Louisiana shrimper drops to knees to beg Feinberg for help

Since Kenneth Feinberg has taken charge of the Gulf Coast Claims Facility to distribute money from the oil spill victims' fund, he has, to his credit, not shied from finding fault with his own work. And he has hosted a series of town meetings, hearing wrenching testimonials from some of the thousands whose livelihoods were stripped away by the BP oil disaster.

This week in Grand Isle and Lafitte, Feinberg stood before hundreds of broken Louisianians -- some of whom say their payments don't come close to covering living expenses, and some of whom say they've waited months for a check but haven't seen a dime -- and reiterated an oft-repeated claim: that he and his staff are "doing the best we can."

But Feinberg's pleas for patience didn't get a very sympathetic hearing. One despondent shrimper, Elmer Rogers, even dropped to his knees and begged Feinberg for help.

"I'm not asking for the world; I'm just asking for something to live on, man," Rogers said Tuesday after describing how his family spent the holidays without water or electricity. "That's all I'm asking for. What you want me to do, get on my knees and beg for it? Look, I'm here, I'm on my knees for it. I need my money, sir, to live."

Feinberg, appearing moved by the plea, told Rogers that he'd "hear from me personally within the next day. Personally, you'll hear from me."

You can watch video of the exchange in the WWL-TV report below:

We'll try to get in touch with Elmer Rogers later this week to see what happens with his claim.

(Photo of Feinberg: AP/Gerald Herbert)