P000226
Monday, January 28, 2002 9:44 AM
Comment on 9/11 Compensation Guidelines
As a taxpayer, mother, wife of an active police patrol officer, a daughter,
and a former bodily injury claims insurance adjuster, I believe the current
plan for Victim's compensation is overly reasonable.
From the standpoint of litigation against the airlines, this is reasonable
compensation for the loss of immediate family members, and the US Government
goes further to compensate for loss of adult children. This is more than can
be hoped for in some accidental loss cases.
However, this was no accident. This was an act of war. The civilians,
firefighters, police officers, and others lost in this tragedy were
casualties of war. What compensation have we given to casualties of war
during WWI, WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War?
My husband quietly leaves our home at 6 a.m. on a work day. He is a police
patrol officer. He protects the public. There is always the possiblity that
he may not come home. I cannot be sure he will come home, but I am certain
that if he should die we have insurance and plans in place to care for our
two children. This will not bring him back, but it will ease the financial
burden if he should be taken from us. Thinking about and planning for
possible accidental death will allow us to grieve properly should an
accidental death occur.
What value do you put on life or limb? No amount of money can bring a human
being back. No litigious effort can be guarranteed a certain amount.
Victim's families can choose to forgo the generous gift the American public
is giving them through this fund. They can try there luck in litigation if
they must. They will not be guarranteed any compensation in litigation.
Will jurors be sympathetic to their needs in court? It seems to me that they
now have a 50/50 chance at that. The American public is now aware of their
complaints, and some people think the Victim's families are being greedy.
Again, litigation and compensation will not bring a loved one back.
Where are all the counselors and therapists? The victims need help
processing their grief, and money will not do it.
As a taxpayer, wife, mother, daughter, and wife of a police officer, I
believe the current compensation is more than fair. Please do not change a
thing. If it is not enough for some Victim's families, let them have their
day in court. They are not guarranteed an award until a verdict has been
reached by a jury or judge. Do they really want to take their chances with a
public that is currently turning angry versus sympathetic?
Sincerely,
Individual Comment
Annandale, VA