HLS 10RS-3857 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2010
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 157
BY REPRESENTATIVE CONNICK
BOATS/SHIPS/VESSELS: Urges and requests British Petroleum to remove certain
provisions from contracts with vessel owners
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request that British Petroleum remove Houston, Texas, from the choice of2
forum provision in the contract form utilized in the hiring of vessel owners in the3
response to the Deepwater Horizon disaster.4
WHEREAS, on April 20, 2010, an explosion occurred on the rig Deepwater Horizon5
which resulted in the fire that eventually sank the rig, killed at least eleven crewmen, and6
threatens Louisiana's delicate coast and industries that rely on the coast with thousands of7
barrels of oil spewing from five thousand feet on the ocean bottom; and8
WHEREAS, the impact of oil along the Louisiana coast leaking from the Deepwater9
Horizon threatens the state's natural resources, including land, water, fish, wildlife, fowl, and10
other biota and likewise threatens the livelihoods of Louisiana's citizens living along the11
coast which depends upon those resources; and12
WHEREAS, in response to this disaster to aid in the mitigating of the oil and to13
provide employment opportunities to fisherman and charter boat captains with an otherwise14
bleak economic future, British Petroleum as the responsible party has contracted and15
continues to contract with these vessel owners to provide services; and16
WHEREAS, the standard contract form utilized by British Petroleum contains many17
provisions including a choice of forum provision that provides that any litigation arising out18
of or relating to the contract may be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction in New19
Orleans, Louisiana, or Houston, Texas; and20 HLS 10RS-3857 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 157
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WHEREAS, in the event that British Petroleum would bring suit against a party to1
these contracts, the choice of forum provision would allow such action to be brought in2
Houston, Texas; and3
WHEREAS, the cost to these vessel owners to travel to and defend a lawsuit in4
another state would represent a great hardship, burden, and inconvenience especially while5
these individuals attempt to reforge a future for themselves and their families. 6
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby7
urge and request that British Petroleum remove Houston, Texas, from the choice of forum8
provision in the contract form utilized in the hiring of vessel owners in the response to the9
Deepwater Horizon disaster.10
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to11
British Petroleum. 12
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Connick HCR No. 157
Urges and requests that British Petroleum remove Houston, Texas, from the choice of forum
provisions in the contract form utilized in the hiring of vessel owners in the response to the
Deepwater Horizon disaster.