New Gulf oil spill claim rules announced by Ken Feinberg

[Generic Other]

Gulf oil spill claims administrator Ken Feinberg has written new rules for interim and final claims, including some last-minute tweaks to address concerns from Gulf Coast state officials, as a new three-year application period for those seeking aid for losses from the spill begins Wednesday.

But legal advocates on the Gulf Coast say they are concerned that Feinberg has only made the process more confusing with the release of new payment protocols and a two-page form waiving the right to sue BP and others, which claimants will have to sign before they can collect final payments.

Tuesday was the end of the three-month period to file an emergency claims application with Feinberg's Gulf Coast Claims Facility. The firm was selected by BP and President Barack Obama to administer $20 billion set aside by the oil giant to pay damages; thus far, it has paid 125,000 claimants nearly $2 billion.

Those emergency payments have had no strings attached. Claimants have been able to collect the money without having to sign away their right to sue BP and other responsible parties in court...But the new phase that begins Wednesday is intended to provide more finality, something Feinberg says he's seeking sooner rather than later.

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[AlabamaLibrul]

1. That's really what this is about. Taking away the right to sue.

I couldn't get a damn dollar from them anyway.

Fuck BP and I'll resist using the word towards Feinberg, who's a good guy, but he's not doing us any favors here.

[madfloridian]

2. The people of the Gulf of Mexico are so screwed.

The administration and the media have as much as declared all is ok. Hard for those suffering to get real information.

I am ashamed of how our Democrats have handled this.

They are not giving time to see what harm is coming in the future.

Shame on them.

[Generic Other]

4. It's really unbelieveable!

So the 20 billion they demanded BP put aside goes mostly unspent. Other than in campaign coffers, I suppose.

[BrklynLiberal]

3. " Feinberg has only made the process more confusing" - Wasn't that part of his job??

No one really believed he was there to actually help the victims, did they???

[Generic Other]

5. No.

No one seems to care much to give accurate information or help in any way.

[Generic Other]

6. kick n/t

:kick:

[HCE SuiGeneris]

7. And another small plane goes down...

One could discern a pattern here if one paid attention.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4628507

[Generic Other]

8. The major pattern I see here is karmic retribution

However, I also think it is wrong for government employees, former or current, to be taking vacations with BP execs who are involved in very current rip-offs of citizens.

What else am I missing?