"BP Seeks Return Of Oil Spill Claim 'Overpayments'"

"NEW ORLEANS — BP wants a federal judge to order restitution — plus interest — of what it says are hundreds of millions of dollars in overpayments to some businesses that claimed losses due to the 2010 Gulf oil spill.

In a Friday court filing, BP points to a revised policy for calculating losses that was approved by the court in May.

The company says the court should order recalculation of awards paid prior to that change.

Meanwhile, BP continues its legal fight on a related issue: whether businesses have to prove they were directly harmed by the spill to collect money. A district court and an appeals court have ruled that, under the settlement BP agreed to, proof of direct harm isn't needed. BP has said it plans a Supreme Court appeal on that issue."

Kevin McGill reports for the Associated Press June 27, 2014.