The Florida Attorney General’s Office has been actively involved in the response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill since the first days. This response includes facilitating individual and business claims process, assisting in the development of the state's claims, working with local governments, and pursuing, with the Department of Environmental Protection, environmental claims on behalf of the State of Florida.

Individual and Business Claims
While the Attorney General’s Office represents the public interest, the office has advocated for improvements to the GCCF claims process for individuals and businesses.

The Attorney General’s Office has been working and will continue to work very closely with the Department of Justice and other states on oil spill claims issues. With respect to individual claims issues, the Attorney General’s Office has trained consumer hotline analysts to collect specific information regarding complaints about oil spill claims. The information is then reviewed by an attorney within the Attorney General’s Office who looks for trends and works with the GCCF to facilitate the resolution of hardship cases.

State Government Economic Loss Claims
It is the role of the Attorney General’s Office to prepare and file any litigation, if necessary, on behalf of the State of Florida to recover damages for its economic losses as a result of the oil spill. The Attorney General’s Office has acted as a coordinator and facilitator in the preparation of the State of Florida’s claim against BP. The first partial or interim claim will be submitted to BP later this year, with other claims to follow as the necessary data becomes available.

Local Government Claims
The Attorney General’s Office continues to work with local governments, the Florida Association of Counties, and the Florida League of Cities to ensure that they are properly informed of their rights under the Oil Pollution Act.

Environmental and Natural Resource Damages
The Attorney General’s Office represents the Department of Environmental Protection regarding the recovery of natural resource damages and other environmental claims under state law. DEP also serves as a trustee for our natural resources in federal environmental matters along with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. In both capacities, we are acting as DEP’s lawyers and regularly participate in meetings with federal agencies and other states in an ongoing effort to assess the natural resource and other environmental harm suffered by Florida, as well as to determine appropriate restoration actions and secure other relief.