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Posted in BP British Petroleum,Deepwater Horizon,Government,Gulf Coast,Maritime Law,Maritime Lawsuits,Mississippi Maritime News,World Maritime News on August 22, 2011
JACKSON, MS. – Kenneth Feinberg, the administrator of BP’s $20 billion oil spill fund, wants a federal court to preside over a Mississippi lawsuit, instead of the state court where the suit was filed.
BP Oil Spill Fund Administrator Kenneth Feinberg
According to Bloomberg Businessweek, Feinberg moved last week to have the case sent to federal court. He argued, among other things, that federal court has jurisdiction because the spill originated on the Outer Continental Shelf.
Bloomberg reports:
Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood filed a lawsuit in Hinds County Chancery Court in July to get access to claims filed by coastal residents. Hood says he wants to make the claims process more transparent.
Hood says his investigation falls under the Mississippi Consumer Protection Act and the matter should remain in state court.
“This is just a delay tactic on the part of Mr. Feinberg. While we are ready to fight in either court, we believe this is a state issue and will ask for it to be heard in state court,” Hood said Monday in a statement.
Hood has been highly critical of Feinberg’s operation, saying the Gulf Coast Claims Facility is intentionally delaying and denying legitimate claims, an allegation Feinberg denies.
Hood has asked for claimants’ files. He has said Feinberg provided some information, but not everything Hood wants.
Feinberg has accused Hood of making allegations that border on defamation and said Hood’s actions threaten to undermine the entire claims process.