Mississippi becomes 3rd US state to sue BP for oil spill, filing suits just before deadline

JACKSON, Miss. – Mississippi has become the third state to sue BP PLC over the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Attorney General Jim Hood announced Friday that Mississippi had filed suits in federal and state court. The move comes one day before the three-year statute of limitations expires for claims related to the April 20, 2010 explosion and subsequent spill.

Hood says he wanted to settle, but says BP refused to negotiate. He also says the oil company refused to waive the statute of limitations.

A spokeswoman for BP didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Louisiana and Alabama sued BP earlier and are participating in a federal trial in New Orleans to determine the liability of BP and its contractors. Mississippi hadn’t been participating because it hadn’t sued.

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