On the stand: Workers on the drilling rig that exploded at the outset of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill catastrophe were “trying to get it right” as they monitored BP’s well for signs of trouble before the blast, an expert witness for the company that owned the rig testified today. “They just misinterpreted what they were seeing,” well control expert Calvin Barnhill said on the 13th day of a trial over the disaster. “I don’t think anybody out there intentionally misinterpreted this situation.” Barnhill was Transocean Ltd.’s first witness as the Swiss-based company, which leased the rig to BP PLC, started to present its defense. The full story is here.
A bigger bite: Gov. Bobby Jindal and Metal Shark Boats President Chris Allard jointly announced today plans for a $1.52 million capital investment by the company to expand its Jeanerette shipyard in support of military, law enforcement agency and commercial boat contracts. The expansion will create 88 new direct jobs with an average salary of more than $62,000, plus benefits. LED estimates the project will result in an additional 134 new indirect jobs, for a total of 222 new jobs. The project will also create 25 construction jobs while retaining 144 existing Metal Shark employees. LED has more details here.
Showtime: Attorneys on both sides of the Louisiana voucher debate are honing their arguments for a showdown that begins Tuesday before the Louisiana Supreme Court. During Tuesday’s oral arguments, no witnesses will be called, and each side will have a limited amount of time to present its case. A speedy decision is not expected. The (Lafayette) Daily Advertiser has the full story here.
