City files claim against BP
Published 6:39 am Thursday, January 12, 2012
The April 2010 Deepwater Horizon accident that caused a massive oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico even had an impact in Troy, but city officials haven’t determined a dollar amount equaling revenue loss.
Troy Mayor Jimmy Lunsford said the Beasley Allen Law Firm in Montgomery approached the city and asked if they could enter a claim on behalf of the City of Troy. The firm suggested to Troy, and many other municipalities, that communities have lost revenue from people traveling to and from the Gulf Coast.
Lunsford said the council voted to allow the claim, with the caveat that the city would not pay any fees if Beasley Allen does not win the suit.
Beasley Allen filed a class action lawsuit against British Petroleum in April 2010, shortly after the oil leak began. The firm is representing companies and individuals involved in the commercial fishing, oyster and shrimping industry; companies and individuals involved in the seafood processing and packaging industry; dock and marina owners and operators; commercial and private boat owners; waterfront property owners and restaurants; and city, county or state governments.
In the case of Troy, the loss of revenue would come from less travelers stopping in at restaurants, gas stations and hotels on their way to gulf area beaches.
“A lot of people do stop in Troy,” Lunsford said, adding that the firm contacted the city again this week for more information to help determine revenue loss.