Suits in civil trial from BP plant blast settled

The latest round of settlements means out of the more than 4,000 lawsuits that were filed in the aftermath of the blast, only seven are pending, BP spokesman Daren J. Beaudo said.

"We are pleased to have resolved substantially all of the claims arising from the explosion," London-based BP said in a statement. "Our goal from the outset has been to fairly compensate people harmed by this tragedy."

The terms of the settlements were confidential.

The blast killed 15 people and injured more than 170.

The plaintiffs--Luis Garcia, 26; Esteban Huerta, 57; Charles Pinder, 50; and Olivia Palton, 42--were employed by various independent contractors who worked in and around the Texas City refinery located about 40 miles southeast of Houston.

They claimed to have suffered a variety of injures, including back and knee problems and post traumatic stress disorder.

Brent Coon, an attorney representing Garcia and Huerta, said he has mixed emotions.

"The terms of the settlement provide immediate relief and closure for our clients and avoid the potential for a lengthy appeal," he said. "But for me not to get the final closure, which is having a jury come back and stick it to (BP), is disappointing."

None of the blast-related lawsuits that have gone to trial have been settled by a jury verdict.