Imagine: You are the neutral arbitrator of a large compensation fund and you are being roundly criticized. The people making damage claims say you are underpaying them, being too slow, denying too many and tell anyone who will listen how you are not neutral, but are working for the company who is paying out the damages. It’s gotten so bad that local and national politicians … Continue reading Bad Cop, Worse Cop…
When Feinberg posted the GCCF’s methodology, he opened up a two-week public comment period and requested claimants in the Gulf Coast post their thoughts directly to the website. He pledged to monitor the public feedback and make adjustments to his methodology as necessary, taking into account the concerns of the people most affected by the oil spill and the claims process. A perusal of the … Continue reading People eager to tell Feinberg their opinions on GCCF methodology…
On Wednesday, Ken Feinberg and the GCCF released their methodology to show how interim and final payments will be determined. They highlighted a chorus of retained and consulted experts who expect the Gulf to be back to normal by 2012. They also pointed out, a few times, how claimants would be eligible for twice their documented 2010 damages and eligible oyster harvesters could receive four … Continue reading The GCCF Methodology…experts, experts and more experts, paid for by BP
Late yesterday afternoon, US District Judge Barbier issued a ruling that bans the “neutral” arbitrator of oil spill claims from repeating his mantra that he is independent of British Petroleum. “After reviewing the facts and submissions by the parties, the court finds that BP has created a hybrid entity, rather than one that is fully independent of BP,” Barbier wrote in his ruling. “While BP … Continue reading Judge Barbier Rules! Feinberg is not independent…
A few days ago, I wrote a little something about British Petroleum having the power to make sure people filing claims in the Gulf – quick, interim or final – were treated fairly and generously by Ken Feinberg’s GCCF. Well, it would appear they have decided to exercise that power, for one lucky claimant, and that’s not all…apparently they’ve also given a healthy shove to … Continue reading It would appear BP’s still runnin’ this show…
I’ve been writing a lot over the past few months about Kenneth Feinberg and the failings of the GCCF. Some might even say I’ve become obsessed, but no, not really…it’s just that it’s become increasingly apparent that the Gulf Coast Claims Facility is the third tragedy in five years to hit the Gulf Coast, after Katrina and the Army Corps of Engineer’s levees and after … Continue reading The man behind the curtain…Lest we forget
So, Feinberg went to Capitol Hill yesterday and did the congressional version of his town hall tour where he promised to post the methodology of how the GCCF will determine interim and final payments to the GCCF website on Tuesday of next week, and then also promised to begin making interim payments on Feb 18th. For all the claimants disappointed by denials or low payment … Continue reading Promises and Dead Ends…Feinberg’s Congressional Theatre
After a less than successful southern swing through the Gulf States, today Ken Feinberg’s GCCF disaster tour will be on Capitol Hill to answer questions from the Senate Homeland Security Committee’s Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery, chaired by Senator Mary Landrieu. The questions are expected to be aggressive, tough and the demands will be high. Rep Steve Scalise from Jefferson Parish set a preemptive … Continue reading Today, Feinberg Comes to Congress…while Gulf Coast and BP attorneys go to court
Drake Toulouse: Photography and Words 