Business Owners Ask Congress to help Them Collect BP Claims

Nearly two years after the BP oil spill, business owners and towns shut down or hurt by the manmade tragedy are pleading with Congress to pass a bill that would finally give them some relief.

But the prospects of the bill passing quickly or passing at all are not good, according to political observers.

This is bad news for businesses and towns still trying to recover from the horrific oil spill, according to BP-Claim.com.

Restore Act Not A Given

A hearing to be held this week in Washington, D.C. will focus on a piece of pending legislation called the “Restore Act.” If eventually passed into law, the bill would ensure that Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida and Alabama would get 80 percent of the $20 billion that United State fined BP for its historic oil spill.

“There is still a lot to be done to fully heal the scars and to ensure that future threats to our region will be minimized,” Republican Congressman Jo Bonner representing Alabama told the Montgomery Advertiser.

For example, Mayor Robert Craft of Gulf Shores told the Montgomery Advertiser that while the region’s tourism industry is slowly recovering, it is not recovering fast enough. “2012 and beyond remains a serious problem. Craft said.

Moreover, the region’s seafood industry is still trying to get back on its feet since the spill.

Gulf Coast Claims Facility Fell Short

Many observers agree that the “Restore Act,” which already faces opposition from members of other states, would not have been necessary if only the Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF) had done its job. 

The GCCF was conceived as a result of a BP and the White House agreement to create a separate entity that would be capable of fairly and impartially distributing the $20 billion dollars the oil-company was forced to set in escrow to pay for the cleanup and damages it caused in the greatest oil spill recorded in United States history.

The White House appointed Kenneth R. Feinberg as the third-party administrator whose job was to objectively oversee the Gulf-Oil settlements because of his experience as the attorney who oversaw settlement payouts for victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

In the beginning, many individuals and mom-and-pop businesses had their claims settled quickly. However, as the process continued, many business owners began complaining that the amounts they were being offered and the delays in settlements were actually bringing the process to a complete halt.

In a change of roles, Feinberg, who originally was seen has a knight in shining armor, has now become the bad guy in the eyes of some in Gulf-Coast shrimp, fishing and tourist industries.

Legal Representation-- a Viable Option
While some in the small business community are hesitant to seek legal representation, wanting to believe instead that GCCF will somehow quickly and fairly settle their claims, others believe GCCF’s poor track record make filing a lawsuit a viable option.

If you have a small, medium of large business, you already know how mountains of red-tape and slow or no payment can seriously harm or destroy a business.

If you are still experiencing difficulties settling your BP claims with GCCF, you should contact an attorney experienced is such claims today for a free no-obligation consultation by simply going to BP-Claim.com. Or call toll-free at  1-888-842-5246.

Contact Information

Jacob Malherbe

Media Relations

www.bp-claim.com

jacob@bp-claim.com