COURSE:
We know that BP had a legal duty to protect the environment (because of the type of business they are in) - why then did BP not wait to go to trial but rather provided a settlement?
I think it is important to recognize all stakeholders in this situation - including the 96,000 employees that BP employs in more than 100 countries, don't you?
Aside from the oil, what would the size of such a company going out of business do to the economy?