Takeaways from AP's story on the BP oil spill medical settlement's shortcomings
Thousands of ordinary people who helped clean up after the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico say they got sick. A court settlement was supposed to help compensate them, but it hasn’t turned out as expected. A large majority got only the minimum award and had to file individual lawsuits to recover more. However, attorneys familiar with the issue say only one person has received a settlement after suing — and that took extraordinary luck and effort. Judges have dumped plaintiff experts. BP has fought every case. The entire sprawling process has left those who jumped into action after the biggest offshore oil spill in U.S. history stranded.