California vs. BP Lawsuit

The State of California is suing BP and ARCO for violating state laws on hazardous materials, threatening groundwater resources and placing public health in jeopardy.

The California vs BP lawsuit accuses the defendants of not properly inspecting and maintaining underground gasoline tanks at more than 780 gas stations in family communities across the Golden State.

"California's hazardous waste laws safeguard public health and this lawsuit ensures proper maintenance of the tanks that store fuel beneath California's communities," said California Attorney General Kamala Harris.

The lawsuit filed in Alameda County Superior Court also alleges that BP and ARCO have disabled or tampered with leak-detection devices, which is even more shocking and frightening.

The co-defendants named in the lawsuit filed by the state attorney general are BP West Coast Products, BP Products North America Inc. and the Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO).

BP (aka British Petroleum) was responsible for the infamous 2010 Gulf Coast Oil Spill which crippled the lives of millions of American people as the world watched in horror.

BP Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg of Sweden, ultra-wealthy and set for life, ignited a firestorm after the Gulf Coast Oil Spill by saying, "We care about the small people."

Mr. Svanberg is also the Chairman of Volvo, an auto maker that makes an incredible amount of money in California...

...the state where more Volvo cars are sold to "the little people" than any other U.S. state.

BP officials in London will not give an on-the-record statement to Californiality about California's environmental lawsuit filed by Attorney General Kamala Harris and the following eight county district attorneys:

1. Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O'Malley
2. Glenn County District Attorney Robert Maloney
3. Merced County District Attorney Larry Morse
4. Nevada County District Attorney Clifford Newell
5. Placer County District Attorney Scott Owens
6. San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael Ramos
7. Stanislaus County District Attorney Birgit Fladager
8. Yuba County District Attorney Patrick McGrath

The legal action filed on behalf of the People of California follows an official investigation that found hazardous waste and hazardous materials violations by BP/ARCO at gas stations in 37 California counties.

The environmental case, which seeks unspecified damages, is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Brett Morris and Deputy Attorney General Deborah Halberstadt.

The case is California v BP West Coast Products, RG13665900, California Superior Court, Alameda County (Oakland).

Read the legal complaint against BP and ARCO (.pdf), which also lists the addresses of the California gas stations.