The 9/11 award determinations that have been cut by 50% due to “insufficient funding,” as announced by Special Master Rupa Bhattacharyya on February 15, 2019, are now being received by our angry and disappointed clients.
One of our hero clients, a 9/11 first responder with prostate cancer (14,800), received an award notice last week on March 12, 2019. The office of Turley Hansen & Rosasco, LLP had fully submitted his claim over one year ago, and we were simply awaiting his award letter. His award was cut by $100,000. Had he received his award on or before February 25, 2019, he would have received $100,000 more! As the 9/11 Special Master said herself, this is terribly unfair.
The exact wording in the award letter is:
“Note: The amount of your award reflects a reduction taken because of the Special Master’s determination that the VCF’s funding is insufficient to compensate all pending and projected claims.”
There are many more award notices with that same disheartening language which will be received by thousands of 9/11 first responders and victims from Ground Zero in the near future. From stage 4 lung cancer to pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer to prostate cancer, breast cancer (both female and male) to leukemia – victims of 9/11 who have been diagnosed with these or any of the 68 covered cancers will all face drastic reductions in their awards, ranging from between 50% to 70%. The number of cases of cancer in 9/11 first responders and other individuals in the Ground Zero area are expected to increase, making our involvement in this that much more important.
We cannot allow this to happen. When America was attacked, our first responders in both New York City and the Pentagon bravely answered the call of duty. They put themselves in harm’s way by entering a toxic dust cloud to protect us all. Now their health is suffering, and they cannot pay their bills.
Congress needs to pass the new, bipartisan legislation – “Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act,” HR.1327/ S.546 – so that 9/11 victims receive 100% of the compensation they deserve, especially from 9/11-related cancers and deaths.
Thank you in advance, from your friends and attorneys at Turley Hansen & Rosasco, LLP.