Gulfport Files $3.6 Million Lawsuit Against BP

As of Tuesday, April 16, BP had not reached a settlement regarding the $3.6 million claim filed against the oil company on behalf of the City of Gulfport in January.

As a result, Attorney Rick Kriseman, representing Motley Rice, LLC, informed city leaders that the firm will move forward with filing a lawsuit against BP.

Four months ago Motley Rice, LLC, filed an 11-page claim by the City of Gulfport demanding more than $3.6 million in lost revenues due to a decline in visitors at Gulfport's Marina and Waterfront District after the 2010 BP oil spill.

Kriseman addressed Gulfport City Council on Tuesday night, stating that BP is not in fact being a "good neighbor" and helping municipalities like their national commercials try to portray. Kriseman said filing a lawsuit sends the company a message that Gulfport isn't going to budge.

“If they want to drag them on, they can; our goal is to get the money owed to this community as quickly as possible,” Kriseman said.

Motley Rice, LLC, is also representing Indian Rocks Beach, Kriseman said. He added that they will be filing a lawsuit for that municipality as well.

Kriseman addressed city leaders and residents Tuesday night to explain that the lawsuit will have no financial impact outside of the agreed contract between the firm and the city.

“The position that you all are taking does not expose city taxpayer dollars whatsoever unless we are successful in claiming money for the City of Gulfport,” Kriseman said.

According to the agreement, if the City of Gulfport is awarded money, the firm will receive a percentage. If the City is not, the firm does not receive anything.

"We are putting all the money up and all the resources to pursue it," Kriseman stated in regards to the lawsuit.

Related Coverage:

Gulfport Claims $3.6 Million in BP Oil Spill Losses

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