dojN001913.xml

dojN001913.xml

born-digital

email

yes

no

2002-01-16

Wednesday, January 16, 2002 10:03 PM
Serious Concerns with Fund's Rules



To Kenneth R. Feinberg,

I am writing on behalf of my sister, , whose husband
was killed in the World Trade Center on September 11th.
Like many others worked as a 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
Ipswich, MA

2002-01-16