The World Trade Center Tragedy and the Victim Compensation Fund--An Analysis

The authors of this article (Paragraph No. 35,051) note that the World Trade Center was targeted because it symbolized America. In response to the terrorist attacks and the personal and financial devastation, Congress passed the "Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act," which provided billions of dollars to the airlines and created the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund to compensate the families of the victims. The Fund is an innovative and somewhat controversial program designed to provide monies to the families in exchange for a waiver of the right to sue all those except the terrorists and their conspirators. The authors examine the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund, its procedures, and regulations. They discuss who is eligible, how the economic portion of the award will be calculated, what are the collateral source deductions, and what is the non-economic component. The analysis also includes treatment of governmental and other benefits, such as Social Security, workers compensation, life insurance, and pensions. The authors, who specialize in representing victims of aviation and other disasters, have been very active in meeting with the fund's Special Master, Kenneth R. Feinberg, and with family groups and those directly affected by this tragedy, Their firm is representing many families of victims of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the Shanksville, PA tragedies. Along with the analysis are comments by the authors that reflect some of the controversy surrounding the Fund and the regulations promulgated by Special Master Feinberg.

  • Corporate Authors:

    International Aviation Law Institute

    DePaul University College of Law, 25 E Jackson Boulevard
    Chicago, IL  United States  60604
  • Authors:
    • Nolan, Kenneth P
    • O'Grady, Jeanne M
  • Publication Date: 2004

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Print
  • Edition: Transfer Binder 1: 2001 to 2004
  • Pagination: pp 22051-22073
  • Monograph Title: Issues in Aviation Law and Policy

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01150754
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Feb 19 2010 10:59AM