firm

Headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama, Beasley Allen is comprised of 44 attorneys and more than 200 support staff. Beasley Allen is a national leader in civil litigation, with verdicts and settlements of over $20 billion. Our environmental attorneys negotiated the largest environmental settlement in U.S. history. At $700 million for PCB contamination in Anniston, Alabama, involving Solutia, Monsanto and Pharmacia, it doubled the previous benchmark in this area of litigation. Also among the firm's successes is an $11.8 billion verdict against ExxonMobil Corp., for breach of contract and fraud. For more information about our firm, please visit our website at www.beasleyallen.com.