US judge: Spill claims czar not independent of BP
NEW ORLEANS, LA
U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier said in a ruling late Wednesday
that he is ordering BP, claims czar Ken Feinberg and any of their
agents to change the way they communicate with people seeking money
from the fund.
Barbier says Feinberg must clearly disclose in all
communications that he is acting for and on behalf of BP in
fulfilling its obligations as the responsible party under the Oil
Pollution Act.
Barbier stopped short of ordering changes to a release form
people who accept final payments from the fund must sign. He asked
lawyers to submit additional briefs to the court.