Once a settlement is reached between a company and a large number of plaintiffs, the next step is to assure that the terms of the settlement are complied with and the plaintiffs get the money they are owed. With allegations of misconduct pending against the claims administrator for the economic settlement with BP Oil Spill Read More »
Anyone can file a claim for compensation through the BP Oil Medical Claims Settlement program, but even an eligible person may have their claim denied if their application does not comply with all the rules and procedures required in the claims process. At the Downs Law Group, we ensure that all legal and technical requirements Read More »
One of the untold stories behind the BP oil spill was the makeup of those who conducted the cleanup’s dirty work. Most of the workers who cleaned up the spill are first generation “disaster migrants” from the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Honduras and Guatemala — they migrate to wherever there are jobs, such as Read More »
A recent Newsweek article by Mark Hertsgaard has provided an extremely gruesome, yet accurate description of BP Oil’s massive cover-up and the health problems suffered by cleanup workers and residents of the Gulf Region following the Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010. Here are some highlights of that article: Mopping floors, doing dishes and coughing up Read More »
New studies of local marine life are showing that Gulf killifish, used by area fishermen as bait, are showing strange protein compounds in their gills, livers and severe reproductive defects. Authorities say that local fish is safe to eat ―but no one can tell what health issues they may cause in the long-term. Our bodies Read More »
It is well-known that since the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, cleanup workers and residents of the Gulf Region have been experiencing a wide range of ongoing health issues, including severe skin irritations, neurological problems, respiratory difficulties, nervous system disorders, and chronic sinus pain, to name a few. BP is fighting hard to avoid Read More »
Steve Kolian, a diver who was hired by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to collect water and marine life samples following the 2010 BP Oil Spill, is still suffering from numerous health problems, including periodic skin irritations, cognitive difficulties, nausea, dizziness, and gastrointestinal issues. The Government Accountability Project (GAP) and the Louisiana Environmental Read More »
In January of 2013, a federal judge approved a settlement designed to benefit an estimated 255,000 individuals who were injured or became ill following the 2010 BP Oil disaster. The Medical Benefits Settlement is intended to provide compensation for those who manifest specific physical conditions, establish a program to provide periodic medical consultations to injured Read More »
The largest study of oil workers in history is currently being conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), a division of the National Institutes of Health. In 2011, the NIEHS began enrolling individuals who were hired by BP Oil in 2010 for cleanup efforts following the massive oil spill caused by the Read More »
The road to recovery for Gulf Coast zone residents and oil spill clean-up workers has been a long one — and stands to be even lengthier as growing numbers of long-term health issues are diagnosed. Anyone making a claim for health benefits knows the forms are complicated and difficult to understand. Here are definitions for Read More »