The accused lawyer, Lionel H. Sutton III, acknowledges he was suspended following an "anonymous allegation" against him.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - BP is calling for an independent probe of allegations of misconduct against a lawyer working for the administrator of a multibillion-dollar settlement of Gulf oil spill claims.
The lawyer is accused of collecting portions of settlement payments from a New Orleans law firm to which he had once referred claims.
The London-based oil giant issued a statement Friday that said only a "comprehensive and independent investigation will ensure the integrity of the claims process."
On Thursday, a BP official who has reviewed a report outlining the allegations told The Associated Press that claims administrator Patrick Juneau delivered a copy to U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier during a meeting in his chambers. The BP official spoke on condition of anonymity because the report hasn't been made public.
The accused lawyer, Lionel H. Sutton III, acknowledges he was suspended following an "anonymous allegation" against him.