If you or someone you know had property damage or property loss due to the Deepwater Horizon Oil you might be a class member of the Deep Water Horizon Lawsuit Settlement. A lawsuit was also filed for Medical Benefits in relation to the spill. If you recall back in the summer of 2010 the Deepwater Horizon oil rig leaked and discharged oil into the ocean. This leak went on for weeks and destroyed not only plant life in the ocean but also property of people in the states of Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida and Louisiana. The are a total of 7 different settlement types under the Economic and Property damage settlement:
- Seafood Compensation
- Economic Damage
- Loss of Subsistence
- Vessel Physical Damage
- Vessels of Opportunity Charter Payment
- Costal Real Property Damage
- Wetlands Real Property Damage
- Real Property Sales Damages
Important dates in the Deep Water Horizon Settlement include
- 08/31/12 last day to object to the settlement
- 10/901/12 last day to opt out of the settlement
- 11/08/12 the settlement fairness hearing
The total settlement amount has not been named but British Petroleum estimates that it will be in the neighborhood of $7 to 8 billion dollars. The exact amount will depend on how many people file and are awarded payouts. The settlement fairness hearing will be held on November 8, 2012 at 8:30am in Courtroom C-268 at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, 500 Poydras Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130. A class member is not required to attend this hearing but may do so at their own expense. Claim forms can be filed online at DeepWaterHorizonSettlements.com or by mail. To file by mail please mail the form to: Deepwater Horizon Court-Supervised Settlement Program, P.O. Box 1439, Hammond, LA 70404-1439.