[StBernard] More time given to rejoin settlement in Murphy spill suit

[Westley Annis]

More time given to rejoin settlement in Murphy spill suit

The Associated Press

CHALMETTE, La.- Residents of St. Bernard Parish who opted out of a
class-action lawsuit over damages from an oil spill at the Murphy Oil Corp.
refinery following Hurricane Katrina have been given until Jan. 4 to rejoin
a proposed $330 million settlement.

The deadline, which had been Dec. 8, was extended by U.S. District Judge
Eldon Fallon of New Orleans. The deadline is the same day that Fallon is
scheduled to hold a fairness hearing on the settlement proposal, which
covers about 6,200 claims, said plaintiff attorney Daniel Becnel.

Fallon has set Jan. 31 for the deadline to submit claims in the class-action
suit.

Following Katrina, about one million gallons of oil spilled into homes and
canals after Katrina's storm surge moved a storage tank from its base at the
company's Meraux refinery, which is near New Orleans.