We're rooting for Spicer in her suit against BP

Susan Spicer, respected New Orleans chef and cookbook author, sued BP last Friday. Spicer is chef at Bayona, which has been open since 1990 and is universally regarded as one of the best restaurants in Nola.

According to the New York Times, Spicer’s attorney filed the lawsuit in New Orleans federal court asking the court to certify a class-action status for restaurants and seafood sellers who have suffered damages from the April 20 drilling rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. The lawyers are arguing that Spicer and other chefs have built a reputation and a business using fresh, local seafood that is indigenous to the Gulf. Since the oilrig “accident,” that seafood has either become unavailable or significantly more expensive. The lawsuit is presumably also based on the deterioration of the tourist industry, which may account for a significant portion of her business.

Kudos to Spicer for leading the charge on behalf of the restaurant industry. While Bayona’s bottom line may be able to weather this disaster based on good reputation, there are many other smaller, less secure restaurants that are teetering on the brink of extinction as a result of the oil spill. They deserve a voice.

Could Florida restaurants be not far behind?