LRA Partners with Baron & Budd to Assist Restaurants Through Claims Process

Metairie—The Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA) has partnered with the law firm of Baron & Budd to assist LRA members with claims preparations to help them get the best results from the Gulf Coast Claims Facility. The LRA and a small group of members met with Ken Feinberg on September 14 in Baton Rouge to discuss how to expedite restaurant claims through the process. To date, Feinberg has not responded to the recommendations discussed.

“Our members continue to tell us they can’t get someone in his facility that can: 1.) find their information, 2.) explain why they received the payment they did; or 3.) why they haven’t heard anything from the Facility,” said Jim Funk, President/CEO of the Louisiana Restaurant Association.

Funk and the LRA Executive Committee members felt it necessary to interview law firms with the most experience handling these types of claims and litigation.

“A frustrated and angry seafood restaurant owner called me recently after he got off the phone with the facility who couldn’t find his claim after he submitted it several times,” said Funk. “He said, ‘This is Road Home all over again’.”

The LRA and Baron & Budd will host two free workshops to inform LRA restaurant members of the documentation necessary and what they can expect from signing on with a law firm as they proceed through the claims process. LRA members are asked to RSVP to Wendy Waren, VP of Communications, at (504) 454-2277 or wendyw@LRA.org.

The workshops are offered for LRA members only and are as follows:

October 4, 2010, 9:30 a.m. October 4, 2010. 2:30 p.m.
Arnaud’s Creole Cottage Drago’s Seafood Restaurant
813 Bienville St. 3232 N. Arnoult Rd.
New Orleans Metairie