Standard News

Hide Advertisement
  • Business
  • Culture
  • News
  • Technology
  • Trending
Site logo
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Lawyer accused of fraud by U.S. in BP oil spill case is acquitted

By Reuters 2 min read
Advertisement - Continue reading below
An exhausted oil-covered brown pelican sits in a pool of oil along Queen Bess Island Pelican Rookery

By Jonathan Stempel

(Reuters) – A prominent Texas lawyer was acquitted on Thursday of charges he made up thousands of fake clients to sue BP Plc for damages that the oil company caused in the 2010 Gulf of Mexico spill, court records show.

Advertisement

Mikal Watts was among five defendants found not guilty by a Mississippi federal jury of charges related to an alleged scheme to defraud a program set up by BP to compensate people who suffered economic losses from the spill. Two other defendants were found guilty.

The U.S. Department of Justice had accused the defendants of submitting claims on behalf of more than 40,000 people who had not agreed to be represented by Watts’ firm, or else were identified with stolen or bogus Social Security numbers and other personal information.

According to the indictment, one alleged victim, named Lucy Lu, who supposedly was a deckhand on a commercial seafood vessel, was actually a dog.

The convicted defendants were Gregory Warren and Thi Houng “Kristy” Le, who prosecutors said helped collect names and information.

Also acquitted were Watts’ brother David Watts and Wynter Lee, who both worked for Mikal Watts’ San Antonio law firm, and field representatives Hector Eloy Guerra and Thi Hoang “Abbie” Nguyen, who was Le’s sister-in-law.

The Justice Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Mikal Watts, who represented himself at trial, and lawyers for Warren and Le did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

BP last month estimated it would incur $61.6 billion of overall liabilities for the April 20, 2010 spill, including for cleanup costs, damages claims and regulatory penalties.

The case is U.S. v. Watts et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Mississippi, No. 15-cr-00065.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York)

tagreuters.com2016binary_LYNXNPEC7H1GZ-VIEWIMAGE

tagreuters.com2016binary_LYNXNPEC7H1GN-VIEWIMAGE

Advertisement - Continue reading below

Relationships between women a mystery to men, says ‘spiritualist’ Portman
Entertainment
Reuters 2 min read

Relationships between women a mystery to men, says ‘spiritualist’ Portman

Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, 68, is a dad to twins
Entertainment
Reuters 1 min read

Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, 68, is a dad to twins

New Connecticut school on massacre site blends safety and nature
News
Reuters 3 min read

New Connecticut school on massacre site blends safety and nature

Restoration Of A French Ship That Sank 300 Years Ago Is Finished
Entertainment
David Clarke 3 min read

Restoration Of A French Ship That Sank 300 Years Ago Is Finished

Jennifer Lawrence ranked world’s highest paid-actress for second year
Entertainment
Reuters 2 min read

Jennifer Lawrence ranked world’s highest paid-actress for second year

Planned Parenthood sued over Colorado abortion clinic shooting
News
Reuters 2 min read

Planned Parenthood sued over Colorado abortion clinic shooting

U.S. officials: No evidence of direct ISIS link to Orlando shooting
News
Reuters 2 min read

U.S. officials: No evidence of direct ISIS link to Orlando shooting

The Story Behind The Most Haunted Place In Wyoming Will Give You Nightmares
Trending
David Clarke 2 min read

The Story Behind The Most Haunted Place In Wyoming Will Give You Nightmares

7 Haunted Locations in the US with Notable Histories
Entertainment
Ethan Blake 5 min read

7 Haunted Locations in the US with Notable Histories

Swollen rivers recede after deadly Louisiana floods
News
Reuters 3 min read

Swollen rivers recede after deadly Louisiana floods

load more Loading posts...

sidebar

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

sidebar-alt

  • About Us
  • Imprint
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • For Advertisers