* Appeal hearing to be held on Monday in New Orleans
* BP estimates compensation to date at $8.2 bln
* More than 195,000 claims filed so far
LONDON, July 8 (Reuters) - The number of claims filedagainst BP Plc's oil spill compensation fund hasrisen by 18 percent over the last six weeks to a total of195,403, according to the claims website - even though payoutsbegan almost a year ago and the fund will be accepting claimsuntil next April.
The increase in claims that are set to contribute billionsto BP's final spill bill has followed a period in which lawyersencouraged businesses and individuals to make claims for the2010 disaster that killed 11 men in a rig explosion.
BP has complained repeatedly this year that the terms of a2012 settlement reached on compensation with a class action setof claimants are being misinterpreted by Patrick Juneau, theclaims administrator, allowing unaffected business to receivepayouts.
Its appeals have so far been rejected, but its latestattempt to get the so-called business economic loss tranche of payouts stopped while an inquiry is launched will be heard by anappeals court later on Monday.
"Not only is the claims administrator's misinterpretationcontrary to the plain language of the settlement agreement andthe intent of the parties, but it has ignited a feeding frenzyamong trial lawyers attempting to secure money for themselvesand their clients that neither deserves," Geoff Morrell, BP'shead of U.S. communications, said in a statement ahead of theappeal in New Orleans.
"We are asking the Fifth Circuit (court of appeals) tofollow established legal principles of contract law andinterpret the agreement as written and intended: paying onlythose claimants who suffered actual losses."
PAYOUT DISPUTE
Much of BP's argument against the way Juneau is making thepayouts hinges on an interpretation of accountancy terms that BPsays is too loose.
Under the terms of the settlement, for a claimant, proof ofa connection with impact from the spill itself is not necessaryin most cases. Eligibility for a so-called business economicloss claim is instead triggered by the ability to show a lowerrevenue, higher expense, or both, during and/or after the oilspill, compared with other periods. Each side will be allotted20 minutes to present its case.
A court filing against BP on behalf of claimants and Juneausaid: "This appeal is the latest in a series of post hocattempts by BP to introduce a subjective causation element thatwould deny recovery to class members whom BP had previouslyagreed should be compensated, according to negotiated, objectivecriteria, in exchange for a class-wide release."
BP has a total provision of $42.2 billion in its accountsset aside for clean-up costs, fines and compensation. Thecompensation BP is arguing about may end up as a relativelysmall part of the total final bill. Other developments - such asbeing found grossly negligent by the judge in the main trial,Carl Barbier, instead of simply negligent as BP argues - couldincrease its liability by much more.
However, the nature of the payments - many, small andindividual - means that unlike other future costs, recoveringthem through further litigation would be next to impossible, BPhas argued. That, along with the unpredictability of the finalamount, could leave BP "irreparably harmed," it has said.
In April, BP added $500 million to its best guess ofcompensation payouts under the settlement, based on what itknows so far, for a total $8.2 billion of business economic lossand other compensation claims.
It has $1.7 billion left in the $20 billion pot it has setaside for paying these and other costs. After that is gone, BPhas said it will take future compensation money straight fromits net profit - which could mean a charge as early as next yearif payments continue at the same rate until then.