It should be a legal decision based on the economics with no political involvement or political judgments on the part of judges involved at all. Justice is supposed to be blind, not reflect public sentiments, stereotypes and prejudices.
Right now Florida tourism is off. Rational or not there is big money being lost, and who is responsible?
The media and other folks who are hyping the catastrophe as being more than it is. Florida has not been directly affected at all at present and may never be and if people want to go hysterical then the people who do so are responsible for their own hysteria.
Does BP have to pay wages for the the fishermen, the charter boat owners, the waitresses out of work?
If fishermen or charter operators can show their losses are related to BP's actions, sure. For example, if the federal government closes certain areas to fishing.
If otoh charter operators are losing money because of the hysteria of media and environmental hypesters, thats tough luck. They can blame the hypesters who are spreading hysteria and keeping tourists away but I don't think they can sue them under our legal system. Like for example, if tourists hear people on the west coast of FL saying the whole area smells of petroleum that could have an impact on tourism but I don't think anyone could sue the people who spread those rumors.
Any economic impact is going to be offset somewhat by boat owners hiring their boats out to BP to skim oil, ferry goods. Ditto for locals hired in the cleanup efforts.
If there is a large wildlife kill do they have to pay for that... for generations of wildlife?
There will be fines for wildlife killed. Plus fishermen might be able to sue if catches are reduced. At this point, we shouldn't assume the losses will be enourmous till it happens.
I'd guess BP will survive but shareholders will suffer over time. |
