BP Tries to Spread Corporate Liability

Once money comes into play, the question “Who is to blame for the Gulf oil spill” becomes even more complicated. It will likely take years of court battles to determine exactly which companies must pay for what. But in the meantime, BP is trying to spread responsibility wherever it can, including various venture partners and contractors. "The responsibility for this event will be debated for some time, and there is a lot of confusion around where liabilities begin and end," said a spokesman for Lloyd's of London. Some, like Halliburton, which handled some of the project's contracting, are trying a “We were just following orders" approach. Others, like Transocean, which leased the rig to BP, is claiming it was only responsible for surface spills. And Anadarko Petroleum is throwing BP under the bus, claiming it engaged in "gross negligence or willful misconduct."