BP Oil Spill Claim Favoritism?

Dick Gregory was interviewed on The Tom Joyner Morning Show, and I was surprised to learn from him that while influential companies, people and the government agencies were readily paid millions of dollars for their claims made to BP, disenfranchised people such as shrimp fishermen and other non-influential persons have been experiencing the run around with their claims. Huh! What's up with 'dat'!