Gulf Oil Spill: Tracking the Claims -- 'Kind of like going to battle'

[Mimosa]

Source: AL.com/ AL Press-Register

Sheila Hodges, "Baby Boomer," Foley


Occupation: Hodges became full owner of what is now Century 21 Meyer Real Estate in the mid-1990s, and she’s helped the company grow for the last 25 years.
The Press-Register reported on Sept. 19 that Hodges was working on a claim under the new Ken Feinberg-led process. BP had already promised to pay for the remaining half of her lost summer revenues, which help cover costs during the slower seasons. She said then that she was unsure whether that assurance would be fulfilled under Feinberg.

Outlook: “It’s kind of like going to battle,” Hodges said. “You weigh what your resources are, your talents and abilities, and how you’re going to attack it in the most prudent and creative way.” She said that despite not receiving support under the Feinberg claims process, she will keep all of her employees and cut capital investment instead. “This calamity is not forever, and my staff is my No. 1 resource. You can’t make money without quality staff. I’ve got quality staff, and I’ve got to keep them at all costs.”

Claims process: Meyer Real Estate filed a claim in the millions and got a check last week for less than 10 percent of its request, she said. Claims officials insisted that her payroll numbers be lower because her firm didn’t have as much business during the spill, she said. But her staff was busy throughout the summer taking phone calls from potential vacationers canceling, delaying or questioning their reservations. The financial records, she said, were prepared by a certified public accountant who audits the business every year, “and yet those records are suspect?” She said that Feinberg “is deliberately taking qualified claimants and not discussing the claims with them, and issuing a check that insults them. ... He’s being very disrespectful of who we are.” Her firm deposited the emergency payment, she said, because it needed the money. “It can’t help but lead us to speculate that we’re being forced into a corner to settle,” she added.

Read more: http://blog.al.com/live/2010/11/tracking_the_claims_part_of_a.html

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It seems most of America has lost interest in hearing about the environmental and economic damages caused by BP's oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Even though I don't live near the Gulf now, I frequently wonder what's happening to the people and the environment. I feared both would get a raw deal. That fear might be grounded in reality as shown in this article, people aren't being given adequate restitution. It's worth reading in entirety to get a grasp of what's happening.

[nosmokes]

1. Anyone surprised that folks are being screwed over ain't been payin' attention.

The fix was in from the start.

[glitch]

2. Flashpoints on KPFA has been continuing coverage of the Gulf disaster.

It's heartbreaking, but not surprising that the corporate media has moved on. http://www.kpfa.org/archive/show/30