NEW ORLEANS (February 25, 2013)--The high-stakes Gulf oil spill trial started Monday with a lawyer criticizing BP by saying that company executives put enormous pressure on drilling managers to cut costs and rush the job.

Jim Roy, an attorney for individuals and businesses affected by the spill, said BP repeatedly chose speed over safety.

The federal government and attorneys for a couple of Gulf coast states are also expected to make opening statements Monday.

BP is also expected to present its side.

The trial is designed to assign blame and help figure out exactly how much more BP and other companies should pay for the nation's worst offshore oil spill.