Cotton Bayou Marina, Inc. v. BP, PLC et al

Filing 55

MOTION to Dismiss by BP America, Inc., BP Products North America, Inc.. (Brooks, William)

Cotton Bayou Marina, Inc. v. BP, PLC et al

Doc. 55

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA SOUTHERN DIVISION COTTON BAYOU MARINA, INC, d/b/a TACKY JACK'S RESTAURANT, Plaintiff, v. BP plc; et al., Defendants. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) CASE NO. 1:10-cv-00243-WS-C ) ) ) )

MOTION TO DISMISS Pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6), Defendants BP America Inc. and BP Products North America Inc. (collectively "BP Defendants") hereby move the Court to dismiss the Complaint and each and every count and claim therein alleged against the BP Defendants. As grounds for this motion, the BP Defendants state: 1. The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA), 33 U.S.C. §2701, et. seq.

displaces Plaintiffs' negligence, wantonness, nuisance, and strict liability claims. 2. Absent from Plaintiffs' Complaint is any allegation that they have

submitted their claims to BP through the OPA-mandated claims process that BP is carrying out, which is a mandatory condition precedent under the OPA to filing a lawsuit against BP for recovery of damages related to the oil spill. 33 U.S.C. § 2713(a), (c).

Dockets.Justia.com

3.

Even if OPA had not displaced Plaintiffs' claims, they would still be

barred by the economic loss rule of Robins Dry Dock & Repair Co. v. Flint, 275 U.S. 303, 309 (1927), or Louisiana state law principles, see PPG Indus., Inc. v. Bean Dredging, 447 So. 2d 1058, 1062 (La. 1984), made part of the federal law governing the Outer Continental Shelf. 4. In accordance with Local Rule 7.1, the BP Defendants submit a

separate Memorandum of Law in support of this motion, which is adopted and incorporated by reference as part of this motion. WHEREFORE, the BP Defendants respectfully request that the Court enter an order dismissing Plaintiff's complaint and each and every count and claim therein alleged against the BP Defendants. s/ William H. Brooks John M. Johnson (JOHNJ7318) Adam K. Peck (PECKA0851) William H. Brooks (BROOW3330) Marchello D. Gray (GRAYM6384) LIGHTFOOT, FRANKLIN & WHITE, L.L.C. 400 North 20th Street Birmingham, Alabama 35203 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail] Attorneys for Defendants BP America Inc. and BP Products North America Inc. 2

OF COUNSEL: Richard C. Godfrey, P.C. John T. Hickey, Jr., P.C. J. Andrew Langan, P.C. KIRKLAND & ELLIS, LLP 300 North Lasalle Street Chicago, IL 60654 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone] [e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail]

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that on this 6th day of July, 2010, I electronically filed the foregoing with the Clerk of the Court using the CM/ECF system, which will send notification of such filing to: Jere L. Beasley, Esq. Rhon E. Jones, Esq. David B. Byrne, III, Esq. Anna Brantley Fry, Esq. Christopher D. Boutwell, Esq. John E. Tomlinson, Esq. Joseph Parker Miller, Esq. BEASLEY, ALLEN, CROW, METHVIN, PORTIS & MILES, P.C. P.O. Box 4160 Montgomery, AL 36103-4160 John N. Leach, Esq. Joseph P. H. Babington, Esq. Russell C. Buffkin. Esq. HELMSING, LEACH, HERLONG, NEWMAN & ROUSE, P.C. P. O. Box 2767 Mobile AL 36652 Donald E. Godwin, Esq. Bruce W. Bowman, Jr., Esq. Jenny L. Martinez, Esq. Floyd R. Hartley, Jr., Esq. Gavin E. Hill, Esq. GODWIN RONQUILLO, P.C. 1201 Elm Street, Suite 1700 Dallas, TX 75270 Robert Alan York, Esq. GODWIN RONQUILLO, P.C. 1331 Lamar, Suite 1665 4 Houston Center Houston, TX 77010 A. Danner Frazer , Jr., Esq. Robert J. Mullican, Esq. FRAZER, GREENE, UPCHURCH & BAKER, LLC P. O. Box 1686 Mobile, AL 36633 David J. Beck, Esq. BECK, REDDEN & SECREST, LLP One Houston Center 1221 McKinney St., Ste 4500 Houston, TX 77010 Blane H. Crutchfield, Esq. Douglas L. McCoy, Esq. HAND ARENDALL, L.L.C. P. O. Box 123 Mobile, AL 36601

s/ William H. Brooks Of Counsel

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