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Gulf Coast Oil Spill Claims

Most Florida Businesses Along the Gulf Coast are Eligible

Reuters / Images Fire boat response crews battle the blazing remnants of the off shore oil rig Deepwater Horizon. The oil drilling rig that had burned for 36 hours in the Gulf of Mexico sank. Picture taken April 21, 2010.

On April 20, 2010 the Deepwater Horizon oil platform exploded in the Gulf of Mexico.  Over the next four months, oil poured into the Gulf at the rate of 2.6 million gallons per day.  Though shore contamination was limited, the spill resulted in demonstrated economic impacts throughout the Gulf Coast.  This tourist dependent region with a highly seasonal economy experienced a marked decrease in economic activity in the wake of the spill.  These impacts were driven by worldwide media coverage and the perception of contamination throughout the region.  The affected region includes Florida’s southwest coast as far south as Collier County.

In May 2012, a federal court in Louisiana issued preliminary approval of a massive class action settlement.  The 1,000 page final settlement agreement established the Deepwater Horizon Claims Center (DHCC) and sets forth final rules for BP Oil Spill Claims.

Under the new rules, virtually every business in Florida’s Gulf Coast and Western Panhandle is now eligible for recovery.  Though complex in application, the rules for recovery are based on three straight forward factors:

• Location:  Businesses located in any county on Florida’s Gulf Coast, all of Louisiana, all of Alabama and all of Mississippi are within the eligible claims zone. See map for eligible locations.
• Business Type:  Under the new rules virtually every business located in one of the claims zones above will be eligible for recovery.  Only businesses in a few excluded categories (financial services, insurance, real estate development, and gaming) are barred from recovery.  All other businesses are eligible. A few examples of eligible businesses are listed below.
• Financial Performance:  For businesses meeting the location and business type requirements, recovery depends on detailed analysis under a number of complex financial and accounting models.

No direct proof of loss attributable to the spill is required.  Even if your business or income increased after the spill, the rate of growth may have been diminished and you may still be eligible to recover.

A few examples of eligible businesses are set forth below, but virtually every business will be eligible:

Navigating the BP claims process and the class-action settlement agreement can be confusing. Even if you have already filed a claim, you may wish to speak with an oil spill attorney who can help you evaluate your options and maximize your claim’s potential.

If you are an individual or business owner who has been damaged as a result of the BP oil spill, please contact our BP Oil Spill Claims Department at BPclaims@farr.com, toll free at (855) FARR LAW, or locally at (941) 639-1158 for a free and confidential consultation.

Attorneys

• David A. Holmes
• George T. Williamson

Gulf Coast Counties in BP Oil Spill Claims Zone

Graphic of Gulf Coast counties located in the eligible BP claims zone.
This map is for informational purposes only. Click to enlarge.