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Reply With QuoteIt doesn't sound like "confiscating evidence" as much as it sounds like "stealing personal property". I would love to see the rationale that BP uses to keep the personal property of people they hire to do some clean-up...
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President
Is BP anticipating the lawsuits and confiscating evidence. This isn't the first story of clean up workers becoming ill. That in and of itself was predictable and workers should have been given protective gear from the outset. You can't breathe harmful chemicals hours and days on end without some sequelae.
Fisherman files restraining order against BP - CNN.com
New Orleans, Louisiana (CNN) -- A fisherman who was hospitalized after becoming ill while cleaning up oil in the Gulf of Mexico has filed a temporary restraining order in federal court against oil company BP.
John Wutsell Jr., is asking BP to give the workers masks and not harass workers who publicly voice their health concerns.
Wutstell, a shrimper, said he was paid by BP to use his boat, Ramie's Wish, to clean up oil that has been gushing into the Gulf since an oil rig sank about 40 miles off the Louisiana coast, gushing an estimated 19,000 barrels (798, 000 gallons) of crude a day.
In an affidavit, Wustell wrote he started experiencing severe headaches and nasal irritation on May 24. Over the next few days, he also developed nosebleeds, an upset stomach, and aches.
On Friday, Wutstell was airlifted to West Jefferson Medical Center in Marrero, Louisiana, where he remained hospitalized Sunday.
Eight other workers were brought to the hospital this week and were all released.
"We need to start protecting these guys," said Jim Klick, Wutstell's lawyer.
In his affadavit, Wutstell described his experience at the hospital.
"At West Jefferson, there were tents set up outside the hospital, where I was stripped of my clothing, washed with water and several showers, before I was allowed into the hospital," Wutstell sais. "When I asked for my clothing, I was told that BP had confiscated all of my clothing and it would not be returned."
The restraining order requests that BP refrain from "altering, testing or destroying clothing or any other evidence or potential evidence" when workers become ill.
It doesn't sound like "confiscating evidence" as much as it sounds like "stealing personal property". I would love to see the rationale that BP uses to keep the personal property of people they hire to do some clean-up...
Vice President
"Rationale? Whee don' need no steenking rationale"
If this is so these people are going a little beyond the pale. Maybe it is time for the government to do something, like arrest all their top managment, freeze their assets and send the Army in to oversee the operation. I'm beginning to wonder if this is an accident or some sort of grand scheme by a Bond villain that's succeeding..
President
Oh I would say they are doing a whole lot more than that.
We know they have downplayed the disaster the entire time - and still are.
In concert with the administration they have also made attempts to censor and restrict media access.
You are the one person in this world who will live according to the choices you make. Live life like there is a tomorrow.
Vice President
Yes, that sounds like a great idea. Arrest all the top management and freeze their assets. /end sarcasm.Originally Posted by John Drake
"The long run is a misleading guide to current affairs. In the long run we are all dead." - John Maynard Keynes (admits his philosophy is not viable)
Vice President
Why did the guy need an airlift for a few aches and a nose bleed? I think I could drive myself to the hospital with those conditions.
As for BP's behavior I'd be pretty pissed if they stole my clothing and wouldn't give it back.
"The long run is a misleading guide to current affairs. In the long run we are all dead." - John Maynard Keynes (admits his philosophy is not viable)
Governor
Because it will help when it comes time to sue BP for millions.
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb discussing what's for dinner.
Liberty is a well armed lamb willing to contest the majority decision!" ~ Benjamin Franklin
"Diplomacy is the art of saying Nice Doggie! while you're looking for a rock. ~ Wynn Catlin
"There are no innocent civilians." - Gerneral Curtis Lemay. A.K.A Bombs away Lemay
If they say it was confiscated because it's oily and dangerous to people's health, then they are admitting they are putting people to work in dangerous conditions. I don't know what other excuse they could give for not returning his clothes......
President
I bet Wutstell is simply lying in hopes of getting a monetary settlement from BP. And there is going to be hundreds more pulling similar scams.
Legend of USPO!
