BP seeks to halt payments to Gulf Coast businesses - WFLA-TV Newschannel 8

Money has been flowing to people and businesses negatively impacted by the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. But British Petroleum is now asking a judge to halt compensation pay outs asserting some of the claims are fictitious and absurd.

In the emergency motion filed Friday, BP says the lawyer administering the compensation fund is misinterpreting the terms of the settlement and making pay outs that are too generous.

However, Tampa Attorney Tom Young, who helps clients file claims for losses related to the Gulf oil spill, believes BP underestimated how much this would cost and is attempting to slow down the flow of money to claimants.  In essence wanting to change the rules in the middle of the game.

"For a company as sophisticated as British Petroleum to now come back and say jeez can we have a do over, we really didn't think this would cost us as much as it did or it is."

"It's almost like they're a little old grandmother that got duped into signing something they didn't understand. Which, frankly, from my perspective is laughable."

BP has been running television ads touting it's commitment to restoring the Gulf but this latest court maneuver has Young questioning whether making things right or making money is BP's true motive.

Young doesn't believe BP's latest move will void the 12-hundred page settlement but he does believe it will achieve a goal.

"If nothing else, they are going to slow everything down. they're going to hold onto their money for another day or two or week or month, whatever it may be and frankly, they are going to discourage a lot of people from coming forward and filing claims."

Young says regardless of what happens, those who have already filed a claim and/or received compensation will be grandfathered-in.  And no one who has already received compensation will have to pay money back to BP.