Naked Politics is reporting that Democratic Attorney General candidate Dan Gelber has quit the his law firm, Akerman Senterfitt, on Thursday after BP hired the firm to represent it in the oil claims process. Read more.
Earlier today his opponent, Dave Aronberg, issued this press release:
tate Senator and candidate for Attorney General Dave Aronberg today called on Sen. Dan Gelber to immediately resign his position as a shareholder at the law firm of Akerman Senterfitt, which has been hired to represent British Petroleum (BP) on issues related to the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that is now fouling Florida beaches.“
As candidate for Attorney General, it is an inherent problem when your own law firm is on the other side of one of the most important pending lawsuits in Florida’s history,†Aronberg said.
Ackerman Senterfitt, the firm that employs Gelber, was retained by BP a month ago to defend the company against claims resulting from oil that is now soiling Florida’s beaches. The oil company may be the target of lawsuits from citizens, businesses, municipalities and counties impacted for years to come as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
“Working for the law firm that is defending British Petroleum for damage done to Florida beaches is disqualifying,†Aronberg said. “You don’t have to be a lawyer to know that you can’t both profit from the polluter and then represent those who have been injured by that same polluter.â€
For more details on Aronberg’s campaign and his background as an assistant attorney general and state senator visit www.Dave4Florida.com.