APNewsBreak: Alabama attorney general sues BP, Transocean over Gulf oil spill despite governor

APNewsBreak: Alabama sues BP over Gulf oil spill

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama’s attorney general is suing BP and others over the Gulf oil spill because he says the company has broken too many promises about accepting responsibility.

Attorney General Troy King filed two lawsuits in federal court in Montgomery late Thursday afternoon. One is against BP, the other against Transocean and others, but they are identical in wording.

They seek unspecified money damages plus punitive damages against BP, Transocean, Haliburton and other companies associated with the oil rig that Deepwater Horizon. The rig exploded on April 20, leading to some 200 million gallons of oil to spew into the Gulf of Mexico.

A spokesman for BP says the company does not comment on ongoing litigation.

King filed the lawsuit against the wishes of Gov. Bob Riley, who says the state should pursue an out-of-court settlement first.