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Gulf Oil Spill Property & Income Damage Claims
Matthews & Hawkins P.A. is accepting BP Transocean Deepwater Horizon Rig Oil Spill related claims on a contingency fee basis. We strongly encourage property owners, business owners, and residents to allow us to represent your interests if you suffer a loss and feel you have a claim against BP and other parties responsible for this environmental catastrophe. As a long time member of the Emerald Coast family Matthews & Hawkins P.A. is familiar with property values and the local business community. That relationship facilitates our understanding of your property and income damage claims resulting from this tragic disaster. Our tourism business sector is already suffering from the effects of the spill which has far reaching economic impact. Retaining local counsel for your claim can provide individualized attention to your particular needs. Our firm is taking these cases on a contingency basis and there will be no fee unless there is a recovery of damages.
Damage Claims to the Fishing Industry
As economic losses begin to mount, class-action lawsuits have been filed by the commercial fishing industry. Companies named in the lawsuits so far are:
- Transocean – the lessor of the drilling rig, Deepwater Horizon
- British Petroleum – the lessee of the drilling platform
- Halliburton Energy Services – involved in cementing the well and well cap
- Cameron International – the supplier of the rig’s blow-out prevention equipment that failed
The Affect of the Spill on Tourism
The oil spill could also impact the tourism sector that is vital to the Emerald Coast and Gulf Coast communities. Tourism supports hundreds of thousands of jobs in the area and a multi billion dollar market segment which is beach driven. The impact on tourism will be far reaching as real estate sales, restaurants, fishing, and our retail markets to name a few, will be severely impacted.
The Oil Pollution Act of 1990
The Oil Pollution Act (OPA) of 1990 was passed into law by Congress in the United States in response to the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. The OPA was enacted to prevent further oil spills from occurring and states that companies must have a plan to prevent spills and also have a detailed containment and cleanup plan for oil spills with they do occur.
The OPA streamlined and strengthened the EPA's ability to prevent and respond to catastrophic oil spills. A trust fund to clean up oil spills was established and funded by a tax on oil. The trust fund is available if the responsible party is incapable or unwilling to do the cleanup.
The OPA requires oil storage facilities and vessels to submit plans to the Federal government detailing how they will responds to large discharges. The EPA is responsible for regulations for above ground storage facilities and the Coast Guard is responsible for regulations for oil tankers. In order to prepare for oil spills on a regional scale, the OPA also requires the development of Area Contingency Plans.
Your Rights
We are witnessing what may become the largest environmental disaster in history. The source of the spill is still spewing an estimated 1 million gallons of oil a day into the Gulf waters. The spill is threatening critical gulf beaches and marshlands. The impact on individuals and businesses is incalculable. The oil industry, like the financial industry, asked the citizens that populate the Gulf coast to trust them with our most valuable resource. They must be held accountable and we have the skills and resources to hold them accountable.