lawyer who ran the 911 fund

by Eliza Nitzsche 3 min read

Will the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund ever be funded?

Sep 09, 2021 · Amid the wreckage of the twin towers Kenneth Feinberg headed the compensation fund for the victims of 9/11. He tells Jennif Frazer how his Jewish background helped him - and how he cried in private...

What is the James Zadroga 9/11 Act?

May 18, 2011 · WASHINGTON -- Attorney General Eric Holder named a veteran New York lawyer to head the new 9/11 victims' fund, passing up another choice that was more popular with the 9/11 community. Advertisement Holder announced late Wednesday morning Sheila Birnbaum, an attorney who teaches law at NYU and helped mediate dozens of 9/11-related lawsuits, will be …

Who is the Special Master of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund?

Aug 30, 2021 · Though Congress had allocated $11 billion to the fund, Feinberg had to convince 9/11 families to join — waiving their right to sue — and decide how much each family would get. His task was grueling, heart-wrenching, and frustrating. But by 2004, Feinberg had succeeded in distributing $7 billion to 9/11 survivors and victims’ families.

Is long-term care for 9/11 victims guaranteed?

The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund was created by an Act of Congress, the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act, shortly after 9/11 to compensate the victims of the attack in exchange for their agreement not to sue the airline corporations involved. Kenneth Feinberg was appointed by Attorney General John Ashcroft to be special master of the fund. …

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After September 11th, attorney Kenneth Feinberg was tasked with calculating how much a human life is worth in order to deliver compensation to victims and their families

Spencer Platt/Getty Images Kenneth Feinberg speaks about the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund as New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg looks on in October 2010.

Who Is Kenneth Feinberg?

Win McNamee/Getty Images Kenneth Feinberg testifies in congress about the 2008 financial crisis and executive compensation packages on October 28, 2009.

Who ran the BP oil spill fund?

On June 16, 2010, it was reported that Feinberg was to run a $20 billion fund to pay claims for the BP oil spill. President Obama said that the $20 billion from BP "will not be controlled by either BP or by the government. It will be put in an escrow account administered by an impartial, independent third party." Obama said he and BP's chairman, Carl-Henric Svanberg, agreed on having Feinberg administer the fund. Feinberg was also selected by Obama to oversee the compensation of top executives at bailed out banks.

Who appointed Feinberg to oversee the compensation of top executives at companies that have received federal bailout assistance?

On June 10, 2009, Feinberg was appointed by the U.S. Treasury Department to oversee the compensation of top executives at companies which have received federal bailout assistance. As part of his policies, he has suggested to many bank executives that they emphasize long-term stock compensation rather than cash payments.

Who is Kenneth Feinberg?

Kenneth Roy Feinberg (born October 23, 1945) is an American attorney, specializing in mediation and alternative dispute resolution. Feinberg was appointed Special Master of the U.S. government's September 11th Victim Compensation Fund and served as the Special Master for TARP Executive Compensation. Additionally, Feinberg served as the ...

Where is Feinberg from?

Feinberg was born in Brockton, Massachusetts. He received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst in 1967 and a J.D. degree from the New York University School of Law in 1970.

What is Feinberg's position on homosexuality?

In 2019, Feinberg worked pro bono to mediate the impasse between representatives of factions within the United Methodist Church regarding its position on homosexuality. Consequently on January 3, 2020, the parties unanimously agreed to present a plan to the 2020 General Conference to spin off one or more traditionalist denominations and allow churches and denominations to leave or remain, while dividing church assets.

Who is the chairman of BP?

It will be put in an escrow account administered by an impartial, independent third party.". Obama said he and BP's chairman, Carl-Henric Svanberg, agreed on having Feinberg administer the fund. Feinberg was also selected by Obama to oversee the compensation of top executives at bailed out banks.

Who was the judge in the oil spill case?

In January 2011, Judge Barbier , the federal judge over the oil spill litigation, after hearing evidence and arguments of the attorneys, ruled that Kenneth Feinberg was not independent of BP and could no longer claim to be so. Feinberg had been telling victims he was their lawyer and did not answer to BP.

What did Jon Stewart say about 9/11?

Jon Stewart jolted a national conversation about the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund when he blasted Congress in his emotional testimony Tuesday. Stewart told lawmakers they should be "ashamed" of their inaction and for taking "so damn long" on the legislation. One day later, he saw results: A House panel on Wednesday unanimously passed ...

Who is Kenny Specht?

"I don't even know if there was a deal, to be honest with you, before his show," Kenny Specht, the founder of the New York City Firefighter Brotherhood Foundation who was interviewed on the show, told The New York Times.

What is the Zadroga Act?

The Zadroga Act. The bill approved by the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday applies to the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund, which is only one part of a larger law called the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. That law is named after the first New York City police officer whose death, from a respiratory disease in 2006, ...

When was the Zadroga Act passed?

Maloney introduced the Zadroga Act in 2009. Congress approved it in the final days of 2010, with $4.2 billion set aside for survivors, and President Barack Obama signed it into law in 2011. But along the way, the bill meet opposition from Republican lawmakers.

When did Jon Stewart return to the Daily Show?

