A recent court filing reveals a tragic story of negligence and corporate misconduct leading to the death of an Alabama resident. On June 26, 2024, Paul Turppa, as the personal representative of the estate of Gayle E. Turppa, filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware against BP Exploration & Production Inc., BP America Production Co., Transocean Holdings LLC, Transocean Deepwater Inc., Transocean Offshore Deepwater Drilling Inc., and Halliburton Energy Services Inc.
The case centers around the catastrophic BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill that occurred on April 20, 2010. The plaintiff alleges that Gayle E. Turppa was exposed to toxic substances resulting from this disaster, which ultimately led to her wrongful death on August 11, 2021. According to the complaint, Gayle Turppa was a resident of Semmes, Alabama, who frequently engaged in recreational activities along the Gulf Coast and consumed seafood from its waters. Her exposure to crude oil and chemical dispersants used during cleanup efforts allegedly caused her to develop Acute Myeloid Leukemia with Monocytic Differentiation arising in a background of Myelodysplastic Syndrome.
The complaint outlines how BP Exploration and BP America were designated as "responsible parties" by the U.S. Coast Guard for their roles in the oil spill. These companies were involved in oil exploration and drilling operations at the Macondo Well where the disaster originated. Similarly, Transocean entities were responsible for manning and guiding the Deepwater Horizon Rig (DHR), which exploded while pumping crude oil. Halliburton's division Sperry Drilling Services was tasked with mudlogging personnel and equipment on DHR.
Judge Barbier's findings from previous litigation are heavily referenced in this case. He found all defendants liable under general maritime law for their negligence leading up to and following the explosion and subsequent oil spill. Specifically, Judge Barbier apportioned fault as follows: BP Defendants (67%), Transocean Defendants (30%), and Halliburton (3%). The plaintiff asserts that these companies failed to warn residents like Gayle Turppa about non-obvious dangers such as chemical dispersants infiltrating beaches and seafood.
The lawsuit seeks various forms of relief including past medical expenses, loss of earnings from injury until death, loss of prospective net accumulations for Gayle Turppa's estate, pain and suffering before death, punitive damages, pre-judgment and post-judgment interest, remedies under Alabama Wrongful Death statute (Ala. Code § 6-5-410), any supplemental state law remedies available, and any other relief deemed just by the court.
Representing Paul Turppa are attorneys Patrick C. Gallagher from Jacobs & Crumplar P.A., based in New Castle, Delaware; C. David Durkee; Sheeba Ajwani from The Downs Law Group P.A., based in Coconut Grove, Florida; with Pro Hac Vice forthcoming status noted for Durkee and Ajwani. The case is being presided over by Judge Colm F. Connolly under Case ID 2:24-cv-01728-CJB-DPC.