SCUBA Diving Business Files Lawsuit Against BP: The Criminal Report Daily : Investigation Discovery

June 26, 2010

SCUBA diving businesses along the Gulf Coast region are beginning to feel the pinch as the oil spill disaster encroaches on dive sites and visitors cancel plans to dive in the Gulf of Mexico.

As a result the problem, the Beasley Allen Law Firm has filed a lawsuit against British Petroleum ("BP") and several other companies with ties to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The firm represents a SCUBA diving business, which has allegedly incurred damages related to the oil spill, including loss of profits, business income, and earning capacity.

Current estimates indicate between 40.7 million and 114.5 million gallons of oil have already spilled into the Gulf of Mexico since the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded on April 20, and oil continues to spew from the undersea well every day.

Beaches up and down the Gulf Coast have been closed to swimmers, and visitors who are ordinarily drawn to the area's emerald waters are canceling their plans. But even in areas where waters are open and diving is safe, travelers are staying away out of fear about oil contamination. According to the Adventure Travel Trade Association, dive industry sales total more than $800 million annually.

"The SCUBA diving business is taking a double hit, impacted by actual oil spill damages, and the fear that surrounds reports of the leak's effect on the Gulf of Mexico," Rhon Jones, head of Beasley Allen's Environmental Law section, said. "Even when the water is clean and safe and dive sites are open, many travelers are still avoiding the Gulf Coast because of misconceptions about where the oil is now, and fears about where it might spread in the coming weeks and months."

The suit is filed in Middle District of Alabama on behalf of Adventure Sports II, a SCUBA diving business located in Montgomery, Ala., that does significant business in the Gulf of Mexico. The suit seeks damages for earning capacity, business income, and other damages related to the disaster. The suit alleges negligence and wanton misconduct. Defendants named in the suit are BP, Haliburton, and Cameron International.

This most recent lawsuit is not the first time Beasley lawyers have gone head-to-head with an oil company. In a previous lawsuit, they won an $11.8 billion verdict against ExxonMobil Corp., for breach of contract and fraud.

In addition, the firm has filed a number of lawsuits on behalf of businesses and individuals allegedly harmed by the oil spill. The first suits were filed on behalf of Plaintiffs in the commercial fishing and restaurant industries. Recently, they filed a case on behalf of Gulf Coast real estate management companies, a commercial charter-fishing guide, and commercial fishing deckhand. These businesses and individuals are claiming major economic losses as vacationers cancel bookings at what would be the start of the industry's most lucrative season.

Photo Credit: www.freeimages.co.uk