BP 'to be sued over oil spill'

Oil giant BP is set to take another battering after a US judge ruled thousands of fishermen and business owners hit by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster could sue for punitive damages, it was reported today.

Judge Carl Barbier, who is considering some 500 cases against BP and is main co-defendants Transocean, has said the plaintiffs are allowed to make their cases under maritime law for punitive damages – penalties designed to deter bad conduct, the Sunday Telegraph said.