BP Battles to Oust Oil Spill Claims Chief Overseeing Compensation

BP is battling to oust the oil spill claims chief overseeing the fallout from the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. BP is taking its case to the Federal appeals court in New Orleans, claiming that the lead administrator of damage settlement claims has a conflict of interest in the case. Patrick Juneau formerly represented Louisiana in talks setting up the claims process for oil spill damages and had pushed for favorable compensation terms. The oil giant is claiming that Janeau made misleading statements about his previous work before being selected as claims administrator. The company also alleges that he improperly sped up the claims process for select cases. The U.S. District court flatly rejected BP's claims last week, sighting no evidence for the allegations. The appeal comes shortly after the district court approved a second round of claims that BP must pay from a $2.3 billion seafood compensation program.