BP most to blame for worst ever offshore oil spill, judge rules

BP bears the majority of responsibility among the companies involved in America’s worst offshore oil spill, a federal judge has ruled, citing the energy giant’s reckless conduct in a ruling that exposes the oil giant to billions of dollars in penalties.

BP already has agreed to pay billions of dollars in criminal fines and compensation to people and businesses affected by the disaster.

But US District Judge Carl Barbier’s ruling could nearly quadruple what the UK company has to pay in civil fines for polluting the Gulf of Mexico during the 2010 spill.