Louisiana AG Files Discovery and Investigation Petition Against BP

Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell has filed a Petition for Discovery and Investigation against British Petroleum in state court in Plaquemines Parish.

The petition alleges that BP has failed to cooperate and share important information with the state, specifically information requested repeatedly by the Louisiana Workforce Commission and the Louisiana Department of Social Services regarding all claims data collected by ESIS, the third party administrator for claims, and for information about workers hired by BP.

The purpose of the petition is to gather information as part of the state’s investigation as to the causes of the spill and impacts to Louisiana, according to information provided by the AG’s office.

The “filing was a last resort in trying to get information from BP that the Department of Social Services and the Louisiana Workforce Commission have requested repeatedly from BP since May 3 regarding the BP claims process,” stated Caldwell. “To date, the state has made several requests for this information and/or further explanation but has not received an adequate response.”

The “petition is a request for a court to order BP to produce information that the state needs to monitor BP’s claims process to ensure that our citizens are being treated fairly and receiving proper assistance,” Caldwell said.

Source: Louisiana Attorney General’s Office