Associated Press: A US judge refused Friday to temporarily shut down a multibillion-dollar settlement program for compensating victims of BP’s 2010 Gulf oil spill, saying he has seen no evidence of widespread fraud among the tens of thousands of claims.
The judge also said he was offended by what he saw as attempts to smear the lawyer administering the claims.
BP argued that all payments to Gulf coast residents and businesses should be suspended while former FBI director Louis Freeh investigates alleged misconduct…