N001469
Wednesday, January 09, 2002 1:54 PM
Comments
I am an attorney representing the widow of a Port Authority of NY and NJ
employee who was killed in Tower One on 9/11. I have specialized in personal
injury and wrongful death matters for 29 years. My client and her late
husband had 5 children, aged between 2 and 9.
I have two comments:
First, the sum of $50,000 per surviving dependant for non-economic loss is
shockingly low, and, I submit, not within the intent of Congress.
Second, it is extremely uinfair for life insurance proceeds to be deducted
from awards. This is clearly contrary to Wronful Death law in most, if not
all states. It penalizes those with the foresight to attempt to protect
themselves from premature death, and, it will result, in some cases, with
victims such as the client I represent, in receiving inadequate compensation
for the loss of her husband and father of her five children. In return for
giving up the right to file a civil suit, claimants must be treated more
fairly in this regard.
Individual Comment
Newark, NJ