Judge dismisses batch of oil spill court claims

NEW ORLEANS – A federal judge has dismissed a batch of court claims that accused BP PLC and other companies sued over the massive Gulf oil spill of violating the Clean Water Act and other environmental laws.

In his ruling Thursday, U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier says some of the claims brought by environmental groups are moot because BP's blown-out well was killed last summer and isn't spewing any more oil.

The claims Barbier dismissed weren't seeking monetary damages. Rather, plaintiffs' attorneys asked for a court order to prevent companies from operating in a manner that could result in future violations of environmental laws.

Barbier's ruling doesn't affect thousands of claims for economic losses filed by commercial fishermen, tourism-driven businesses, property owners and others who claim the oil spill has cost them money.