House Judiciary Committee says BP has paid less than 12% of claims from oil spill

Committee: BP has paid less than 12% of claims

WASHINGTON — The House Judiciary Committee says data it has collected shows that BP has paid less than 12 percent of claims submitted by people and businesses arising from the Gulf oil spill.

The committee said in a statement Friday that only $71 million out of an estimated $600 million had been paid as of Tuesday. In addition, the panel said that BP didn’t make any payments in the first two weeks following the explosion and oil spill.

Michigan Democratic Rep. John Conyers said he’s concerned that BP “is stiffing too many victims and shortchanging others.”

The committee said BP hasn’t made a single payment for bodily injury or diminished home property value. BP officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.