Transocean files petition to limit liability, based on 1851 maritime law

From the New York Times, May 25, 2010:

"Transocean is trying hard to protect itself. It has filed a petition in United States District Court in Houston to limit its liability to $26.7 million,
trying to use a clause in an 1851 maritime law to hold liability to the value of the rig and its cargo."

Lawyers are working overtime to apply obscure 19th Century maritime law to avoid financial responsibility. Nice.

A worker describes the attitude towards safety on the Deepwater Horizon:

"Stephen Stone, who worked as a roustabout on the platform, said that safety policies were important at Transocean “if you have time.”
“But if it’s a rush, then you kind of overlook it,” said Mr. Stone, who is suing the company and others for personal injuries and economic losses."

They say Transocean is a Swiss company. Actually they were based in Houston, then moved to the Caymans and have now set up a Potemkin headquarters in Switzerland.
All to avoid paying US taxes:

"Between Congressional hearings, Mr. Newman has traveled back to Transocean’s new headquarters in Zug, Switzerland. The company, which had formerly been based in the Cayman Islands and earlier, in Houston,
moved to Switzerland in 2008 after years of tax disputes with the United States government."

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/25/science/earth/25spill.html

This is appalling.

Why don't we ban them from doing business in or with the U.S.

:puke:

Gulf - file for limited liability too?