FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
April 20, 2012
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Alabama Attorney General
Suzanne Webb (334) 242-7351
Jeff Sommer (334) 353-2199
Page 1 of 1
STATEMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL LUTHER STRANGE
Two Years After Oil Spill, Court Should Set Trial Date
(MONTGOMERY)— Two years ago on April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil
rig exploded, sending millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Eleven
men lost their lives and thousands of Gulf Coast residents lost their livelihoods.
Unfortunately, two years later, the story has not ended. Oil still lies off
Alabama’s coastline. Many Alabamians still have not been compensated for
their losses, and the State has still not been made whole by BP and the other
defendants.
When I took office in January 2011, I made it my top priority to hold BP
and the other defendants fully accountable under the law. The federal district
judge presiding over the lawsuit named me Coordinating Counsel for all of the
Gulf States. Ever since, I have worked with my fellow Gulf States and the
United States to fight BP and its fellow defendants at home and abroad –
including traveling to London to personally depose former BP CEO Tony
Hayward.
I am committed to keeping the pressure on all of those responsible for
the 2010 oil spill until the job is done. Millions of Alabamians expect and
deserve nothing less. Today, on the second anniversary of this terrible
disaster, I call upon the district court to set a trial date so that this case may
end. Now is the time for the federal and state governments to have their day in
court. Alabama is ready for trial, and we look forward to moving forward as
expeditiously as possible.
–30–
501 Washington Avenue Montgomery, AL 36104 (334) 242-7300
www.ago.alabama.gov
