N001730
Tuesday, January 15, 2002 8:35 PM
Victim Comments
As a widow of one of the victims of 9/11, I would like to voice some of my objections to the present format for the reparations as outlined by the Victims Compensation Fund.
To begin with, I have some grave concerns over the speed by which this bill was passed. I do not believe that Congress, in their hast, ever meant to create a program that would not adequately assist families who suffered losses in the attacks. Yet, based on the statutes, many civilians, as well as policemen and firemen, stand to receive nothing.
I also believe that the premise of this bill was to 1) get aid to the people that needed it quickly and 2) ease the pain that the economy would suffer had everyone affected sued the airlines and security companies. The $80 billion worth of damages chasing the $4 billion of insurance could have brought the airlines and the country to its knees. So I understand the "whys" of the program, I am just concerned about the "hows."
I agree that payment for "pain and suffering" is the same, regardless of how you died or where in the building you might have been...a life is a life. The clerk's wife deserves the same amount as the executive's wife for "pain and suffering." However, $250,000 seems extremely low and arbitrary. It seems like the government is trying to stay below a budget figure that was pre-determined before the Special Master was assigned. Had this case ever gone to court, this number would have been much higher. This is not reasonable based on payments that have been decided upon by a jury in similar cases. In addition, my husband called me at 9:15 after both planes had hit. His phone bill reflects over 1.5 hours of his attempts to call 911 for help. He had a slow, miserable death. Do you think $250,000 is the appropriate amount?
My husband, , was employed by as a . He worked on the floor of One WTC. He perished along with 68 other members of his firm. By the definitions set forth by the Special Master, my husband fell in the 2% category of the high wage earners in America.
As we are a two income family, we found it prudent to run our financial affairs with a view towards the future. In lieu of expensive cars and vacations, we made a conscious decision to spend money on adequate life insurance for ourselves and our twin (11 year old) boys. Since I am an ovarian cancer survivor, we always felt the need to cover ourselves adequately for the well-being of our children. If the entire amount of our personal life insurance, insurance received from , Social Security, Workman's Comp. etc. is to be deducted from "future lost earnings" based on the $230,000 cap, I OWE YOU MONEY.
By my figures, if you used 's actual salary and commissions, accounted for increases, stock options etc., the payment would be substantially higher.
It is extremely frustrating as the survivor. The way this fund works, the only one culpable and liable for this entire situation is ME. I bail out the Airlines (poor security, profiling systems), the security companies, and the US government (who had indications something like this could happen.) My payments to the insurance companies and social security let everyone off the hook.
To add insult to injury, the program advertises the ability to "come in for a hearing." The problem with this idea is that if you come in for a hearing, you waive your right to sue. What if the outcome of the hearing is unacceptable to me? I get nothing and no ability to exercise my due process?
If the rules are not changed and the fund is not an option for me, is it fair that congress limited the liability of the airlines and limited my ability to sue? It seems like I have no options here. What ever happened to my constitutional right for a fair and impartial jury?
As I said earlier, I am a cancer survivor and as such, medical insurance is a big concern to me. I also have a son with Asperger Syndrome, and I have no idea what his future ability to earn a living will be. Yes...I had life insurance. However, do I have enough for the rest of my life? I doubt it. My husband was a great provider and would have always ensured these issues were covered. Who is going to help me now if the "fund" gives me nothing? By the way, I am happily back to work. This is the way I can ensure a future for my family.
I would like to see some changes made that include 1) only deducting "business related" insurance. My private insurance is my private business. 2) Not deducting social security. That is my money. I put it into the program. Why is it being used to pay for damages caused by others? 3) Increase the amount available for pain and suffering. 4) Take off the cap that states that 98% of the American public earns less than $230,000. Seems to me that is exactly why they hit the WTC....50% of the victims earned more than that! It hit us right in the economic gut. 5) If you are going to allow people to have a hearing, don't make "opting into the program" a prerequisite. 5) If the program is not an option, allow me to have my day in court, and allow me to get the reparation my family deserves.
Thank you for your consideration.
Individual Comment
Melville, New York