BP asks judge to dismiss many spill claims

NEW ORLEANS – BP PLC is asking a federal judge to dismiss most of the court claims filed against the oil giant by businesses and individuals who say they suffered economic damage from last year's massive Gulf oil spill.

U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier didn't immediately rule Thursday after hearing motions to dismiss claims against BP and other companies that have been sued over the spill spawned by the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig.

BP argues Barbier must dismiss thousands of maritime and state law claims for economic losses by commercial fishermen, property owners and others because they are pre-empted by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990.

Plaintiffs' attorneys dispute that the 1990 law is the only vehicle for resolving these claims.