Gulf Coast claims pay czar says his idea to include no-sue requirement to get final settlement

Feinberg says no-sue requirement was his idea

NEW ORLEANS — The new administrator for claims by Gulf oil spill victims says it was his idea, not BP’s, to require that anyone who receives a final settlement from the $20 billion compensation fund give up the right to sue the oil giant.

But Ken Feinberg told reporters Sunday that he has not yet decided whether the no-sue requirement will extend to other companies that may be responsible for the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history.

He insists payouts from the claims facility he will run will be more generous than those from any court.

Any individual or business that receives a short-term emergency payment from the claims facility that launches Monday will still be able to sue BP.

Feinberg said that in the next few weeks he would release details on how much he is being paid to operate the fund.