A Houston judge agreed Thursday to stay pending cases against Transocean arising from the April 20 disaster that destroyed its Deepwater Horizon drilling rig, killed 11 workers and created a growing oil spill.
U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison issued an order suspending the cases against Transocean at the company’s request after it sought a $26.7 million limit to its liability in the lawsuits.
Lawyers involved in the myriad lawsuits filed against Transocean, rig leaser BP and others said they had expected Transocean would attempt such a move under the Limitation of Liability Act, a maritime law that allows vessel owners to limit liability to the value of a vessel and its freight. Mary Flood, Houston Chronicle 05/14/2010
Read Article: Houston Chronicle