Jackson Free Press

Jim Hood doesn't pull any punches when it comes to criticizing the Gulf Coast Claims Facility, the agency set up to help people who were hurt by the 2010 BP oil disaster, and its administrator, Kenneth Feinberg. Since early this year, Hood has sought access to Mississippi residents' claims to make sure GCCF handles payouts from the $20 billion fund fairly and in accordance with the state's consumer protection laws.

Feinberg, whom President Barack Obama appointed to oversee how the money gets doled out, has been unwilling to give the attorney general all the records he wants, which Hood finds suspicious.

"If people are saying you're not doing right, have some independent agency come in and look at what you've done, then you get a clean bill of health (if no evidence of impropriety is found). But he refused to do that, which tells me something: It tells me he's got something to hide," Hood said in a phone interview with the Jackson Free Press last week.

Hood said his office received a number of complaints from victims alleging that GCCF officials distributed payouts unfairly and denied claims without a proper review. When Hood asked for access to claims, Feinberg balked, telling Hood the documents contained personal information.

Soon, Feinberg will have to convince a state court why Hood shouldn't get the records. After Hood sued and Feinberg attempted to have the suit moved to federal court, a federal judge sided with Hood calling Feinberg's attempt to have the case moved "improper." In the coming weeks, the two sides, which have been at odds over the issue for the better part of a year, will meet to schedule a hearing.

In February, Hood asked a federal judge to oversee the payouts. In a letter to the court at the time, Hood said that negotiations between other Gulf state attorneys general and GCCF had "unfortunately met with only limited success."

Then, in February, the attorney's general office issued a civil subpoena, which Hood says his office frequently uses to obtain information and ensure businesses are not engaging in deceptive practices.

As vocal as Hood's criticism has been, he is not alone in expressing frustration and skepticism of the BP claims payment process and Feinberg, who did not return messages for comment left at his Washington, D.C. law firm. Attorneys general from Florida, Texas and Alabama joined Hood in early 2011 to outline their concerns to GCCF.

At an Oct. 27 hearing of the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee, Rep. Steven Palazzo, a Biloxi Republican, channeled the frustrations of Gulf Coast residents and oil-spill victims who feel stonewalled by GCCF.

"We have accountants and lawyers that are trying to help people all along the Gulf Coast provide claims and support and documentation," Palazzo said.
"And as they do it, they feel like, you know, they're giving the best information; they're giving exactly what the claims center wants, and it's still rejected or there are delays in processing.

"It's just to drag it out to, not pay out the 20 billion (dollars) which, again, was supposed to be the floor, not the ceiling, on making those affected by the worst manmade disaster in our nation's history whole again. But people just don't, they don't feel like it. They see inconsistencies."