Mississippi AG Wants Judge to Take Over BP Oil Spill Claims

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood is asking for the federal judge in charge of the litigation surrounding the BP oil spill to take over the Gulf Coast Claims Facility process.

Hood filed a “Statement of Interest on Behalf of the state of Mississippi” yesterday with the United States District Court in the Eastern District of Louisiana. The pleading calls on U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Barbier to take control of the claims facility, “in order to facilitate the timely and just processing of claims.” The filing comes after a long running dispute between Hood and the Gulf Coast Claims Facility administrator Kenneth Feinberg over the processing of claims.

“I want Mr. Feinberg to continue paying claims, but I want the process to be transparent, fair and fast,” said Hood. “If the court does not take control, we will be sending Mr. Feinberg a civil investigative demand which will inevitably lead to needless litigation and expense.”