In 2018, CPM settled a whistleblower case against BP (formerly British Petroleum) that accused the oil company of massive overcharging of California cities, counties, universities, and government agencies on purchases of natural gas over the course of a decade. Under the settlement, BP paid $102 million. It was the largest whistleblower settlement in California history involving an oil company. A four-week jury trial was set to begin the week of the settlement in San Francisco. The lawsuit against BP was filed in July 2012 by a former-employee of BP, Christopher Schroen, under the California False Claims Act. The California Attorney General’s Office joined the case in November 2014. CPM attorneys Niall P. McCarthy and Justin T. Berger were awarded the prestigious CLAY Award for their work on the case.
