Bondi
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi met with Ken Feinberg, administrator of the Gulf Coast Claims Facility, on Friday to discuss her concerns over the state's oil spill claims process.
Bondi also filed a statement of interest with U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier of the Eastern District of Louisiana, which offered some ideas to make the process more efficient.
"The claims process needs to be fair, transparent and as quick as possible in paying bona fide claims," Bondi said. "Each claim is a person or business whose livelihood has been deeply affected by the oil spill and they need to be compensated."
In her statement of interest, Bondi touched on ways to improve the claims process. She also offered comments regarding the methodology created by Feinberg in his determination of whether a claim will be paid and, if so, how much would be paid.
Bondi wants claims adjusters at claims offices to have the authority to resolve claims on-site. She also is in favor of an independent auditor to review the past and future decisions of the GCCF to ensure fairness to all.
The attorney general also wants all interim claims pending since November to be paid immediately and wants all pending claim payments expedited.
Finally, Bondi wants all claims procedures made public so all claimants understand how the claim payments are determined and calls for clear explanations be provided for any claim that was denied or reduced.