What a brilliant idea. Freeze all the assets. Like the assets BP is using to hire people to perform cleanup and containment. And the assets being used to attempt to cap the well. Yeah, we must stop all of those things immediately.
True genius, JD. True genius.
:rolleyes:
Vice President
For all the good it seems their doing they might as well.
Okay, not freeze, seize, take all their assets and declare the value is forfeit as liquidated damages. Then throw all their CEO's in jail and tell them they get out when the well is capped. I'll bet it would be done by the next day.
Vice President
You'd loose that bet because of this pesky thing called physical reality.
Secretary of State
well since you took all their money and they can't pay the FUCKING WORKERS ANYMORE I'd bet it doesn't get done at all...
Secretary of Defense
Do you have any idea of the magnitude of this disaster?
I realize that you're generally given to talking out your butt, but I wouldn't expect my 3-year-old to make such an obtuse comment.
From everything I've seen, heard, and read BP is doing an absolutely unimpeachable job dealing with this mess and sparing absolutely no expense in their effort.
The problem isn't that BP is slacking, the problem is that a disaster of this magnitude has never occurred before. Heck, a disaster of this magnitude has never even been hypothesized and modeled; not by BP, not by any other oil or drilling company, not by any research university.
This isn't a leak in a rusty water main.
The techniques they're using to try and fix this thing are the techniques they use on far, far smaller and less complicated disasters. They're not working, but they're the best (and really only) option at this point. So rather than praising BP for pumping hundreds of millions of dollars in to the top-kill and junk-shot efforts you wanna throw the CEO in jail? That's just stupid.
The bottom line is that there isn't going to be a quick and dirty solution to this. Eventually BP will get the equipment in to place to drill relief wells and I expect that'll eventually solve the problem by draining off the presure that's preventing a quick fix.
Of course, it's going to take several months to get the requisite equipment to the proper location and get the holes sunk.
But if BP didn't do anything for the next three months idiots like you would only be crying that much harder.
Last edited by soot; 06-01-2010 at 02:36 PM.
I ♣ Ideologues!
President
Haven't had time to peruse CNN this afternoon, but I did hear today that there were prosecuting attorneys getting involved in this debacle. Of course, IMO, if they prosecute BP execs for this, then they need to look homeward toward whatever government official 'approved' their drilling 5K feet deep.
There is no denying that they didn't have the technology to support whatever could and did go wrong.
I personally would like to know why this drilling just HAD to be 'off shore' to begjn with.
OK, edit this to read that a criminal investigation is being launched:
More here: http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/06/01/...ill/index.htmlCNN) -- U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said Tuesday the Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into the massive oil spill spreading through the Gulf of Mexico.
Holder said the investigation, which began "some weeks ago," would be comprehensive and aggressive. He promised that the federal officials will prosecute anyone who broke the law.
"We have begun both a criminal as well as a civil investigation as is our obligation under the law," Holder said. "We have what we think is a sufficient case to have begun a criminal investigation."
Holder emphasized that the investigation will cover all aspects of the oil spill, including the deaths of 11 workers in the April 20 explosion and fire on the Deepwater Horizon rig that started the leak.
He refused to name any potential targets of the investigation, saying, "I don't want to unnecessarily cast aspersions." However, Holder said "nothing is off the table" in the probe, and he cited false statements as one of several potential targets of criminal charges.
"This disaster is nothing less than a tragedy," Holder said. "As our review expands in the days ahead, we will be meticulous, we will be comprehensive, and we will be aggressive. We will not rest until justice is done."
Holder stressed that "anyone found responsible for this spill (must be) held accountable. That means enforcing the appropriate civil -- and if warranted, criminal -- authorities to the full extent of the law."
Among other things, Holder said Justice Department lawyers are examining possible violations of the Clean Water Act and the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. He also said prosecutors are looking into potential violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty and Endangered Species Acts, which provide penalties for injury and death to wildlife.
BP responded in a statement that it "will cooperate with any inquiry the Department of Justice will undertake, just as we are doing in response to the other inquires that are already ongoing."
Holder made the announcement during a visit to the Gulf to survey the BP oil spill and meet with state attorneys general and federal prosecutors from Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi, according to the Justice Department.
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