BP Faces New Lawsuit Over Pipeline Leak
September 16, 2010 – St. Louis, MO – With BP’s lawyers already working overtime due to the Gulf Coast oil spill, the company now faces a new lawsuit over a pipeline leak in Lomax, Illinois. The law suit alleges that decades ago, this pipeline leaked crude into the ground in Lomax and contaminated the ground water residents use for drinking, bathing, cooking and other uses. By 1968, the pipeline had leaked so frequently and extensively that BP decided to junk the pipeline altogether, leaving a portion of the line under the surface of Lomax.
For decades, BP failed to notify the residents of Lomax of the leaking pipeline. As a result of the contaminated water, many residents now suffer from severe respiratory problems, gastrointestinal ailments, skin problems and neurological issues.
The law suit alleges a willful and malicious cover up by BP which lasted for decades. BP repeatedly claimed it had no records of any pipeline leaks near Lomax from its lines. Only until the plaintiff’s in the law suit confronted BP with its own documents referencing pipeline leak reports near Lomax did BP finally produce documents on the leak – some of which dated back to the late 1970’s.
The law suit was filed by Missouri law firm Holland, Groves, Schneller & Stolze, who have partnered the litigation with Brent Coon & Associates to take advantage of BCA’s long history of litigating against BP. BCA was Lead Counsel on the litigation stemming from the 2005 Texas City plant explosion and is now at the epicenter of the Gulf Coast oil spill litigation. The firm has also played a substantial role in the investigations of the BP Alaska pipeline leak and is currently serving as Special Counsel to the Oklahoma Attorney General in a law suit alleging the BP is guilty of price fixing in the propane market.
BCA’s knowledge of BP’s corporate culture and documents uncovered in past litigation show a history of deceit and negligence on the part of BP.
