ALBANY (AP) -- New York Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli says the state's retirement fund will be a lead plaintiff in the class-action federal suit by investors against BP over the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

DiNapoli, as trustee of the state's $133 billion public employee pension fund, claims the British oil giant misled investors about the safety of its operations.

The co-lead plaintiff chosen by U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison is the Ohio attorney general representing four public pension funds.

BP's stock value dropped roughly in half following the April 20 oil rig explosion and spill.

The New York retirement fund for public workers held about 19 million shares.

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