P000009
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2002 6:32 AM
Subject: Comment: Fiancees / Domestic Partners /Life Partners
Attn: Kenneth L. Zwick, Director
Office of Management Programs
Civil Division
U.S. Dept of Justice
Washington , DC
Dear Mr. Zwick,
My Fiancee, , perished in the terrorist attack on our World
Trade Center on Sept 11 while she worked as at Tower 1 of the WTC. She was
my life partner and the last time she parted from me she never returned.
Our wedding was to take place shortly after the tragedy. My loss is the
same as the loss that any spouse suffered. We had a very long term loving
relationship and had planned to spend the rest of our lives together.
States have different laws concerning domestic partners. In fact we both
thought that we were in a common law marriage, since our relationship was
for over 7 years together. In deciding who can collect from the Victims
Compensation Fund, Mr. Feinberg, points to state law on this issue,
although state laws vary on this subject. In some states, one can live
together for just 6 months and be considered a common law spouse.
When discussing other issues at his meetings, Mr Feinberg refers to federal
guidelines. Most victims and public officials to which I have spoken to,
feel that he should use a more relaxed standard due to the suffering of many
fiancees and domestic partners in this tragedy. This fund was established
by federal legislation in order to compensate the victims families and loved
ones. The Dept of Justice seems to have the power to allow the funds to be
distributed as intended......to compensate for the loss of our loved ones
who died in that foreign attack against the strongest symbol of our nation.
Sincerely,
Individual Comment