NEW ORLEANS, La. (WPMI) The civil case against BP and other companies got underway in New Orleans Monday.
They are trying to defend themselves over that massive oil spill in the gulf that happened nearly three years ago.
The prosecution will try to prove that BP was grossly neglient.
BP has already paid more than $4 billion in the criminal portion of the case.
Unless a settlement is reached, the judge will ultimately decide how much more money BP and its partners will have to pay in damages.
Months of negotiations have failed to produce a compromise between BP, the Justice Department and five gulf states.
The first witness is expected to take the stand Tuesday.
