PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Nicholas Papain, Partner at Sullivan Papain Block McManus Coffinas & Cannavo P.C. on 9/11 Document Availability
1:41:41
ยท
156 sec
Nicholas Papain, representing the Uniformed Firefighters Association of New York, testifies about the availability of 9/11-related documents. He expresses strong disagreement with claims that these documents cannot be found, citing his firm's involvement in litigation against the city regarding first responders' respiratory equipment.
- Papain's law firm filed the first lawsuit in 2002 and was co-liaison counsel for thousands of claimants when the case settled 8 years later.
- He points out that the city hired attorneys to gather, possess, and inventory 9/11-related documents within a couple of years after the attacks.
- Papain suggests that the city should start by asking its attorneys where these documents are now, calling the claim of not being able to find records "an insult of the highest degree."
Nicholas Papain
1:41:41
Thank you.
1:41:42
Thank you, for welcoming us here today.
1:41:45
My name is Nicholas Papain.
1:41:47
I'm a partner at the law firm of Sullivan, Papain, Block, McManus, Kufinos and Conavo.
1:41:53
We have had the honor to serve as general counsel to the Uniformed Firefighters Association of New York for the past 4 decades.
Gale A. Brewer
1:42:03
On
Nicholas Papain
1:42:03
911 and to this day, our offices are located at 120 Broadway, corner of Broadway and Nassau Street, Lower Manhattan, within stone's throw of the World Trade Center.
1:42:17
And we've had our share of victims as well.
1:42:20
And I would just like to add to the comments that have been made by everyone this morning.
1:42:26
When it comes to saying they can't find records, that is an insult of the highest degree.
1:42:35
I say that because as we all know, there was litigation brought against the city for 9/11 regarding first responders who were not provided with proper respiratory equipment.
1:42:51
And that litigation started in 2002.
1:42:55
I know it because my firm filed the first lawsuit.
1:43:00
And we were there 8 years later as co liaison counsel for all the claimants, thousands of claimants, when that case settled.
1:43:10
And as we know that settlement was funded and that litigation was funded not by the monies from the city of New York, but by an insurance company that had been funded by the Federal Government up to $1,000,000,000 And in that litigation, the city hired attorneys not only to defend the case, but also to gather, to take possession of, and to inventory 9/11 related documents.
1:43:47
We're talking about this being done within a couple of years of 9 11.
1:43:55
Perhaps the city should start by asking its attorneys where those documents are today.
1:44:04
You've heard the other comments.
1:44:06
I don't wanna burden this committee with this council with any further comments, but that is the insult of all insults, to say we search for those documents.