from the Topeka Capital-Journal

ERIE – In a struggle he likened to the biblical fight between David and Goliath, the attorney for the city of Neodesha told jurors today that it would be up to them to decide whether the world’s second-largest oil company gets to use a small southeast Kansas town as its toxic waste dump.

In a passionate plea to jurors, attorney John M. Edgar painted BP Corp. North America Inc. and its predecessors as huge corporations more concerned with making a profit than cleaning up the pollution they left behind.

“To BP, Neodesha means nothing – except as a place where they have to spend money,” he told jurors during closing arguments, which began today.

Neodesha is seeking more than $423 million to recover the costs of cleanup and damage the city says came from an oil refinery that once operated there.

BP Products North America contends it already has assumed full responsibility for addressing the contamination caused by the refinery and has committed publicly to remedial actions that the Kansas Department of Health and Environment deemed appropriate.

The trial in Erie began in late August. It may be one of the longest jury trials ever in Kansas, with jurors hearing from 46 witnesses during 69 days of testimony.

Edgar told jurors today that the life of a town and its people were at stake.

“BP not only made this mess, they lied about this mess,” Edgar said.

BP Products North America is expected to make its closing arguments Wednesday.

Full Story: http://cjonline.com/stories/121807/bre_neodesha.shtml