Kevin Costner succeeds in Stephen Baldwin BP trial

Kevin Costner has succeeded in a federal lawsuit brought against him by Stephen Baldwin.

Baldwin had launched a claim for damages against The Bodyguard actor, alleging that he and business partner Spyridon Contogouris were scammed out of $18 million (£11 million) in a deal with BP for oil-separating centrifuges following the Gulf of Mexico oil spill in April 2010.



Costner, who testified in person during the trial, told reporters outside a New Orleans court on Thursday (June 14): "My name means more to me than money. That's why we wanted to get to the truth of this."

Baldwin had no comment for reporters as he left court.

Costner's lawyers had argued that neither Baldwin nor Contogouris were entitled to any payment, as they sold their shares in the company before the BP deal was completed.

A jury of eight people decided to make no award of damages to Baldwin following two hours of deliberation.

The two actors had reportedly planned to work together on a documentary about the oil spill.