Read this! Families of victims are complaining about package

[jutka]

Families of World Trade Center Victims Say Compensation Fund Is Unfair
By Karen Matthews Associated Press Writer
Published: Jan 6, 2002

NEW YORK (AP) - Several dozen family members of World Trade Center victims and four members of Congress on Sunday called for revisions to the interim rules governing the federal victims' compensation fund.
"It would be terrible if the families of those victims were to be victimized again by the regulations that are being enacted by the special master," Rep. Peter King said at a news conference.

Special Master Kenneth Feinberg, the lawyer appointed to oversee the government fund, said he hoped to address the concerns.

Under the rules announced by Feinberg on Dec. 20, the compensation that family members receive would depend on the victim's family size, age and earnings. Feinberg has said that the average family would receive about $1.6 million.

The regulations give the family of each victim $250,000 for non-economic losses such as pain and suffering. Life insurance and pension fund payments would be subtracted from the awards, but charitable contributions would not.

"We're talking about a $250,000 cap," said Rep. Felix Grucci, a Republican. "You could slip and fall on the sidewalk as you walk out of here - and I'm not suggesting that anybody do that - but probably earn more on a slip-and-fall claim than these people will get for losing their loved ones."

Relatives who apply to the fund would largely give up their right to sue.

Beverly Eckert said she was on the phone with her husband, Sean Rooney, who worked at Aon Corp. in the south tower of the World Trade Center, for the last half-hour of his life until the tower collapsed.

"This is about fairness," Eckert said. "We're here because the figure that Special Master Kenneth Feinberg selected for pain and suffering in no way represents what the people who died went through."

When asked about the $250,000 award for pain and suffering, Feinberg said, "We're reviewing all the regulations. I am concerned that there are families of the victims who are troubled by this."

Feinberg has until Jan. 21 to finalize the rules.

[Texas]

These people are consumed by greed....never look a gift horse in the mouth!

[judes101]

oh god- if people start complaining about this then the situation is going to get even worse. Money is no real compensation for grieving families, and a society where people are expected to take legal action when they slip over on the street is becoming a scary reality.

[Texas]

Appears that some are no longer grieving judes...they are now out to see what they can get....because of the generousity of many, there will be lawsuits to see who gets the lions share of the money funds... F'n unreal.

[Texas]

By the way judes...you look just like that Spears chick... LMAO

[jutka]

Just the thought that these people want to put a price on this kind of suffering and pain makes me ill. And then to go on fighting for more?

[Texas]

Rather sick aint it. I heard awhile back that several families and survivors of the Oklahoma bombing by McVeigh complained that no fund was set up for them...Geeeezzz