Baldwin County, Alabama to Proceed with Spill Claim

Baldwin County commissioners have voted to proceed with an $11.95 million damages claim involving last year’s big oil spill.

Attorneys from law firms representing the county in the claim as well as others from the Alabama Attorney General’s Office and some representing the state attended a meeting on Thursday before the decision was announced. The Press-Register reports Commission Chairman Frank Burt says he believes the attorneys answered the questions commissioners had about proceeding.

The claim includes millions of dollars in sales tax revenue earmarked for county schools. The school system hired its own attorneys in December to pursue an independent $4.4 million claim.

Commissioner Charles Gruber said he wants to be sure the county’s claim doesn’t jeopardize anything the school system is working on in negotiations with BP.