Gulf Coast Claims Settlement

Gulf Coast Claims Settlement Reached in BP Case

Late Friday evening, BP PLC and the steering committee representing plaintiffs in the 2010 Gulf Oil Spill reached a conditional settlement of $8 billion according to a federal judge. The agreement will be filed with the court for approval and was reached just a few days before the trial which was scheduled to begin on Monday, March 5.

U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier stated that the trial will be postponed for a second time because of the agreement; however no date was set as of Friday evening. Judge Barbier has been assigned to the trial in New Orleans.
Almost two years ago, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico killing eleven workers and pouring over 200 million of barrels of oil into the Gulf waters. Thousands of individuals and businesses in the Gulf Coast have suffered injuries and monetary damages as a result of the BP oil spill.

Justice Department Statement on Gulf Coast Claims Settlement

A Justice Department spokesman said Friday: “We are hopeful that the resolution of the private plaintiffs’ lawsuit will provide swift and sure compensation to those harmed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. With regard to the United States’ outstanding claims, and as Attorney General Holder recently testified before Congress, the United States is prepared to hold the responsible parties accountable for the damage suffered in the Gulf region. The United States will continue to work closely with all five Gulf states to ensure that any resolution of the federal law enforcement and damage claims, including natural resources damages, arising out of this unprecedented environmental disaster is just, fair and restores the Gulf for the benefit of the people of the Gulf states. Although we remain open to a fair and just settlement, we are fully prepared to try the case.”

Be a Part of the Gulf Coast Claims Settlement

For those that have not yet filed a claim, it is not too late to get representation for your BP oil spill claim. The law firm of D. Miller & Associates, PLLC is currently accepting BP oil spill cases. Our experienced attorneys will fight to get you the best reward possible for your claim. Even if you have already been denied or have received a ridiculously low offer, we may be able to help you win. Contact us now for your free consultation and be a part of the BP oil spill settlement.
Located in Houston, Texas, D. Miller & Associates, PLLC is well placed to assist you with your BP Oil Spill claims by providing aggressive legal representation. In recent years, D. Miller & Associates, PLLC has emerged as one of the premier national law firms specializing in Personal Injury, Defective Drugs and Criminal Law.

Gulf Coast Claims

Gulf Coast Claims All Your Options

The Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF) was established in June 2010, through an agreement between the Obama Administration and BP. The GCCF was formed to assist individuals and businesses file Gulf Coast claims for costs and damages as a result of the BP Oil Spill of April 2010.

Gulf Coast Claims

BP Oil established a $20 billion escrow fund in response to its obligations under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. GCCF accepts requests for Gulf Coast claims and decides how much of the $20 billion to give each person or business that files Gulf Coast claims. Those that choose the quick pay option may get up to $5000 for individuals and $25,000 for businesses. This is considerably less than most that have filed Gulf Coast claims had lost as a result of the BP Oil Spill. Many of the claimants that are taking the quick pay for their Gulf Coast claims are not represented by lawyers.

While the GCCF has made it clear that they want to resolve any and all legitimate Gulf Coast claims, the fund is almost hopelessly bogged down under a landslide of hundreds of thousands of Gulf Coast claims. The GCCF have resolved hundreds of Gulf Coast claims, but most have been quick pays and other small settlements.

Even though BP had set aside $20 billion for the Gulf Coast claims, they are only allocating $1.25 billion per quarter. This means that only $5 billion is available per year and when that runs out, those Gulf Coast claims still on the docket have to wait until the next quarter to receive any hope of settlement. So the longer the claimant has to wait, the more willing they are to settle for ridiculous lowball offers for their Gulf Coast claims because they have mortgages and other expenses to deal with.

Filing Gulf Coast Claims with the GCCF

If you or your business were affected financially by the BP Oil Spill, you have the right to file Gulf Coast claims through the GCCF. You will be required to show an economic snapshot of your financial situation before and after the BP Oil Spill. To avoid holding up your Gulf Coast claim, it is important that you have all the proper documentation to show the GCCF adjuster.

So what kind of documentation do you need to speed up your Gulf Coast claim and collect compensation? Whether you own a business or worked in the Gulf region, you should provide a “before and after” economic snapshot.

Business owners should submit accounting books, sales receipts, payroll records, tax records, bank statements, deposit slips, pay stubs, reservation cancellations, boat registration records or fishing licenses.

Individuals will need to submit verification of employment such as a tax return or W-2 form.

For Gulf Coast claims involving property damage, submit photos of the damaged property, receipts for cleaning and repairs, or written estimates of property repair or replacement costs.

The GCCF will not give you personal legal advice or advise you regarding your Gulf Coast claims. The GCCF will not advise you whether or not you should file a Gulf Coast claim or tell you how much you should expect for a settlement. You do however have the right to consult with an attorney of your choosing prior to accepting anysettlement from the GCCF or signing a release of legal rights.

Other Options for Your Gulf Coast Claims

Don’t try to navigate the murky waters of the GCCF without the assistance of attorneys that are experienced with filing successful Gulf Coast claims.

The Gulf Coast claims attorneys at D. Miller & Associates, PLLC will assist you with your Gulf Coast claims and help you get what you deserve from the GCCF. We will fight to get you what you are owed and are prepared to take the fight to court if necessary. The GCCF Gulf Coast claims process typically results in a much lower settlement than that which might be obtained through the court system. The first Gulf Coast claims trial has already been set for February 2012.

Contact the experienced Gulf Coast claims attorneys at D. Miller & Associates, PLLC. We will assist you in documenting all your economic losses, in the preparation of your Gulf Coast claims forms and maximize your compensation.Get You Gulf Coast Claims looked at today by an attorney