More Support for Settling BP Lawsuit

BP oil washing up on the white beaches of Baldwin County is something coastal mayors would like to forget but not before BP pays for the damage. "If it's a good offer we'd love to put this behind us. If it's not a fair offer then we'll be glad to go to court," says Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon.

A trial date for a federal lawsuit to address criminal and civil charges is just weeks away. Reaching some sort of settlement appears to be gaining support. "If it works out that's great. If not we're going to go to court. But we're going to get what they owe us and it's a fair and just amount and we're going to do what it takes to get it," says Kennon.

Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft is also in favor of a settlement. "I'm in favor of a settlement if we can get it to fund the Restore Act. To send the money back to the gulf coast that is the most important issue right now."

Alabama attorney general Luther Strange is in New Orleans for the weekly update on the lawsuit set to go to trial next month. But he told News Five earlier this week he too is in favor of a settlement. "I think the best result would be a fair comprehensive settlement as long as it is fair to the people of the state and gets it sooner rather than later," says Strange.

"We all know how protracted and expensive legal action is and it's expensive usually and my personal opinion is any time you can avoid that and you know the outcome you don't put yourself at risk for a negative outcome," says Craft.

The settlement could be one of the largest in U.S. history, anywhere from 20 to 25 billion dollars. For folks on the gulf coast, that would be a small price to pay to restore the place they call home.

The trial is scheduled to begin February 27th in New Orleans. Should the case go to trial, it could take years to resolve.