High Court Rejects Attempt to Block BP Deal
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected an attempt by victims of a deadly refinery explosion to block a plea deal between BP PLC and prosecutors.
The Supreme Court’s action means a federal judge in Houston can now decide whether to give final approval to the much criticized plea deal, which settles criminal conduct by the London-based oil company related to the 2005 blast.
The agreement, which has a BP subsidiary pleading guilty to a violation of the Clean Air Act, calls for a $50 million fine, and sentences the oil giant to three years’ probation for its role in the Texas City blast that killed 15 people and injured more than 170.