New Orleans hotels file class action suit

by admin on May 10, 2011

In a sign of mounting concern about the economic impact of the oil spill, several New Orleans hotels filed a class action suit in federal court against BP, saying that damage to the Louisiana seafood industry will tarnish the attractiveness of New Orleans as a tourism destination and could lead to lost profits.

The hotels say they expect their earnings capacity to be damaged. “Plaintiffs and many members of the Proposed Class have invested significant time, money and other resources into branding, marketing and/or advertising the New Orleans metropolitan area as an attractive tourist destination for many reasons, including its reputation for plentiful, fresh seafood and/or, in particular, local seafood, Louisiana seafood, and/or seafood from the Gulf of Mexico,” the suit reads.

A group of restaurants including 1179 and Franky & Johnny filed a similar suit last week saying that they are having difficulty obtaining local seafood, are paying more money for it, and are losing customers.

Kelly Schulz, vice president of communications and public relations at the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau said with a busy convention month this month, member companies aren’t reporting losing business, but they say that they haven’t been receiving as many inquiries since the BP oil spill.

The convention bureau is trying to remind potential visitors that New Orleans is inland from the areas affected by the spill, and that restaurants are still open and making adjustments as necessary. But, she noted, the local tourism industry employs 70,000 people and is driven by perceptions, and is deeply concerned about the spill.

The Louisiana Office of Tourism is working on a report quantifying the impact of the oil spill on the state’s tourism industry. It is expected to be ready in early June.

The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 provides for economic damages even if a business doesn’t have oil at its doorstep, but one major question of the litigation shaping up around the April 20 Deepwater Horizon rig explosion and subsequent oil leak into the Gulf of Mexico is how far away from the coast courts will grant indirect economic damages.

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Property Owners and the GCCF

by admin on July 24, 2010

Economists predict that over the next five years or so, more than $4 billion in total value will be lost in homes along the Gulf Coast, can you hold the Gulf Coast Claims Facility and BP responsible? The weak job market is mostly to blame for the decline in home prices across the nation, but for homes along the 600-miles of shoreline of the Gulf, the oil spill has only made the situation worse.

Gulfport, Mississippi beachfront homes will be hit the hardest according to several reports, with an average loss of value of $56,000. Mobile, Alabama will most likely see a $45,000 decline in home value and Pensacola, Florida homes will decline in value by about $40,000.

We can help you recover the money you are owed by BP. The GCCF has fallen short in its obligation to pay claimants. We can connect you with the right resources that can take care of the paperwork for you and negotiate with BP to make sure you are compensated. .

For help with your BP Claim, or to file a claim, please fill out the form on the right or go to BPClaims.org and you will be contacted shortly by an Oil Spill Attorney and provided with  the help you deserve.

It is our goal to bring you the news and information so you can make informed decisions about your BP or GCCF Claim.

We have written posts about the Gulf Coast Claims Facility, and the process involved including current trends and forecasts.Denied GCCF Claims and Business Claims information seems to be the most popular categories right now, Please remember that we are not Attorneys, though we have connected with Oil Spill Attorneys throughout the Gulf Region that we feel will best serve you. We like to call them Our Dream Team, though they are all separate firms, it seems as though many firms specialize these days. We try to match your information with the Attorneys that will best serve You. If you have any questions please don`t hesitate to email US or call 1-866-900-3434. All firms work on a contingency basis, they don`t get paid until you do.

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