Oil companies and coastal residents lawyer up in response to Deepwater Horizon spill

To date, at least 88 lawsuits have been filed seeking compensation from the April 21st oil rig disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. The rig explosion killed 11 oil workers and the subsequent oil gusher poses a serious threat to the economy and ecology of the entire coastal region.

Lawyer Robert McKee joins us to discuss the motivations behind the lawsuit he and his clients are preparing against oil giant BP. Robert believes that suits like his can lead to more lasting deterrents against future off-shore oil disasters than government regulation alone.

On the other side of the argument, we’re joined by Michael Economides, Editor-in-Chief of Energy Tribune. Michael consults for oil companies in over 70 countries and says that America’s litigation-happy public might not have the best reaction to this particular catastrophe.