| THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR Victims of Crime NEWS |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 3, 2007
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MARY RAPPAPORT
202-467-8714 mrappaport @ ncvc.org
Liz JOYCE
202-467-8700 ejoyce@ncvc.org |
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| NATIONAL CENTER FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME APPLAUDS 9-11 SETTLEMENT |
Group Counseled Over 1,50m0 Victims on Choice between Government Compensation Fund and Lawsuit
Washington, DC-- The National Center for Victims of Crime applauded today's announcement that five families who lost loved ones in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks at the Pentagon and World Trade Center have settled their lawsuits against the airlines and airport security firms they claim failed to prevent the terrorist attacks. The families refused payments from the federal government's September 11th Victims' Compensation Fund, insisting that corporations that share blame must be held responsible and financially accountable. |
| 'The victims of September 11 who wished to apply for the government compensation fund were forced to waive their right to file a civil lawsuit," said Mary Lou Leary, executive director of the National Center for Victims of Crime. "We have always maintained that those choices should be made by individual victims based on what is best for them and their families. I am very pleased that these families could decide their own course of action and achieve a satisfactory outcome." |
| In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, the National Center conducted 27 public forums in locations around the United States to help victims and surviving family members understand their options with regard to submitting a claim to the government compensation fund or filing a civil lawsuit. The National Center counseled more than 1,500 families to help them make an informed decision, and then referred them to an array of professionals who could help the family proceed with either a lawsuit or compensation claim. |
| For many victims seeking to secure their family's financial future after the sudden loss of the primary income-earner, the compensation fund's promise of a guaranteed payment made the fund an attractive choice. Yet the families who chose civil litigation were interested in accountability and information, according to Jeff Dion, director of the National Crime Victim Bar Association, whose attorney members represent victims in civil lawsuits. "The only place they could get accountability was in the civil courts," said Dion. |
| The National Crime Victim Bar Association (NCVBA), an affiliate of the National Center for Victims of Crime, trained attorneys to understand victims' needs and reactions in the aftermath of terrorism. The NCVBA offered victims' attorneys training both on how to make a claim to the fund and on litigating terrorism-based cases. The NCVBA referred victims to attorneys who could offer them legal counsel tailored to their specific circumstances and potentially represent them in a civil law suit. |
| The lead attorney representing the victims' families was Keith S. Franz, a past President of the National Crime Victim Bar Association, who has extensive experience in helping crime victims secure justice through the civil courts. |
| "We are so grateful to Keith for his service to victims and proud of his ability to chart a course for justice across uncharted legal terrain," said Dion. "While it was generally accepted that the passengers on the planes had a case against the airlines, it was uncertain whether people who were killed or injured on the ground had a viable claim. Keith Franz epitomizes the highest ideals of our profession by combining a compassionate respect for victims with a tenacious pursuit of justice." |
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The National Center for Victims of Crime is dedicated to forging a national commitment to help victims of crime rebuild their lives. The National Center's toll-free National Crime Victim Help line, l-800-FYf-CALL offers supportive counseling, practical information about crime and victimization, referrals to local community resources, as well as skilled advocacy in the criminal justice and social service systems. |
| 2000 M Street, NW - Suite 480 • Washington, DC 20036 Tel. 202/467-8700 • Fax 202/467-8701 • www.ncvc.org |
| 911 Settlement Media Information |
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