P000335
Friday, February 01, 2002 1:36 PM
September 11 Victims Compensation Fund
Dear Kenneth R. Feinberg,
I am writing on behalf of my friend and fellow , whose husband was killed
in the World Trade Center on September 11th. Like many others
worked as a bond trader at on the floor.
now has three small children ages 3, 5, and 7 to care for and support
alone. I am writing to express my serious concerns and objections to
the Department of Justice's (DOJ) "Interim Final Regulations Governing
Payments Under the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund."
I have read the letter that Congressman Marty Meehan sent to you on
behalf of the victims. I couldn't voice my concerns and objections any
better than he did in his letter. I urge you to strongly consider his
objections and recommendations.
Specifically I believe it is important to establish a substantial
meaningful minimum that all victims will receive. The figure of
$250,000 per person for non-economic damages is completely unacceptable
and sends a statement to the victims that their losses are not valued in
either a legal or humane way. I also want to voice my concern and
bewilderment regarding why you have capped the incomes to be used in the
calculations at $231,000. I have read and re-read the original bill and
I can't find anything in it that required this type of cap on economic
losses. I can only assume that this limit was set to appease those who
object to the "government supporting these people." Those who have this
view need to be reminded that this bill was put in place primarily to
protect the airlines and secondarily to address the fact that the
victims would have no recourse to sue for just compensation. Please do
not give into this pressure of public opinion. All of these families
are entitled to be compensated for the full extent of their economic and
non-economic losses since they really have no other recourse at this
point.
I realize that you have a tremendously difficult job to do in balancing
everyone's needs and concerns. However, I urge you to do the very best
that you can on behalf of all the victims. I have seen first hand how
painful their situations are and how much they want to move on with
their lives. However, they have a lifetime in front of them in which
they must support their families that will need tremendous care and
attention for years to come. By fairly and fully compensating them for
non-economic and economic losses, they can move on with the rest of
their lives.
Sincerely,
Individual Comment
Short Hills, NJ