BP Calls for Probe of Oil Spill Lawyer

Accused of directing claims to firm in exchange for share of settlement payments

Oil company BP called on Friday for an inquiry into an allegation a lawyer working for the administrator of compensation payments for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill referred claims to a New Orleans law firm in exchange for a share of subsequent settlement payments.

The allegation, reported by the U.S. news agency Associated Press, comes ahead of a July 8 hearing where BP is appealing against the way the claims are being administered by the court-appointed payouts administrator, Patrick Juneau, and his team.

Juneau was appointed last year to decide which people and companies should get money from BP - and how much - for the 2010 Gulf of Mexico disaster under a settlement agreed between the company and a group of claimants. BP now disputes the way the settlement is being interpreted.