An oil-soaked bird struggles against the side of the HOS …

AP FILE PHOTO, MAY 9, 2010 | published: September 25, 2014

An oil-soaked bird struggles against the side of the HOS Iron Horse supply vessel at the site of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana. BP argued Wednesday in New Orleans that a flawed funding formula in the settlement is giving money to businesses for questionable claims, and they should be forced to return it. But U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier says a deal is a deal. His ruling thwarts BP’s latest attempt to control its soaring liability from the spill, which may be nearing $50 billion.