BP seeks halt on oil spill payouts

BP has asked a judge to temporarily suspend all settlement payments to Gulf Coast businesses and people who claim they lost money after the company’s 2010 oil spill while former FBI director Louis Freeh investigates alleged misconduct by a lawyer who helped administer the multibillion-dollar settlement programme.

A court filing by BP lawyers argues that because of the allegations there is a risk that other aspects of the claims process have been compromised.