NEW ORLEANS, July 19 (Reuters) - A federal judge denied BPPlc's attempt to suspend payments to people andbusinesses claiming damages related to the 2010 Gulf of Mexicooil spill, while an investigator looks into possible misconductin the payout process.
The payments are being made under a program set up under asettlement signed by BP Plc last year. Judge Carl Barbier, whois hearing the consolidated spill-related civil case against BPand its contractors in New Orleans, said there was no evidencethat the "mass of claims" were not being properly evaluated.
"BP has not produced any evidence that would warrant thecourt taking the drastic step of shutting down the entire claimsprogram," Barbier said.