On Thursday a Congressional hearing will examine "legal liability issues surrounding the 11 people who died during the Deepwater Horizon explosion, as the American Association for Justice has outlined thatmaritime laws do not protect victims." AAJ President Anthony Tarricone said, "BP is immune from entirely compensating these families for the horrible way in which their loved ones died and the relationship they have now lost," adding that the Death on the High Seas Act "needs to be amended to provide fair remedies to victims of other maritime disasters on the high seas, starting with the 11 brave men who died on the Deepwater Horizon." Tarricone further commented that unless the Oil Pollution Act (OPA) and the Limitation of Liability Act (LOLA) "are amended, BP can look forward to significant immunity while the families of the workers killed and injured by the original explosion, as well as shrimpers, oystermen, fishermen, hotels and restaurants will face an uphill battle for justice," adding, "A strong civil justice system – with updated maritime laws in tow - is needed to protect the future of the Gulf Coast and its residents."