Halliburton Sues BP Over False Information, Defamation

Halliburton Co. (HAL) yesterday filed a lawsuit against BP PLC in Texas state court claiming negligent misrepresentation, business disparagement and defamation related to the April 20, 2010 Macondo incident in the Gulf of Mexico.  Halliburton has also moved to amend its claims against BP in the multi-district litigation in New Orleans, Louisiana, to include fraud.

Halliburton alleges that BP provided them with inaccurate information pertaining to the actual location of hydrocarbon zones in the Macondo well before cementing began on April 19, 2010. Halliburton also claims BP has used and omitted that information in subsequent public statements, filings and governmental investigations.

Halliburton says it remains confident that all the work the company performed with respect to the Macondo well was completed in accordance with BP’s specifications, and that Halliburton is fully indemnified under the contract.