dojP000173.xml

dojP000173.xml

born-digital

email

yes

no

2002-01-26

Saturday, January 26, 2002 3:08 PM
Interim Final Rule

I have kept up with reading the submitted comments and I am very pleased to see that the closer the 'end date for submitting comments' got, the more comments I read AGAINST this program. It should be cancelled. I still have not read/heard anything about what the government position is on FUTURE SIMILAR EVENTS, or how they plan to prevent chaos at future 'mass disaster sites' caused by uninvolved parties flooding the area so they can get in line for the next handout. The government DOES NOT have answers to these problems they are causing, and I consider it to be negligence to go ahead with this program without addressing those issues. Anyway,....

First, I would like to request that a stipulation be put on compensation that if the recipient dies of other than natural causes, any remaining funds be returned to the government. The way these 'survivors-of-victims' are already at each other (1st wife vs. 2nd wife, parents vs. spouse, biological vs. step-kids, etc.), I wouldn't doubt if some 'mysterious' deaths occur after funds have been received. The tax payers should not have to support these 'survivors-of-victims', let alone some totally irrelevant person who couldn't otherwise get their hands on the money.

Second, I would like to point out that most of the comments that complain about the 'paltry' amount being offered them in compensation make the assumption that they would WIN a lawsuit against the airport/airline/city/federal government agency/etc. I don't think this is a 'slam dunk' case that justifies such an assumption. There is a significant possibility they would be sent away empty handed, or at best get a 'secondary responsibility' award - the ultimate responsible party being the terrorists. Also, there need be no legal fees in collecting the fund compensation. They would also not have to go thru 5-10 years of uncertainty/hassles/etc. associated with the litigation. I would consider the elimination of this 'pain and suffering' to be worth at least 20 cents-on-the-dollar (the 80%-20% rule). And the max. available is only $6billion (cap set at insurance limit) for 3000 victims. An average would yield about $2Million per claimant. So, if you figure a 50%-50% shot at win/lose (on litigation), a 30% expense for legal costs, and a 20% reduction for 'no hassle', you can figure the 'cents-on-the-dollar' the fund compensation could provided vs. expected award if litigate-and-win: 50% of (1 - (30 % + 20%)) = 50% of 50% = 25-cents-on-the-dollar vs. $2 million -> flat $500,000 for fund compensation amount. I suggest you go with that and forget all these tables/deductions/etc. It is more than they deserve, and they are free to not accept it. Lets move on to something more important!

Just Me
Individual Comment
Denver, CO

2002-01-26