Articles by Jonathan Stempel

Complex Trial Over Blame for Gulf Oil Spill Set to Open

It could be the ultimate case for passing the buck. A massive trial over the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill heads for a New Orleans federal courtroom on Monday, to determine how much BP Plc and others should cough …

Judge: BP, Anadarko, Transocean May Be Liable for Oil Pollution Claims

BP Plc and Anadarko Petroleum Corp. are liable and Transocean Ltd. may be liable for civil damages under federal pollution laws over the catastrophic 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, a U.S. judge ruled. Wednesday’s decision by U.S. District Judge …

BP Wins Ruling Keeping Prior Accidents Out of Gulf Spill Trial

BP Plc won a court order to keep references to some previous accidents out of the trial to assess blame for the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, the oil company’s second victory in as many days to bar potentially …

Citigroup Mortgage Insurance Whistleblower: ‘I Have No Regrets’

It wasn’t Sherry Hunt’s original intent to go public on the shoddy quality control at a mortgage unit at Citigroup Inc., her employer since 2004. But by March 2011, as it became apparent to her that the problems were getting …

Citigroup to Pay $158M in Whistleblower Fraud Claim Over Insurance for Mortgages

Citigroup Inc. has agreed to pay $158.3 million to settle U.S. civil claims that it defrauded the government into insuring thousands of risky home loans made by its CitiMortgage unit. Wednesday’s settlement resolves claims under the federal False Claims Act …

BP Wins Dismissal of Part of Investor Lawsuit Over Gulf Oil Spill

A U.S. federal judge dismissed a large part of a nationwide lawsuit accusing BP Plc and top executives of fraud for misleading shareholders before and after the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill about the oil company’s ability to respond …

MF Global Judge to Examine Insurance Payments for Former Executives

The U.S. judge overseeing MF Global’s bankruptcy plans a closer review before deciding whether any of an estimated $190 million of insurance coverage for former company executives should instead go to customers. Opponents of the plan to cover former executives, …

BP Wins Ruling Keeping Prior Accidents Out of Gulf Spill Trial

BP Plc won a court order to keep references to some previous accidents out of this month’s trial to assess blame for the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, the oil company’s second victory in as many days to bar …

Investors Suing Bank of America Win Class-Action Status

Investors suing Bank of America Corp. won class-action status for their lawsuit accusing the bank of fraudulently misleading them about the 2008 takeover of Merrill Lynch & Co. and the size of Merrill’s losses and bonus payouts. U.S. District Judge …

Carlyle Group Drops Controversial Arbitration Requirement for Shareholders

Carlyle Group LP, a giant private equity firm that has filed for an initial public offering, has dropped a controversial effort to require its future shareholders to resolve claims through arbitration rather than in court. The Washington, D.C.-based firm, with …