Posts Tagged ‘Oil Spill Litigation’

First Oil Spill Trials May Be Slated for Next Summer

October 15th, 2010 | Posted in BP Oil Spill, Courts, Local Issues, National Issues by bloom | No Comments »

U.S. District Court Judge, Carl Barbier, who is tasked with presiding over the more than 300 lawsuits filed by individuals and companies against BP as a result of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill has indicated that he would like to set the first trial for June 2011.

BP’s lawyers have expressed discontent over the intended date indicating that they would prefer more time to prepare their cases. Judge Barbier, however, has expressed desires to expedite the process.

If you or someone you know may have a claim against BP because of the oil spill, time is of the essence in filing a claim and/or suit. Contact Bloom Legal today at 504-599-9997 to schedule a free consultation to discuss the details of your case.

Grand Isle ‘Oil Hotspots’ Indicate Fallout From Spill Is Far From Over

September 20th, 2010 | Posted in BP Oil Spill, Local Issues by bloom | No Comments »

A recent report by NOLA.com about the residual effects of the oil spill in coastal areas such as Grand Isle and Fourchon has indicated that the widely held view that Louisiana dodged a bullet in the aftermath of the BP Oil Spill could be mistaken. Oil Hotspot in Grand Isle

According to the report, large patches of oil are being discovered a few inches below the surface of the sand on many beaches. Large ‘patties’ of stratified oil are also being identified in the water which leech oil residue into the marshes and Gulf as tides recede.

While these areas are concentrated in ‘hotspots’ (about 500 miles of coast) that seem relatively minor when compared to the 7,700 total miles of Louisiana coast that largely avoided oiling, the concentrations of oil in these area still represent mortal threats to wildlife and potential hazards to humans residing in the area.

For the full report as well as a video demonstrating the presence of concentrated patches of oil: click here.

If you or a loved one have been affected by the BP Oil Spill, time is of the essence in ensuring your ability to file a claim. Contact Bloom Legal today at 504-599-9997 to discuss how we can help fight for your rights.

Recent Report Says BP Blames Itself and Others for Oil Spill

September 13th, 2010 | Posted in BP Oil Spill, Local Issues by bloom | No Comments »

In a recent 193-page report released on September 8th, BP blamed itself for much of the explosion and spill of the Deepwater Horizon Rig in the Gulf of Mexico.

oil pollutes louisiana waters

Photo Courtesy of UPI.com

They also blamed other companies’ workers at Transocean Ltd. and cement contractor Halliburton. On Saturday, the blowout preventer that failed to stop the oil from leaking from the well off the Louisiana coast was raised from the water and the government is conducting investigations into its failure. Rig workers knew of problems shortly before the explosion but allegedly expressed little concern. Some of BP’s engineers have been accused of cutting corners to save money and time when the blast occurred.

Also found in the report was that the oil spill accident could have been minimized if the crew had directed certain fluids overboard. Halliburton also suggested that BP add certain components to its operation days before the spill but BP rejected this recommendation and the rig exploded five days later.

This report indicates that BP will likely be considered liable for much of the incidental damage related to the oil spill and rig explosion – If you or a loved one have been affected by the Oil Spill, time is of the essence to ensure that you take the actions necessary to allow you to receive the compensation you are due. Contact Bloom Legal today at 504-599-9997 to schedule a free consultation to learn about how we can advocate for you today.

St. Bernard Parish Claims BP Slow to Pay Companies Involved in Oil Spill Cleanup

September 1st, 2010 | Posted in BP Oil Spill, Local Issues by bloom | No Comments »

According to recent reports, owners of land upon which crews involved in the oil spill cleanup effort in St. Bernard Parish are working have issued notices to vacate the premises due to non-payment. Photo Courtesy of Nola.com

St. Bernard Parish president Craig Taffaro, has issued statements indicating that Amigo Enterprises, one of the landholders that has issued a notice to vacate is owed more than $3 million by the contractors staging out of its property. The contracting firms claim that slow response on the part of BP have made it impossible for them to pay the amount owed.

