BHP Billiton and Vale Slapped With $44 Billion Lawsuit

More trouble for the already beaten down mining stocks. BHP Billiton (BHP) - Get Report and Vale (VALE) - Get Report were hit with a $44 billion lawsuit on Tuesday stemming from a dam collapse in Brazil that killed over a dozen people back in November. Jasper Lawler, a market analyst with CMC Markets, based in London, said investors worry this could be similar to the troubles BP (BP) - Get Report faced with its 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill. Amid the slump in oil prices, BHP's stock lost 43 percent over the past year, while Vale lost 41 percent. TheStreet's Scott Gamm reports from Wall Street.