Edward F. Sherman, a professor at Tulane University Law School, told the New York Times that, even though Judge Barbier didn’t explain clearly how he came to the 4.0-million-barrel estimate, his choice to take the middle road between the two group’s estimates was smart.So after months of considering all the testimony and evidence, Barbier just said, Fuck it we're splitting the difference, and this is considered "smart." OK.
“At times we claim precision,” he said, but “there’s no way to precisely find the numbers, so why not pick a number as he did, reasonably between the two numbers provided by the parties?”
Still, the ruling is good news for BP, as it lowers the amount of fines it faces from $18 billion to $13.7 billion.
“Today’s ruling is a major victory for BP and reduces by billions their potential liability,” David Uhlmann, a law professor at the University of Michigan, told Bloomberg.
BP saves something like $8 billion in the process anyway, so good for them. Last night on Informed Sources Erroll Laborde asked if the fine might be more than BP could "withstand." Doesn't look like he has to worry anymore.