BP to Gulf Residents: Here's a Bonus ... Now Don't Sue Us!

The administrator of BP's $20 billion compensation fund is offering Gulf residents cash bonuses to speed up the process, reports the New York Times. But there's a catch: Anyone who takes the money ($5,000 for individuals, $25,000 for businesses) has to agree not to sue BP or any other company involved in the disaster.

Individuals who have already received emergency payments and don’t intend to ask for more can sign a final release and score the cash. Administrator Kenneth Feinberg says it’s a voluntary program and that “every single claimant ... ought to fit the choice to their own situation.” The move comes as the feds increase pressure on the fund to clear a backlog of more than 450,000 claims. (More BP oil spill stories.)