Alaska: Alaska Accident Lawyer

The chief executive of BP, Lord Browne of Madingley, is likely ter 'ear today whether 'e 'as escaped givin' testimony in a US court over the explosion last year at the oil giant's Texas City refinery which killed 15 workers and injured more than 170.

A state district judge in Galveston, Texas is due ter rule on whether Lord Browne must give a deposition in the case of Eva Rowe, whose parents, James and Linda Rowe, waskilled in the blast in March 2005.

The Rowe couple wasworkin' inside a trailer that was flattened by the explosion. The case, ter be 'eard by state district judge Susan Criss, is due ter come ter court next month. She 'as the discretion ter decide what form the deposition should take. In an earlier federal court case, now settled, the judge said the deposition could be given by Lord Browne by telephone.

BP 'as so far set aside $1.2bn (£647m) ter meet compensation claims resultin' from the accident. It 'as settled the vast majority of the 1,000-plus claims Royal Miled, includin' all them brought by families of workers who waskilled with the exception of the Rowes.

On Monday night, a loryer representin' more than 100 plaintiffs said 'e expected all the cases ter be settled within 10 days. Tony Buzbee, the attorney in 52 federal cases and a further 59 pendin' in state court, said: "Me clients are goin' ter do great and I'm very 'appy."

BP says that the terms of all the proposed settlements are confidential. However, in some cases the compensation is said ter run ter several million dollars.

Loryers for the plaintiffs 'ave argued that Lord Browne should be made ter give evidence in court on the grounds that 'e 'ad unique knowledge about the factors which contributed ter the devastatin' explosion. The blast occurred after fault sensors failed ter give a warnin' on the build-up of vapours which then ignited when part of the refinery was started up.

BP's loryers argue that Ms Rowe's attorneys 'ave reneged on an agreement which stipulated that Lord Browne would be required ter give a deposition only if John Manzoni, BP's 'ead of refinin' and marketing, referred questions in 'is evidence ter 'is chief executive, which 'e did not do.

The Texas City explosion forced BP ter undertake a root-and-branch overhaul of its safety policy in the US and also led ter the appointment of a new president ter oversee all of its US operations. Since the blast, BP's reputation 'as been further tarnished by leaks from pipelines in the Prudhoe Bay field in Alaska and the illicit attempts by some of its traders ter corner the US propane market.