Stewart returned to the "Daily Show" in 2015 — only months after handing it over to the new host, Trevor Noah — to push once again for the Zadroga Act as it neared another deadline for renewal. That year, he also rallied on Capitol Hill for the fund, joined by firefighters and union officials.

In the United States

Feinberg was responsible for making the decisions on how much each family of a victim would receive. Feinberg had to estimate how much each victim would have earned in a full lifetime. If a family accepted the offer, it was not possible to appeal.

The eight-part Feinberg plan

In his book titled What is Life Worth?, Feinberg described the eight-part plan which was applied to approaching the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (see Publications section below).

Additional compensation

In spite of the disputed claim of the 9/11 Commission Report that the Saudi Arabian government wasn't involved in the attacks, some 9/11 families sued the Saudi Arabian government in 2016 seeking additional restitution. The lawsuit accuses the Saudis of wrongful death .

Publications

Feinberg, Kenneth (June 2012). Who Gets What: Fair Compensation after Tragedy and Financial Upheaval. New York City: PublicAffairs. ISBN 9781586489779.

Has anyone filed more claims with 9/11?

No one has filed more claims with the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund or helped more people enroll in the free World Trade Center Health Care program. You can count on a reliable case assessment and a smooth filing process.

Do Barasch and McGarry have proof of 9/11?

Barasch & McGarry will help you obtain your proof of presence in the 9/11 Exposure Zone now, even if you’re currently healthy. It’s important to take these steps to protect you and your family, in case, God forbid, you get sick in the future. Learn More

When is the deadline to file a wrongful death claim?

The deadline to register a wrongful death claim on behalf of a spouse, parent or child who died more than two years ago has been extended to July 29, 2021. Thereafter, families will be required to register within two years of their loved one’s death.

How much money did the 9/11 attacks cost?

November 8, 2004 - A report by the Rand Institute for Civil Justice finds that victims of the September 11, 2001, attacks received an average of $3.1 million per person, totaling $8.7 billion. About $38 billion in all is paid out by the government, charities and insurance companies.

When was the Victim Compensation Fund reopened?

In 2011, the fund was re-opened to compensate first responders and individuals who later experienced health problems related to 9/11.

What is the museum that was built on ground zero?

Artifacts from ground zero get a preview at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York. Among them is a cross made out of steel from the World Trade Center in the 2001 attacks. The museum opened in 2014.

What is the last column on 9/11?

9/11 memorial and museum —. The symbolic "Last Column," right, a steel beam from one of the towers, stands near the "slurry wall," left, which holds back the Hudson River waters. Photos: 9/11 memorial and museum.

What is the 9/11 memorial and museum?

9/11 memorial and museum —. Part of the World Trade Center's original foundation, left, and the last column removed from the WTC site, center, are covered in a protective wrap during construction of the museum. Photos: 9/11 memorial and museum. PHOTO: Mary Altaffer/AP.

What is the cross made of?

The "Cross," made of intersecting steel beams found in the rubble of 6 World Trade Center, and a fragment of a trident column, center, one of 84 that formed the exterior structure of each tower, are prepared for display. Photos: 9/11 memorial and museum.

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Life and Career

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Feinberg was born in Brockton, Massachusetts . He received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst in 1967 and a J.D. degree from the New York University School of Law in 1970. He worked for five years as an administrative assistant and chief of staff for U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy and as a …
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Publications

  1. Feinberg, Kenneth (August 2006). What Is Life Worth?: The Inside Story of the 9/11 Fund and Its Effort to Compensate the Victims of September 11th. New York City: PublicAffairs. ISBN 978-1-58648-45...
  2. Feinberg, Kenneth (June 2012). Who Gets What: Fair Compensation after Tragedy and Financial Upheaval. New York City: PublicAffairs. ISBN 978-1-58648-977-9.
  1. Feinberg, Kenneth (August 2006). What Is Life Worth?: The Inside Story of the 9/11 Fund and Its Effort to Compensate the Victims of September 11th. New York City: PublicAffairs. ISBN 978-1-58648-45...
  2. Feinberg, Kenneth (June 2012). Who Gets What: Fair Compensation after Tragedy and Financial Upheaval. New York City: PublicAffairs. ISBN 978-1-58648-977-9.
  3. Feinberg, Kenneth (March 2015). "Money Admonitions From 9/11". New York Times. New York.
  4. Feinberg, Kenneth (2014). "Georgia State University Law Review: Keynote Address". Georgia State University Law Review. Georgia. 31(4).

Recent Awards and Recognition

  1. "Flame of Tzedek Award" by The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute at The National Jewish Retreat (2019)
  2. "A Tribute to Excellence" by Hillel at UMass Amherst (2018)
  3. The Bazelon Center Outstanding Public Service Award (2017)
  4. The Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medalist in Law (2014)
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Further Reading

  1. Feinberg, Kenneth (March 1, 2008). "What I've Learned: Kenneth Feinberg". Washingtonian(Interview). Interviewed by Lee Michael Katz.
  2. Jurschick, Karin (2017). Playing God. Germany: April 2017. "Playing God Trailer". March 21, 2017.
See more on en.wikipedia.org

External Links