BP targets celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse over oil-spill claims

[xchrom]

http://grist.org/news/bp-targets-celebrity-chef-emeril-lagasse-over-oil-spill-claims/

?w=470&h=265&crop=1

BP is angry that it’s being forced to compensate Gulf Coast businesses for income they lost after its Deepwater Horizon blowout. It’s so angry that it has taken the curious step of airing its vendettas in national advertisements.

The oil company took out a full-page advertisement in The New York Times last week lambasting celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse, complaining that his restaurant management company is undeserving of more than $8 million in spill-related claims awarded to it by a federal court. Lagasse is a star of food-themed TV shows, author of popular cookbooks, and owner of a national chain of restaurants. BP’s advertisement didn’t name Lagasse, but he was clearly the target. The New Orleans Times-Picayune explains:

In the ad — the latest in a series from BP — the company asks “would you pay this claim?” and outlines the story of an unnamed “celebrity chef” whose restaurant management company “was awarded more than $8 million” based on a “fictional loss” in its finances that year. It holds up the claim as an abuse of the settlement program. …

BP argues that more than $500 million has already been paid for undeserving claims.

[djean111]

1. Since I won't buy anything from the Gulf any more, and even though what I did spend was, sadly,

forced by circumstances to be a pittance, I have no problem believing the fallout from the spill is huge.
BP does not really want to pay ANY claims.

[pipoman]

2. I don't know if his settlement is justified

Or not...frankly I would be perfectly happy if BP was put out of business entirely by unjust claims, and believe those responsible for decisions to ignore stated concerns prior to the blowout should be prison. They should be the example for the industry of the result of careless business practices. .they should be a shining example of the fate of frackers knowingly destroying ground water and ignoring the warnings. .In favor of unjust compensation. .unjust compensation = unjust awards

[Scuba]

4. + Eighty Gazillion

[on point]

3. I don't buy anything from the gulf either. BP hasn't grasped yet their guilt

[BrotherIvan]

5. Lower than low

I always thought I had a great imagination, but I am always shocked at just how low corporations can go.

How many billions did they make just this year? For untold damage they should pay every damn claim and just STFU. Can we quit giving them subsidies yet? How about paying some taxes?

Burn fuckers.

[Enthusiast]

6. BP should have been taken clear out.

See what happens when you essentially let them off the hook.

[lonestarnot]

7. They should die a long slow oil soaked death.

[Nihil]

8. As should their partners in crime ...

... Halliburton ... TransOcean ... the Obama Administration ... hmmm ... I think I can see
why BP aren't being punished proportionately here ...