Politics & Government
Pinellas County Joins Gulfport in Suing BP Oil
Pinellas County is claiming 'willful misconduct' in its lawsuit. Gulfport already has filed a claim against the oil giant.
Pinellas County has filed a lawsuit against BP Oil for economic losses in tourism related to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
The city of Gulfport also is suing BP for damages estimated to be $3.6 million. The city is claiming lost revenues from a decline in visitors to Gulfport's Marina and Waterfront District because of the ongoing BP oil spill in 2010, which kept tourists away from Gulf beach communities.
Other municipalities to point to a drop in tourism dollars are Indian Rocks Beach, Madeira Beach, St. Pete Beach, Dunedin, Clearwater and Treasure Island.
Find out what's happening in Gulfportfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Pinellas County suit does not seek a specific amount in damages. But it alleges "negligence and willful misconduct" on the part of BP, according to the Times article.
More coverage
Find out what's happening in Gulfportfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Gulfport Files $3.6 Million Lawsuit Against BP
Get the Gulfport Patch newsletter delivered to your email each day.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.