As everyone in the Gulf region is aware, there have been many settlements of BP Oil Spill cases. Do not let anyone tell you that you have missed your chance to receive your fair share of compensation for oil spill damage or cleanup work. There is still no end in sight to litigation and compensation for many of those affected by the spill. Some of you may remember professional basketball player David West, who played for the then-New Orleans Hornets in the NBA. West claimed that his career suffered and that his pay diminished after the BP Oil Spill. The courts agreed, and he was awarded $1.5 million to compensate him. That amount has been recently overturned, but I wanted to write a blog post about it to highlight the fact that there remain many creative cases regarding the oil spill, some of which will result in significant compensation.
Do you have a health condition arising from your contact with the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill? Did you participate in the cleanup effort or come into contact with dispersants? You may be entitled to a portion of settlement funds. If you think your health condition entitles you to some of the BP Deepwater Horizon settlement, having experienced counsel help you attain your fair share is critical. Barrett Law has expertise in BP Oil Spill litigation and has the experience to help you through this process. Contact us now at (601) 790-1505.
Background on the West Case
West played for the New Orleans Hornets in 2010. As you likely remember the Hornets played in New Orleans beginning in the 2002-03 season and then moved temporarily to Oklahoma City in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. West’s continued to play for the Hornets after they returned to New Orleans, only to see his pay decrease significantly in the years after the BP Oil Spill. As a result, he filed a claim with the BP Oil Spill Claims Administrator, who applied the BP Oil Settlement’s test for compensation to West’s case and awarded him $1.5 million. Now, there is no indication that West’s decline in contract pay had anything to do with the spill whatsoever—in fact, he agreed to a contract with diminishing pay before the spill—but that was found to be irrelevant by the Claims Administrator. Unfortunately for West, the courts recently overruled this payment. The rationale for the appeals court’s decision was that the loss in income due to a Spill victim must be “unexpected.” West’s contract’s decrease was agreed to prior to the Spill and, as a result, was not due compensation from the Settlement Fund.
What Should You Do If You Were Injured or Harmed By the 2010 BP Oil Spill?
If you were injured or developed one of the above health conditions as a result of the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill or its cleanup, you are due compensation for your medical costs, loss of work, and ongoing pain and suffering. You may have heard that it is too late to file a claim or that there is no longer a way to attain compensation for your damages. You may also be able to submit a new application if your earlier attempts were unsuccessful. Don’t let rumors and misleading information get in the way of attaining compensation—the exclusive way to fully understand your options is to hire an attorney with extensive experience in getting BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill claims paid.
Call Barrett Law now, an experienced Mississippi BP Oil Spill law firm, to represent you if you were harmed as a result of the Spill. Experienced Mississippi BP Oil Spill Attorney Jonathan Barrett has the experience to take on defense attorneys that are focused on denying your compensation for the harm you experienced. Contact us now at (601) 790-1505.
