"BP Carries Most Blame for Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill, Judge Rules"

"BP shoulders most of the blame for the disastrous 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill by acting with "profit-driven decisions" that amounted to "gross negligence," a federal judge ruled Thursday in a decision that could quadruple the billions of dollars in penalties the oil giant faces.

BP immediately announced it disagreed with the decision and plans to appeal.

In a highly anticipated ruling, U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier portioned out responsibility for the nation's worst oil spill, which began in April 2010 when the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded, killing 11 workers and busting the Macondo well. Millions of gallons of oil gushed into the Gulf and washed ashore."

Katherine Sayre reports for the New Orleans Times-Picayune September 4, 2014.

SEE ALSO:

"BP's Reckless Conduct Caused Gulf Oil Spill, Federal Judge Rules" (AP)

"BP Found 'Grossly Negligent' in 2010 Gulf Oil Spill" (BBC News)

"Judge Rules BP Was Grossly Negligent in Oil Spill" (FuelFix)

"BP, Found Grossly Negligent, May Face $18 Billion in Gulf Spill Fines" (Los Angeles Times)

"'Worst Case' BP Ruling on Gulf Spill Means Billions More in Penalties" (Bloomberg)

"BP May Be Fined Up to $18 Billion for Spill in Gulf" (New York Times)

"BP Is Found Grossly Negligent in Deepwater Horizon Disaster" (Wall Street Journal)

"BP ‘Reckless,’ ‘Profit-Driven’ in 2010 Gulf Oil Spill, Judge Rules" (Alaska Dispatch News)

"Court: BP Grossly Negligent in Gulf Oil Disaster" (Politico)

"Read the ruling" (NOLA.com)