Deepwater MDL Court Severs 2 Cases Brought by Environmental Groups

NEW ORLEANS - The federal judge overseeing the Deepwater Horizon MDL has granted motions to deconsolidate two lawsuits by environmental groups challenging government regulation of BP's drilling operations. In re: Oil Spill by the Oil Rig Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010, MDL No. 2179 [Gulf Restoration Network Inc., et al. v. Salazar, et al., No. 1497; Gulf Restoration Network Inc., et al. v. Department of the Interior, et al., No. 1630] (E.D. La.).

Judge Carl J. Barbier, who presides over the Deepwater Horizon multi-district litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District …