Projects

  Shortly after Hurricane Katrina, an oil tank at Murphy’s refinery in Meraux, Louisiana released approximately 25,000 barrels of oil when it floated and subsequently ruptured after 12 feet of water flooded the refinery due to the failure of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ levees along the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet, less than 5 miles north of the refinery. Most of the oil was contained within the refinery, but some migrated into the surrounding community.

Twenty-eight class action suits involving 6,500 properties were filed against Murphy shortly after the spill. GRS supported Murphy’s outside counsel in implementing a Voluntary Settlement Program on Murphy’s behalf. Through this program, Murphy settled with over 2,700 property owners.  GRS setup Satellite Claims offices in Chalmette, Metairie, Mandeville, Baton Rouge, Hammond and Houston less than two months after Katrina struck.  GRS staffed Settlement Agents at these offices and resolved claims and captured claims related data and documents into a database that provided real time reporting via the internet. The Voluntary Settlement Program transcended into a class action settlement and GRS was named the Court Appointed Disbursing Agent in this matter by the Federal Court. The Turner matter has resulted in a settlement program that has become a novel, model program and has been viewed as innovative methodology for resolution of mass tort litigation. GRS worked closely with governmental authorities such as EPA, LDEQ, HUD, FEMA, and the SBA in the consolidated Turner matter and the GRS Database served as an operational repository for scientific testing data and residential address data.

Planned and managed receipt and recording of third party liability claims. Consulted on claims management strategies including negotiations with tribal chieftains and Nigerian governmental authorities. Assembled and managed a team of Nigerian claims adjusters.

For underwriter, managed, mitigated and assessed claims resulting from this drilling incident. Services included assessing periodic claims from the assured, reporting to the underwriter and negotiating payments on account, advising the assured regarding all manner of third party claims. Developed and implemented a costs reporting database. Also provided assessment/adjustment expertise to the hired loss-adjusting firm. Assisted in the evaluations, negotiations and settlements of approximately 7,000 third party liability claims as a result of this incident. Coordinated with the client’s outside counsel regarding all litigation matters (including, but not limited to criminal investigations). Liaison between the Assured and excess insurance carriers relating to all coverage issues on this multi-year response.

For the injured party, coordinated efforts of multi-discipline and multi-national project team and summarized findings in report format for presentation to the United Nations Compensation Committee. Developed and implemented comprehensive document/data management system that was critical to the efficient review and analysis necessary for reporting.

For the underwriter, conducted inspections to investigate the impact of this catastrophic event on the company’s operations with regard to Trade Disruption Insurance. Analyzed coverage and damages and reported to client regarding establishment of reserves and assessment of exposures.

For the injured party, we worked under the direction of outside legal counsel to develop claim for extraordinary expenses resulting from the invasion and occupation of Kuwait. Analyzed data and prepared summary of claim for presentation to United Nations Compensation Commission.

For the insured, developed a claims handling program for investigating and settling all manner of claims resulting from a pipeline spill caused by flooding.

For the policyholder, reviewed and analyzed historical documents in order to develop a claim for this inland oil well blowout incident. Developed and implemented a document/data management system to produce the information needed for the claim.

Provided financial review and consulting services and prepared report on this $2 million loss at a Mexican automobile assembly plant.

Managed "Fast Track" claims office assessing, negotiating and settling over 500 claims resulting from a release of mine tailings into the Guadalquivir Valley. Claims included assorted crops, livestock, bees and other miscellaneous items.

Investigated loss resulting from an explosion along a pipeline in Colombia and presented reports detailing the nature and extent of the damage, as well as the estimated reserves.

For the underwriter, provided invoice auditing, costs analysis, and development/implementation of costs data management system including preparation of formal costs reports for presentation to underwriters regarding this claim that resulted from large scale flood damage to a mining/extraction and production complex.

Coordinated efforts of multi-disciplined and multi-national project team and summarized findings in report format for presentation to the United Nations Compensation Committee.

Planned and managed all phases of third party claims operations and client reporting including settlement strategies, file processing, time and expense reporting and a variety of summary and detail reports to client’s management. Liability claims payments related to this over spray incident that affected 6 square miles of residential and light industrial properties. Development and implementation of a claims tracking and management system. Rebuffed threatened class action litigation filings.

Tracked, recorded and reported to client management on all response contractor personnel, equipment and supplies involved in this cleanup operation. Advised client in negotiating and paying invoices. Our daily inventory reports were used by client in dealing with state and federal environmental agencies.

For the responsible party, managed third party claims handling and cost control of contractor works for damages resulting from this crude spill in the Mississippi River. Advised client regarding third party related damage assertions as well. Acted as liaison with the clients Legal and Public Relations. Developed and implemented a claims tracking and management system.

Assisted in managing third party liability claims payments program that successfully preempted large class action litigation filings from going forward and paid several thousand claims from individual property owners as well as businesses. Administered contractor cost containment program including daily personnel, equipment and supplies inventories, invoice auditing, invoice negotiation and invoice payment processes.