The GCCF Protocol, in violation of OPA, fails to provide for interest on the amount paid in satisfaction of a claim.
G. Waiver of Right to Sue
GCCF's requirement that the claimant sign a general release of all rights the claimant may have against BP in order to receive the final settlement is in violation of OPA.
OPA provides: (a) "Payment or settlement of a claim for interim, short-term damages representing less than the full amount of damages to which the claimant ultimately may be entitled shall not preclude recovery by the claimant for damages not reflected in the paid or settled partial claim." 33 U.S.C. 2705(a); and (b) Any person, including the Fund, who pays compensation pursuant to OPA to any claimant for damages shall be subrogated to all rights, claims, and causes of action that the claimant has under any other law. Moreover, payment of such a claim shall not foreclose a claimant's right to recovery of all damages to which the claimant otherwise is entitled under OPA or under any other law. 33 U.S.C. 2715(b)(2).
Secretary Janet Napolitano
October 18, 2010
Page 6
Partial payments, including a partial "final settlement" payment, do not preclude recovery by the claimant for damages not reflected in the paid or settled partial claim. If the claimant must sign a general release of all rights the claimant may have against BP in order to receive this partial "final settlement" payment, this required GCCF waiver of the right to sue by the claimant is in violation of OPA.
III. Why Litigation, Especially Class Action Litigation, is Not in the Best Interests of Victims of the BP Oil Spill
BP p.l.c., the responsible party, is a powerful and well-funded defendant, does not lack imagination or incentive to pose innumerable legal barriers, and will aggressively assert its legal rights and otherwise use the law, the courts and the judicial system to serve its interests. BP can afford to stall, and actually benefits from delay, but its victims cannot afford to wait for years to be fully compensated for their losses.
For a detailed discussion of why class action litigation may not be in the best interests of BP oil spill victims, visit: http://donovanlawgroup.wordpress.com/2010/05/09/bp-oil-spill-of-april-2010-why-class-action-lawsuits-may-not-be-in-the-best-interests-of-potential-plaintiffs/
IV. Conclusion
The question is whether victims of the BP oil gusher will have to pay thrice: (a) once for the gusher, the environmental and economic damages of which will devastate their way of life and leave many in financial ruin; (b) again by being mislead and undercompensated by GCCF; and (c) a third time for daring to demand justice, which will consume their time, energy and hopes for years to come if they are held hostage by protracted individual lawsuits or class action lawsuits.
Proponents of the BP claims process and GCCF routinely ask, "But GCCF does not prohibit victims from rejecting the lump-sum payment in the hopes of attaining a larger settlement through litigation, correct?" This is true if the victims have not already starved to death. The BP claims process and GCCF have been a delaying tactic. Some claimants, including my clients, have already been waiting for over 90 days because BP, and now GCCF, have placed their claims on hold. Unfortunately, the purpose of GCCF is to limit BP's liability, not to fully compensate victims as expeditiously as possible.
Secretary Janet Napolitano
October 18, 2010
Page 7
As of the date of this letter, it has been 181 days since the blowout of the BP offshore oil well in the Gulf of Mexico. Time is of the essence. The economic stress that victims of the BP oil spill continue to experience as a result of the disruption of their business activities caused by the BP oil spill is significant. GCCF's tactics of: (a) delaying payment by placing claims "under review" for an indefinite period of time; (b) eventually denying claims; and (c) offering a "take it or leave it" final settlement which requires a financially stressed victim to file a claim before the individual or business knows, and is able to corroborate, the full extent of the damages incurred as a result of the oil spill are unacceptable.
It is the federal government's duty to guarantee the claims process established by BP provides at least the same protections and rights mandated by OPA. As Secretary of DHS, OPA uniquely positions you to ensure that victims of the BP oil spill are: (a) made whole; (b) not victimized by GCCF; and (c) not forced into filing unnecessary lawsuits.
I ask you to immediately request the Attorney General to commence an action against BP on behalf of the Fund to recover any compensation paid by the Fund to any claimant pursuant to OPA.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 352-328-7469 or via e-mail at BrianJDonovan@verizon.net.
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