Jackson,MS-Yesterday was the last day to file an emergency claim for damages resulting from the BP Oil Spill through Ken Feinberg’s Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF). However, today the GCCF will begin processing quarterly interim claims for any unpaid losses sustained to date. The GCCF will also initiate its process for evaluating final payments settling claims for all future losses.

In order to receive a final payment from the GCCF, a claimant will be required to sign a release. Claimants will still be able to receive interim claims payments without signing a release, and those payments will be available on a quarterly basis, or monthly if the claimant can demonstrate exigent circumstances. Attorney General Jim Hood is warning claimants to use extreme caution in accepting any final payment or signing any release with the GCCF that could waive their rights to full recovery.

“The Gulf Coast Attorneys General are working diligently to force Mr. Feinberg to be more considerate of the rights of our oil disaster victims. Until we finish our negotiations with Mr. Feinberg, I advise claimants against signing a release or accepting a final payment without first consulting an attorney.”