[goldcigarettes]

One of BP's partners in the deepwater well which exploded in April - leading to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico - has refused to pay its share of the costs so far.

Houston-based Anadarko, which owns 25% of the Macondo well, was asked to pay $272m (£180m) by BP.

But an Anadarko spokesman said it was going to withhold payment.

BP said it was "disappointed" that the firm had "failed to live up to their obligations".

"Anadarko's refusal to pay their share will in no way affect BP's commitment to stop the leak, clean up the spill, and pay all legitimate claims as quickly as possible", spokesman Mark Salt added.

He said another firm with a stake in the project, Mitsui Oil Exploration, had also not responded to a request to help pay for the spill... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/10581968.stm
More businesses not paying their share when things go wrong. Shocking.

[RussellPG]

Well, after the final outcome on the Exxon Valdez, it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that most of these companies will take their chances in court.