Stand Against Oil Disasters: Mexico Class Action Filed Against British Petroleum | Audet & Partners, LLP

Between April and July 2010, it is believed that the explosion of BP’s Deepwater Horizon drilling rig resulted in leakage of some 4.9 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. In a subsequent effort to cosmetically reduce the appearance of oil on the water surface, BP covered the oil spill with 1.9 million gallons of Corexit, an oil dispersant known to be mutagenic to fish.

Now, more than two years after the spill, studies are demonstrating that zooplankton – among the first links in the oceanic food chain – have become contaminated from exposure to the oil. It is widely feared that introduction of these pollutants into the food chain may eventually lead to physical problems to humans including headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pains, chest pains, respiratory system damage, skin sensitization, hypertension, central nervous system depression, neurotoxic effects, cardiac arrhythmia, and cardiovascular damage.

These substances are also known to be carcinogenic as well as to disturb the growth and development of an embryo or fetus.

In addition to harm to the general population of Mexico, the complaint filed by Audet and Partners, LLP advances claims of specific groups including Fishermen, Tourism Companies, Environmental Organizations, and Commercial Real Estate Owners.

To read the complaint filed in Mexico City by Audet and Partners, LLP, please click here (Spanish, PDF format).