Additionally, St. Bernard Parish owes more than $34 million to Loupe Construction, a firm that has contracted to provide an array of equipment used in the cleanup effort, and is also claiming delays from BP as the reason for non-payment.

BP has issued statements in its defense that claim that St. Bernard Parish officials and contracting agencies have failed on a number of occasions to provide the proper documentation in order to justify reimbursement.

If you or a loved one have been affected by the Oil Spill, time is of the essence to ensure that you take the actions necessary to allow you to receive the compensation you are due. We recommend that you attend the open house as well as contacting Bloom Legal at 504-599-9997 to schedule a free consultation to learn about how we can advocate for you today.

Gov. Jindal Calls for BP to Fund $173 Million Seafood Monitoring Program

August 20th, 2010 | Posted in BP Oil Spill, Local Issues, National Issues by bloom | No Comments »

As news surfaced today that scientists have discovered a 22-mile-long plume of underwater oil extending to the southwest of the BP oil well that exploded months ago, we are reminded that the long-term effects of the spill have yet to be fully determined.

Photo Courtesy of Ibspro.net

In an effort to maintain safety and stability in the affected region, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal is supporting a proposal that would call for BP to invest $173 million in a fund that would support monitoring the safety and quality of the state’s seafood for the next 5 years.

BP has currently agreed to a plan that would provide $13 million dollars for a 3-year monitoring program with the possibility of extension but has yet to respond to Governor Jindal’s request.

Louisiana produces roughly one third of the United States’ domestic seafood – an industry which contributes about $2 billion every year to the state’s economy. Part of Governor Jindal’s proposal involves BP footing the bill for large scale marketing campaigns designed to alleviate national concerns over the safety of the region’s seafood.

If you or a loved one have been affected by the Oil Spill, time is of the essence to ensure that you take the actions necessary to allow you to receive the compensation you are due. We recommend that you attend the open house as well as contacting Bloom Legal at 504-599-9997 to schedule a free consultation to learn about how we can advocate for you today.

Oil Spill Open House to Answer Residents’ Questions this Week

August 16th, 2010 | Posted in BP Oil Spill, Local Issues by bloom | No Comments »

BP and the U.S. Coast Guard have scheduled to host an open house at the Sigur Civic Center in Chalmette this Thursday, August 19, to answer questions about the oil spill response.

Photo Courtesy of ThePoliticalCarnival.net

Representatives from BP, the state Department of Environmental Quality, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Labor, NOAA, and the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will be present. Topics of discussion will include the various efforts being undertaken as part of the oil spill response as well as resources for those affected by the spill.

This open house is likely to be a valuable resource for those in the local area who believe that they have been negatively affected by the BP Oil Spill and may provide the information necessary to determine whether those individuals have claims against BP or other organizations.

The Sigur Civic Center is located at 8245 W. Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette, La.:

View Larger Map

If you or a loved one have been affected by the Oil Spill, time is of the essence to ensure that you take the actions necessary to allow you to receive the compensation you are due. We recommend that you attend the open house as well as contacting Bloom Legal at 504-599-9997 to schedule a free consultation to learn about how we can advocate for you today.

New Orleans Selected as Location for Upcoming Oil Spill Litigation!

August 10th, 2010 | Posted in BP Oil Spill, Local Issues, National Issues by bloom | No Comments »

The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation has reached a consensus that the slew of upcoming Oil Spill Litigation Cases will be tried in federal court in New Orleans before Judge Carl J. Barbier.

Photo Courtesy of TopNews.net

Early speculation following the Oil Spill indicated that the primary locations for the eventual litigation were either going to be Houston: Oil Company Headquarters or Louisiana: the State most immediately impacted by the Oil Spill. This marks a small victory for Louisiana and the victims of the Oil Spill after months of uncertainty as the time-consuming and costly prospect of traveling far from their homes to participate in litigation cases has now been eliminated.

Additionally, the upcoming caseload is expected to drive an economic influx to New Orleans and the surrounding affected region.

