NEW ORLEANS – A Jefferson Parish man is suing BP PLC claiming it is responsible for more than $20,000 in wages he lost due to the moratorium on deepwater drilling following the 2010 oil spill.
Tuan Truong filed suit against BP Exploration & Production Inc., BP America Production Company, BP America Inc., BP Corporation North America Inc. and BP Products America Inc. in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana on June 8.
Truong claims he was working as a painter in the coating division of Dynamic Industries Inc. when the Deepwater Horizon oil spill occurred in 2010. The plaintiff alleges that after the disaster the federal government suspended deep sea drilling in the Gulf of Mexico for a period of six months and also instituted stricter safety requirements on those involved in deep sea oil exploration, such as Dynamic Industries Inc., making it more difficult for them to continue to drill in the area following the lifting of the moratorium.
“These actions were taken as a direct and foreseeable result of the Oil Spill and its environmental devastation,” the lawsuit filing says.
Truong contends that due to the six-month long suspension of deep sea drilling in the Gulf of Mexico he suffered a loss of wages worth at least $20,000 based off of his tax return from 2008 through 2010.
The defendant is accused of liability for gross negligence, willful misconduct and violation of operating regulations.
Truong is seeking damages for loss of income, interest, attorney’s fees and litigation costs.
The plaintiff is represented by attorney Connie P. Trieu of Gretna.
The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier.
Case no. 2:15-cv-01968.