NEW ORLEANS (AP) — BP’s allegations of fraud against a prominent Texas lawyer are at issue in a federal court hearing.
Wednesday’s hearing involves claims by the oil giant that attorney Mikal Watts falsely claimed to represent thousands of deckhands who lost money in the 2010 Gulf oil spill.
Through his lawyer, Watts has denied the accusation.
BP wants the court to halt distribution of money from a fund to compensate seafood industry interests affected by the spill pending a hearing aimed at finding the extent of the alleged fraud.