Floridians Urged to File Claims Under New BP Settlement Agreement

Florida Panhandle residents and business owners are still eligible to recoup losses from the 2010

BP oil spill. A new class action settlement agreement reached on June 4 clarifies who can file a claim. The new agreement designates several categories of eligible claimants, including restaurant and oceanfront property owners. Previously, compensation would have come from a $20 billion escrow account, but under the new agreement, BP will have no spending cap for total compensation. Destin attorney Ruston Sanders says it’s a complex agreement that might be best explained by a lawyer.

“It’s a class-action suit, which means that you are in it unless you opt out," he says. "So, our recommendation would be to consult with an attorney.”>

Sanders says, to find out whether you are eligible, visit the Web site www.DeepWaterHorizonEconomicSettlement.com.