dojP000280.xml

dojP000280.xml

born-digital

email

yes

no

2002-01-29

Tuesday, January 29, 2002 6:40 PM
objections



Attachment 1:


I am writing on behalf of my friend, , 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
Saint Paul, Minnesota

2002-01-29