Panel may consolidate 300 lawsuits against BP in 5 states into one federal case

[Robbien]

Source: Palm Beach Post

A seven-judge panel in Boise, Idaho will hear arguments today on whether to consolidate more than 300 federal lawsuits that have been filed against BP in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida and Texas.

If consolidated, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation will also select a location and a judge to preside over the cases.

Read more: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/panel-may-consolidate-300-lawsuits-against-bp-in-828695.html

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In what insane world would this make sense. The only one who would benefit is BP.

[howaboutme]

1. That is bad news for Americans

Consolidation has never worked for the average people, only business interests and elitists. Let each case stand on its merit instead of being pushed as a precedent and to institutional advantage. Independent discovery is needed. 9-11 was a recent example.

[Scruffy1]

3. it worked for Exxon

And it will work for BP. Already the chattering class is ignoring this event and soon it will be a dim memory for most Americans. Then it will go through a legal process lasting for years and any settlement will be reduced or paid for by the time value of money. Welcome to corporate control of everything.

[wordpix]

5. "Already the chattering class is ignoring this event, soon it will be a dim memory"-Lindsay Lohan is

so much more important, that's why. :crazy: :sarcasm:

[howaboutme]

8. The media does lead us around

using that little ring in our nose because we allow it to happen. They fill up the headlines and by lines and airwaves mostly with trivial stuff to keep average Americans absorbed, clueless and harmless.

They come up with 24/7 3 week long steady coverage on Michael Jackson to enhance his posthumous saleability for his promoters. Soon we will hear of Clinton's wedding or Lindsay Lohan....all stuff that deflects from the corruption. They promote the double standard of easy street that applies to the elite while average Americans get the shaft on minor offenses. When has the media ever worked to stir up public outrage and anger to the double standard of justice for the elite, whether it be Lindsay Lohan, the billionaire child molesters and rapists Epstein and Polansky, or anger towards BP. The media works on behalf of the elite and the corporations with a few exceptions.

They tell us what is important. And by omission of further information they tell us when our interests should wain. They tell us who the evil people are, while they omit stories on those that they don't want embarrassed.

[droidamus2]

2. Let me quess

The case will be tried in Houston by a judge that used to be an attorney that worked for the oil companies and has strong past ties to the Republican party (appointed by Ronnie or one of the Bushes)

[Tx4obama]

4. The cases should be heard by judges in BLUE states with no ties to Big Oil. n/t

[wordpix]

6. whether red or blue state, both judge & jury members should have no ties to BigOil

that might be hard in a Gulf Coast state, true

[howaboutme]

9. It doesn't matter red or blue

based upon this list of recipients. BP has greased the skids.

http://www.grist.org/article/2010-05-05-bps-donations-to-congress-more-worrying-than-donations-to-obama/

The USA system is corrupt and both sides are affected. It is likely the US Congress could give lessons to the Iraqis and Afghanis on how manipulate legislation for the elite.

[defendandprotect]

7. Right -- easier to dismiss they all -- !!!

[JoeyT]

10. Much easier to slap all the uppity peasants down at once this way.

Cheaper for BP on the lawyer fees for the twenty years of appeals they'll file if they happen to lose, too.

[Kingofalldems]

11. Don't worry-- Scalia/Thomas will jump in and save the day for BP