July 2010

BP PLC is offering money to scientists with research into the Gulf spill, in an effort to secure their support for the company in impending spill litigation. In one case, the company offered to hire the entire marine sciences department at an Alabama university, according to scientists who spurned the offer. … Robert Wiygul, an Ocean Springs lawyer who specializes in environmental law, said the contract is one-sided. “This is not an agreement to do research for BP,” he said. “This is an agreement to join BP’s legal team. You agree to communicate with BP and to take orders from their attorneys.”