Claims from over 10,000 businesses and individuals across South Florida have filed claims/lawsuits against BP for damages directly related to the Deepwater Horizon spill over the Spring of this
year.

Claims from everyone from Commercial Fisherman to Real Estate Agents and even Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum in Key West, Monroe County have come in over the last few month, according to the Miami Herald.

As of the beginning of December, BP has dished out nearly $44.1 million in claims in the Florida Keys, $4.1 million in Miami-Dade County and $2.9 million in Broward.

Although no oil has reached the South Florida waters, the tourist industry was hit hard as many winter visitors believe that the oil not only hit these areas but is still there.

According to Harold Wheeler, Executive Director of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, "It wasn't the reality. It was the perception that hurt us and is still affecting us, many people think we got the oil - and still have it."


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