BP Rumored to Pull Out of Spill Settlement

Posted By Nadine Diaz

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill of April 2010 was the biggest accidental oil spill in history, causing a wave of controversy for petroleum industry leader, BP. The consequences were huge: 4.9 million barrels of spillage that took 87 days to cap, 11 deaths, destruction of natural habitats, blows to fishing and tourism industries, human health problems—just to name a few.

And most of these issues continue to this day. That’s why BP had to reach a settlement demanding billions of dollars for payouts to affected parties, which they are expected to keep carrying out. But recently, BP has challenged their initial settlement, claiming they’ve been taken advantage of. While District Court Judge Barbieri denied their arguments, the company appealed to the 5th Circuit, where they were promised a prompt decision.

BP is said to have allocated nearly $20 Billion to the compensation fund related to the 2010 Gulf disaster of Deepwater Horizon oil Spill. It is approximated that the Settlement fund has paid over $4.2 billion as of July 28, 2013. That means the time to act is now. You or your clients could very well be entitled to significant compensation, even if you don’t believe you were immediately affected by the spill.

Considering the immensity of this disaster, BP agreed that ANY affected business or individual (even if not fishing and tourist related) that meets the settlement standards is eligible for partial compensation. And this has proven to be the case for several businesses on the west coast of Florida, who’ve won huge claims. What they also aren’t telling you is that you are not responsible for proving that your losses are caused by the spill—an assumption that stops many from filing.

Some businesses that might surprise you to have a valid claim include:

• Accounting firms
• Law firms
• Service providers
• Bridal shops
• Coffee shops
• Rental agents
• Realtors
• Trades people

And this is just to name a few. At Darrigo & Diaz, we want to make sure you receive the recoveries you deserve before the opportunity passes. Let us help you determine if you have a legitimate claim. We already represent many plaintiffs’ firms and are happy to assist new businesses. Because we are confident in our expertise and dedicated to protecting our community, we want to offer you this service at no cost until a settlement is made.