Q&A
Discussion on potential lawsuits related to 9/11 health issues
1:44:19
ยท
155 sec
Council Member Brewer initiates a discussion about the potential for lawsuits related to 9/11 health issues. Various speakers, including attorneys and representatives from 9/11 Health Watch, provide information on the existing compensation programs and liability waivers.
- The 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund requires claimants to waive liability against New York City
- The World Trade Center Health Program covers health conditions related to 9/11
- Federal legislation has limited New York City's financial liability for 9/11-related claims
Gale A. Brewer
1:44:19
Thank you all very much.
1:44:20
One question I have is there is always oh, everybody's going to sue, but people who have part of health related are not gonna sue because they already signed.
1:44:31
Can you just describe a little bit about who could sue, who can't sue, and what that means?
1:44:34
Because that's what I get as a roadblock.
Andrew Carboy
1:44:37
Chair Breuer.
Gale A. Brewer
1:44:38
You gotta push the button.
Andrew Carboy
1:44:41
Yes.
1:44:41
Thank you, chair Breuer.
1:44:42
I'd just like to speak to that, in the near term.
1:44:45
For the past 13 years, 80,000 people have applied for compensation from the US Department of Justice for their World Trade Center related illnesses.
1:44:56
The Department of Justice has paid out nearly $16,000,000,000 to those individuals.
1:45:02
The buy in to participate in that program is a waiver of all liability against the city of New York.
1:45:09
There is no liability anymore with the creation of this program, which will run for the next 70 years.
Matthew McCauley
1:45:17
I think it's also important to note that when it comes to the health conditions themselves so as, Andy was saying about the VCF, there are also no issues when it comes to coverage for these conditions.
1:45:27
And as we get deeper into new conditions coming forward, the World Trade Center Health Program, also funded by through the Department of Justice and Health and Human Services, covers those illnesses.
1:45:37
So you have on one side, you have the compensation side, which people would call pain and suffering in litigation.
1:45:42
And on the other side, you have this novel program that covers all of the health care aspects of things, which in a personal injury action would lead to, you know, need to being insurance companies being paid back.
1:45:53
It's all together.
1:45:54
So anything that comes up that's an illness related to 911 is going to be covered by this program that's there until 2090.
Gale A. Brewer
1:46:03
And just Go ahead.
Nicholas Papain
1:46:04
Just to add as far as litigation goes, it it's important to note that through federal legislation, which was passed in December of of 2011, 2001, excuse me, the city was in essence shielded from any personal liability in terms of financial payments.
1:46:25
A $1,000,000,000 insurance fund was created and funded by the Federal Government, limiting the city's liability to that insurance fund.
1:46:37
Meaning, no money is to be paid by the city itself.
1:46:40
And that's in addition to the waivers that every victim compensation fund claimant provides when they file a claim with the 911 victim compensation fund.