BP buys up Gulf scientists for legal defense, roiling academic community

[kpete]

Source: Alabama Press Register

BP buys up Gulf scientists for legal defense, roiling academic community
Published: Friday, July 16, 2010, 5:00 AM Updated: Friday, July 16, 2010, 4:14 PM

For the last few weeks, BP has been offering signing bonuses and lucrative pay to prominent scientists from public universities around the Gulf Coast to aid its defense against spill litigation.

BP PLC attempted to hire the entire marine sciences department at one Alabama university, according to scientists involved in discussions with the company's lawyers. The university declined because of confidentiality restrictions that the company sought on any research.

The Press-Register obtained a copy of a contract offered to scientists by BP. It prohibits the scientists from publishing their research, sharing it with other scientists or speaking about the data that they collect for at least the next three years.

"We told them there was no way we would agree to any kind of restrictions on the data we collect. It was pretty clear we wouldn't be hearing from them again after that," said Bob Shipp, head of marine sciences at the University of South Alabama. "We didn't like the perception of the university representing BP in any fashion."

Read more: http://blog.al.com/live/2010/07/bp_buys_up_gulf_scientists_for.html

[rzemanfl]

1. This requires a new academic position: "Professor Awhoreitus."

[Dogtown]

2. K&R n/t

[Octafish]

3. They certainly don't leave anything to chance.

Besides safety, I mean.

[aquart]

4. So who did sign?

[jwirr]

5. Name names please.

[ArcticFox]

6. You won't see names

This is a litigation trick. It's called "preemption".

If a party consults with an expert, that expert is "preempted," i.e., the expert cannot work for the other side. BP won't actually use more than a few in litigation, but they will severely limit the plaintiffs' ability to find experts. And expert witnesses will be required for the plaintiffs to make their case. If they don't have expert testimony, even if it's because BP has precluded all experts from working for the plaintiffs, the court will throw out lawsuits seeking damages against BP.

The only names we'll see are people who have refused to discuss the matter with BP and those who actually testify. The rest will have confidentiality agreements and their identities will be non-discoverable attorney work product.

[anigbrowl]

8. +1

[Robb]

9. Clever.

Were I not so appalled, I'd almost be impressed. :(

[Proletariatprincess]

7. We should be prepared to hear some preposterious scientific conclusions

from BP in the future. Just like with Climate change and so called Creation Science, big money will change hands to create another version of "authoritive opinion" that will have little or no basis in science or evidence.
Greed and deception has become so pervasive in the USA that any scientific research in this country is suspect and cannot be trusted.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

10. any scientist who would lower him/herself to be bought by BP

is a scumbag, and should be disbarred from the academic community and have the title SCIENTIST taken away.

(edited for bad grammar)

[dipsydoodle]

11. Kick.

.