A former cleanup worker has filed a lawsuit against a major oil company, alleging exposure to toxic substances during the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill cleanup operations. Lawrence J. Rivet, Jr., who served as a Vessel of Opportunity captain during the 2010 spill response, filed the complaint on April 16, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against BP Exploration & Production, Inc. and BP America Production Company.
Rivet claims that while working on the oil spill cleanup from April to August 2010, he was exposed to hazardous chemicals such as benzene and volatile organic compounds without adequate protective equipment or warnings about their dangers. He accuses BP of negligence and gross misconduct in managing the spill's aftermath and alleges that this exposure led to his diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma in November 2022. The complaint details how BP allegedly downplayed the severity of the spill and continued using harmful dispersants like COREXIT despite EPA directives to find less toxic alternatives. Rivet argues that BP failed to provide proper safety gear or training for workers like him and even threatened termination for those who sought additional protection.
The plaintiff seeks compensatory damages for past and future medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses related to his condition. He also requests a jury trial to determine BP's liability for his injuries. The case highlights ongoing legal battles stemming from one of history's worst environmental disasters.
Representing Rivet is attorney C. David Durkee from The Downs Law Group, P.A., based in Coconut Grove, Florida. The case is presided over by Judge Barbier with Magistrate Judge Currault involved in proceedings under Case ID 2:25-cv-00752.