Well that bought some time

On to the next maneuver.

BP spokesman Geoff Morrell said Monday that the company will “continue to advocate for the investigation of suspicious or implausible claims and to fight fraud where it is uncovered.”

He said BP “remains concerned that the program has made awards to claimants that suffered no injury from the spill — and that the lawyers for these claimants have unjustly profited as a result.”

The 5th Circuit ruling consolidated two issues: the validity of the entire settlement and whether businesses must show the spill caused their losses. BP had asked the Supreme Court to review both decisions.

Stephen Herman and James Roy, co-lead counsel for the plaintiffs, said the high court’s action marked “a huge victory for the Gulf and should finally put to rest BP’s two-year attack on its own settlement process.”

“With its order, the Supreme Court held — as had the lower courts — that BP must stand by its word and honor its contract,” they said in a statement.

It's fine, though.  BP can keep playing this game for decades if they want to. They don't have to win every fight. Just have to keep dragging along until it all passes into history.