By Eileen Fleming
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wwno/local-wwno-936748.mp3
New Orleans, La. – Fund administrator Kenneth Feinberg says people and businesses will now have to waive their right to sue BP and other companies involved in the oil spill if they want a final payment for damages. But he says there is an option to file every quarter and legal options will remain.
"The check will be sent to the claimant, and the claimant can continue every quarter to request, an interim payment until he, she or it decides - or not - to accept a final payment."
Feinberg says more than $2 billion dollars has been spent on 125-thousand emergency claims, which came with no strings attached. Critics say waiving legal rights may be confusing to people without a lawyer. Feinberg says the Justice Department wants all backlogged emergency claims decided by December 15th.
For WWNO, I'm Eileen Fleming.