N001933
Thursday, January 17, 2002 11:03 AM
Non-economic loss
Mr. Feinberg:
My husband was one of the victims of the terrorist attack on the Pentagon, September 11, 2001. He left behind myself and our two children, ages 7 and 10. I cannot begin to put into words the magnitude of the loss felt by our children. I am asking for you to consider raising the non-economic loss amounts for the children.
The program as it is designed (if the economic loss figures are adjusted) would be intended to provide the economic loss from my husband no longer here working and bringing home our sole source of income. Therefore (if I simplify to make a point) you would give us 100% of his projected income, then deduct what we receive for workman's comp and social security. While the children are dependents, this amount is 75%. This would give me 25% from the fund. (We would then deduct life insurance and add non-economic loss). A person who has lost their spouse, and does not have any dependents, would receive 50% from the fund since they already receive 50% from workman's comp. I understand why this is done, but it doesn't make sense to me fundamentally that as a stay-at-home mother with two young children I would receive so much less from the program than a spouse with grown children or without children. Therefore, it would make sense to increase the non-economic loss figures for the children who have been left for the rest of their lives without a father. They suffer this trauma everyday as they hear and see their friends with their dads and live without the important influence and love of a father. They have lost a crucial part of themselves--a part for which there can never be a replacement. This will affect them forever. PLEASE think about this and consider increasing the non-economic loss amounts for the children from this tragedy.
Individual Comment