BP cuts benefits to victims of Gulf oil disaster

[Hannah Bell]

BP has set to work both reducing settlements and dismissing tens of thousands of claims from the victims of the Gulf oil crisis. Meanwhile Kenneth Feinberg, the man appointed by Obama to oversee the escrow account tasked with settling claims against BP, on Wednesday asked Gulf residents not to sue the company.

Kristy Nichols, secretary of Louisiana’s Department of Children and Family Services, wrote to Feinberg that BP had confirmed that more than 40,000 of the nearly 100,000 Louisiana claimants receiving money from BP will see their checks reduced because their “claims files were incomplete”—i.e., for not completing paperwork to the satisfaction of the oil giant.

That “will be devastating to individuals surviving financially month-to-month,” Nichols said in the open letter. “This action is irresponsible and in complete contrast to BP’s repeated promise that they will ‘make things right.’”

According to Nichols, BP unilaterally determines the criteria required for claimants’ paperwork.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/jul2010/gulf-j14.shtml

[walldude]

1. K&R Call me shocked...

We better get what we can now because they will file bankruptcy and fold up before they will cover the costs of this disaster.

[Lorien]

5. And the execs will give themselves huge bonuses before doing so. nt

[Lost4words]

2. corporate BOHICA small people! Bohica Gulf Coast.

[midnight]

3. K&R

[Lorien]

4. But, but, but Obama PROMISED that BP would pay for everything!

That they would "make things right" and that the Gulf would be "Better than ever". A promise is a promise, right?

:banghead:

[metapunditedgy]

6. In my experience, "Please don't sue" means "Somebody else wants to get in line ahead of you."

Very nasty stuff. The rich people and those who can afford to have personal lawyers *will* sue. Of course they will sue. BP is not going to go down without a fight.

The issue is who will get the assets of BP.

I was in a situation like this (not oil-related). The guilty parties will talk a fine talk, but in the end they only respond to one thing: lawsuits. Everything else is deception.

It's unfortunate, but there it is.

[laughingliberal]

9. +1000 nt

[napi21]

7. Anyone who files with BP must know they MUST have all the

requirements met. ot to realize that is just foolish. That's the way it is with everything both Corp. % gov't. I have no ida why their claims were denied or what was missing, or if what BP said was valid, but PLEASE, always make sure there are asolutely NO questions left unanswered. I admit it's all a game, but you must play by the rules or you lose.

Believe me, I'm NO a BP supporter. I'm exactly the opposite, but everyone needs to realize the rules and stick to them to the letter.

[sakabatou]

8. Typical

[Angry Dragon]

10. k&r