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US judge upholds BP 'gross negligence' ruling

Houston - A US judge weighing how much BP should be punished for the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill on Thursday refused to overturn his own finding that the oil company's conduct was "grossly negligent."

The decision by US District Judge Carl Barbier in New Orleans means BP could still face close to $18bn of penalties for violating the federal Clean Water Act.

It marks the latest setback in BP's effort to curb costs from the April 20, 2010, explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig, which led to 11 deaths and the largest US offshore oil spill. The trial is expected to resume in January.

Barbier had on September 4 ruled that BP committed gross negligence and was 67% at fault for the spill.

READ: BP faces billions in fines over oil spill

The gross negligence finding roughly quadrupled the maximum civil penalty that BP could face under the Clean Water Act.

BP later argued that this ruling relied on inadmissible testimony from an expert for Halliburton, which provided cementing work at the spill site.

But the judge disagreed, saying BP "opened the door to this testimony" through a cross-examination of the expert.

"BP's assertions that it was 'unfairly surprised' and 'prejudiced' by the court's reliance on this testimony lack any basis in fact or law," Barbier wrote in an 11-page order. "Rather, it seems BP was a 'victim' of its own trial strategy."

On Monday, Barbier rejected BP's bid to oust Patrick Juneau, an administrator overseeing payouts to businesses and individuals claiming damages from the spill.

BP has complained that Juneau's awards, made under a 2012 settlement agreement it signed, are too generous and are going to claimants who were not harmed. An appeal by BP related to that settlement is pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.

BP spokesperson Geoff Morrell said the company disagrees with Barbier's order, and will appeal his September 4 decision.

ALSO READ: BP profits slump on sliding oil prices
BP asks judge to reconsider ruling
UK government helps BP in oil spill rulings

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