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Return to Article: Compensation lags for workers injured in Sept. 11 aftermath

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  Adding insult to injury (pun intended) is the appointment of a judge, now U. S. Attorney General, named Mukasey to expedite the WTC owner's insurance claim. He has been awarded and paid billions for the damages, including a building that was not hit by planes. Tower 7 was "pulled" according police officials and was never addressed in the official 9/11 report. We expedited the billionaire's claim, but the rescue workers remain unpaid after seven years.

  Anthony Weishar Posted August 20, 2008 6:36 AM
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  Legitimate claims should be paid the problem with these disasters is the number of people who will apply who were never there or are not sick. The disability rate for retirement in NY for firefighters and cops is the highest in the nation. The reason is the overly generous disability scheme

  Dan ketter Posted August 18, 2008 12:33 PM
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  Is the life of a NY'er more special or worth more then the rest of the nation when tradegies or death is involved? I remember reports after 9/11 where NY workers where fighting over who gets the overtime for working at the WTC site. This behavior is typical of unions. We have all lost loved ones and many of us have lost them through a tragedy. The pain and grief are the same, no matter how one passes. It appears to many that some NY'ers are playing on this tragety in attempts to get benefits that other Americans cannot when tragedy strikes them. Enough spending our taxdollars.

  marcus Posted August 18, 2008 7:36 AM
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  This is a disgrace of national proportions. I was there - I saw how selflessly municipal, State and Federal workers, and volunteers, behaved when they were needed. No one asked questions about health risks or insurance. They just did what had to be done. Now we can't even seem to process more than six claims in seven years - less than once a year - but still seem to have spent millions in litigation fees. It disgusts me.

  9/11 Witness Posted August 14, 2008 12:40 PM
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  Let's see, 6 clames out of 9400 settled, yep, I'd say it's operating as designed. IF, you understand it was a Bush administration designed Snow Job!

  W D Jackson Posted August 14, 2008 9:27 AM
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  This figures - the Iranians are right: Americans have short memories. It has been 7 years since 9/11 and America in general seems to have forgotten that horrendous day when the US was attacked by terrorists. It is no wonder the insurance companies have turned a deaf ear to those brave first responders and innocents whose lives were caught up in this blantant act of disregard for human life. I want to know why our government has not gotten involved sooner. Shame, shame on all concerned.

  Suzanne Posted August 14, 2008 8:15 AM
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  What I derive from the article is that this system is designed to prevent injured workers and others from obtaining the help they need. While millions of dollars are spent "Defending" New York city, people are suffering and even dying from their injuries. There is no acceptable excuse for not providing timely relief for these people even if there are pending lawsuits. This sounds disturbingly like the Federal Employee's Workers Compensation Program.

  If we look deeper, I suspect that many of these lawsuits have more to do with lawyers lining their pockets than with the actual needs of the victims. The $104 million dollars spent mostly went to law firms. Was that really necessary?

  Robert M. Posted August 14, 2008 5:39 AM