NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The federal judge for Gulf of Mexico oil spill cases will hear arguments about whether BP PLC should get back hundreds of millions of dollars from businesses that got settlement payments between August 2012 and October 2013.

The oil company says that's only fair because Judge Carl Barbier found that the formula used then was incorrect and ordered a change.

Attorneys for plaintiffs say BP is trying to get out of its obligations. They say the release plaintiffs sign to get a settlement payment is a binding agreement for both sides.

Barbier has given each side 20 minutes at a hearing Wednesday.

He's also hearing arguments about whether cleanup workers can be paid under the settlement for chronic medical problems blamed on the spill but not diagnosed until after April 16, 2012.

 

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

More From News Talk 96.5 KPEL