Source:
APTALLAHASSEE - Commercial fishermen can recover economic losses caused by polluters, the Florida Supreme Court ruled Thursday in a decision that could establish precedent for future claims against BP.
The justices unanimously ruled that fishermen can seek such recoveries under state law even if they don't own any property damaged by the pollution.
By a 5-1 vote, they found damages also are allowed by common law.
The decision does not apply to seafood distributors, restaurants and other businesses that sustain economic losses due to pollution.
. . .
"This establishes that under Florida law that commercial fishermen, even though they don't technically own the fish when they're swimming around, have a protectable interest in the fish because they're licensed to go out and catch 'em," Pope said. "That's the way they earn a living."
Read more:
http://www.newschief.com/article/20100618/NEWS/6185040/1053
No wonder BP wants all suits bundled together and tried in Texas.