Sammy's owner says she received $80,000 from BP, deserves more

Did the Deepwater Horizon oil spill lead to fewer lap dances on Okaloosa Island?

Patti Cantavespre says absolutely. The owner of Sammy's Gentleman's Clubs in Mobile, Birmingham, Pensacola and Fort Walton, told claims czar Ken Feinberg Wednesday at a town hall meeting that she is hurting both from a business standpoint and personally due to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

“I have had to go to the doctors to get medication due to this and trying to keep my head above water,” she said. “I have had to borrow money from my other companies and from my family — I am out of options.”

When the spill first happened in April, Cantavespre told Feinburg that her Mobile club was “kicking butt” and her Pensacola club was doing pretty good as well, but her location in Fort Walton Beach went from $8,000-$9,000 nights to $200-$300 nights.

Trying at times to calm her down and get a few words in, Feinberg asked the woman if her claim had been denied or if she was still under the review process.

“I have sent you all of that,” she said of the necessary documentation.

And while she received an emergency payment, Cantavespre said it wasn't enough. Her $80,000 payment only lasted about a week, due to the amount of bills she had.

Cantavespre said that the four months worth of documentation she sent demonstrated that she deserved twice the amount she was given. She told Feinberg she is getting closer and closer to filing for bankruptcy.

Tempers flared further when Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Ted Corcoran pointed out to Feinberg that Sammy's is a strip club. Members of the audience booed and shouted “What does that matter?”

“You think that I am so starved that I am supposed to settle for $80,000,” Cantavespre yelled. “Those documents show you exactly how much I should have gotten.”

In response, Feinberg personally took a copy of the claim and told Cantavespre that he would have his staff “review the document” and make sure no mistakes were made.

“I will do what I can to deal with this individual frustration,” he said.
nwfdailynews.com