N001547
Sunday, January 13, 2002 2:34 PM
Victims relief Fund Comments
Attachment 1:
January 13, 2002
RE: Victims Compensation Fund
Dear Mr. Feinberg:
On September 11, I lost my husband , in the World Trade Center. worked for on the floor of Tower One. He was a of the firm and had worked for them just over thirty years.
I have a 29 year old son, , who also works for . On that day, was working at located in mid-town Manhattan where his office faces the World Trade Center. He had just spoken to his Dad at about 8:15 when shortly thereafter he heard the roar of a large aircraft fly over his building. As he looked from his office he saw that this plane was about to crash. He watched in horror as the plane flew lower and faster and hit Tower One head on.
My son and I spoke moments later and together lived through the next thirty minutes, culminating in the second plane hitting Tower Two where my brother, , was working for . We learned after several agonizing days that my brother had also lost his life in the attack.
I have lost a husband of just under thirty two years. My son has lost a father, a mentor and companion. My mother in-law, has lost a son and her sole provider. had recently moved from North Dakota to Connecticut to live with our family. has lost a highly respected and productive colleague. We have also lost countless friends and acquaintances. As you are aware, lost 295 people and 196 in the attack.
We feel that the Federal Fund in a sense is making us lose them again.We object strenuously to the structure of the Fund on the following grounds:
1) The Government is protecting the culpable parties (airlines, airports, INS, FBI, etc.) and limiting our opportunity to litigate.
2) Based upon its guidelines, the fund fails to provide any economic damages for our family. The offsets of life insurance, pension, workersÕ compensation etc. bring our settlement to zero.
3) We question the basis used to project a victimÕs loss of earnings (National vs. New York).
4) My husband was a highly successful business man, a contributor in every way. To talk of a minimum award (possibly $250,000) bears no relationship to the value of this person.
We feel that the following points should be taken into account in order to make the fundÕs distribution more equitable to all parties:
1) We want the caps of yearly earnings to be eliminated so that the true earnings are reflected.
2) We want life insurance proceeds to be eliminated as an offset. Although we know this was legislated, it unfairly penalizes the families whose lost family member paid premiums to provide protection for his/her surviving family members .
3) We want recognition that highly paid executives like paid substantial federal taxes over many years so that others who were lost could be compensated.
4) We want the caps on non-economic damages to be raised or eliminated. Did my husband suffer? What about my son who was a witness? traveled throughout the world conducting business for in countries such as Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Russia. He survived all of the trips to third world countries however, eventually lost his life sitting at his desk in lower Manhattan. The non-economi õc damages should be increased to at least balance the economic offsets that are in place.
5) As stated earlier, my husband was the sole provider for his mother, , who is 88 years old. We feel that this is an economic issue that needs to be taken into account by the fund.
In summary we want to feel that the Government will recognize my husbandÕs worth, will accept its failure to protect him and thousands of others and will deliver to the victimsÕ families as they promised. We would like the legislature amended. We pray that you will reconsider your position on both the economic and non-economic damages. We hope for justice.
Sincerely,
Individual Comment
Riverside, CT