dojN002437.xml

dojN002437.xml

born-digital

email

yes

no

2002-01-30

21 January, 2002

Mr. Kenneth L. Zwick
Director, Office of Management Programs
Civil Division
U.S. Department of Justice
Main Bldg. Room 3140
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington D.C. 20530-0001


RE: September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001


Sir:

I am writing this letter in protest over the regulations set forth by Special Master Kenneth
Feinberg. As I understand this law, it is intended to provide FULL ECONOMIC and NON-
ECONOMIC COMPENSATION TO ALL THE FAMILIES of those killed September 11th,
2001. The statute requires the Special Master to make an award based upon the individual
circumstances of each claimant. I also understand that Mr. Feinberg arbitrarily established a system
of guidelines that would determine the award each family would receive under the Fund without
listening to any evidence and/or hearing how the tragic events of September 11th have affected
individual families. He has already determined how much each family will receive by placing a
salary cap and reducing the award if the family receives monies from collateral sources. Those
families, who were well provided for, like my brother family, will receive nothing.
I think it outrageous. Our government was grossly negligent in its duty to protect its citizens
and now wants to add insult to injury by placing caps and restrictions on the monies awarded to the
victims' families. This tragedy could have been avoided had the CIA, FBI, FAA and the airlines
been more diligent in their duties. I am very angry that ALL the victims' families will not be treated
on an individual basis as per the statute.
As an American taxpayer and conscientious voter, I expect our government to put the
citizens of the United States FIRST before pouring millions of dollars into Afghanistan (or any other
country); to take the time, however long, to compensate these families according to the law.
I urge you to remove Mr. Feinberg's guidelines, to provide hearings with an
independent non-political, unbiased hearing officer and to compensate each family fairly by
removing the salary caps and reductions from all collateral sources. I cannot help but think what
a disgrace it would be to the families and a dishonor it would be to all those who died, especially to
those who sacrificed their lives (in the air and on the ground) to save others. Please change these
regulations. It's the right thing to do.



Respectfully,
Individual Comment

Washington Township, NJ

2002-01-30