This announcement serves as a reminder that now is the time to determine your options and entitlements and set in motion the process of filing your claims against BP. If you or a loved one have been affected by the Oil Spill, time is of the essence to ensure that you take the actions necessary to ensure that you receive the compensation you are due.

Contact Bloom Legal today at 504-599-9997 to set up a free consultation and discuss how we can advocate for you.

Obama Supports Plan to Pay Out 80% of BP Penalties to the Gulf Coast

August 9th, 2010 | Posted in BP Oil Spill, Legislation, Local Issues, National Issues by bloom | No Comments »

President Obama’s top advisor on energy and climate change issued a statement today that indicated that he would be supporting an initiative proposed by Louisiana Senator, Mary Landrieu that would result in the allocation of 80% of federal penalties imposed upon BP to the Gulf Coast region.

Photo Courtesy of BayNews9.com

With penalties expected to total at least $5 billion, Louisiana could stand to receive as much as $2.5 billion dollars to support coastal restoration. This is certainly good news for all of those whose lives and livelihoods have been dramatically affected by the Oil Spill and its long term ramifications.

In light of these developments, it is becoming increasingly important that those who believe that they hold legitimate claims against BP as a result of the Oil Spill become informed of their rights and options with regard to compensation. If you believe that you or someone you know may be in a position to receive compensation from BP, contact Bloom Legal at 504-599-9997 to schedule a free consultation.

‘Static Kill’ Procedure Appears To Be Working To Seal Well

August 4th, 2010 | Posted in BP Oil Spill, Local Issues by bloom | No Comments »

BP announced today that the procedure involving pumping heavy mud into its damaged oil well known as a ‘static kill’ appears to have been successful and that the company will be able to begin the process of permanently sealing the well with concrete in the coming days.

Following this, the company will begin work drilling two relief wells that, if successful, should manage to eliminate any threat of future leaks from the well in question.

The successful effort to bring the stricken well under control is certainly welcome news to residents of the affected area which, along with news that approximately three-quarters of the oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico has either been eliminated or diluted to a point of non-threat, are both indications that original predictions of the severity of the spill may have been overestimations.

The remaining oil in the Gulf (approximately 26% of the total spilled, or 53 million gallons) does, however, represent an amount nearly 5 times that of the Exxon Valdez spill in 1989 and the long-term ramifications of the presence of the oil are likely not yet fully understood. Additionally, the impact of the interruption of operations of many local businesses will certainly be leaving many residents struggling to recover for months if not years.

If you believe that you or someone you know has been adversely affected by the Gulf Oil Spill, contact Bloom Legal at 504-599-9997 before accepting any sort of compensation from BP to make sure that your best interests are being kept in mind. For further information about the state of the Oil Spill and the steps being taken to begin the litigation process please visit: http://www.bloomlegal.com/Oil-Gas-Litigation/

BP Announces Immediate Action Claims Team For Businesses With Critical Cash Flow Needs

August 3rd, 2010 | Posted in BP Oil Spill, Local Issues by bloom | No Comments »

In a statement released today, BP announced that in order to expedite the claims process for businesses experiencing critical cash flow shortages as a result of the oil spill that it would begin referring business owners to an Immediate Action Claims Team with the authority to make quick decisions and awards.

With this new program, BP apparently will be relaxing the documentation requirements for filing a claim to accept 2008 or 2009 tax returns that can prove the equivalent of a 3-month interruption of business. BP has announced that it will also be using the Immediate Action Claims Team to expedite 2nd or 3rd payments to business owners who have already been approved for compensation but whose cash flow issues are so pressing as to demand immediate payment.

If you are a business owner experiencing cash flow issues as a result of an interruption or reduction of business because of the oil spill, you may stand to benefit from this service which can be reached at 800-573-8249. If you intend to file for a claim from BP, however, it is advisable to consult with an attorney prior to accepting any form of payment. Contact Bloom Legal today at (504) 599-9997 to discuss your options when it comes to Oil Spill Litigation.

Available 24/7. Call 1-877-NOLATIX for immediate help.

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