Victim Compensation Fund

The 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund has recently changed its rules regarding the deadline to register for compensation. Historically, a person who was diagnosed with cancer had a strict 2 year window to register with the VCF, which began on the date that they were first diagnosed. If a person registered after this 2 year window […]

Michael Barasch, the lawyer credited as the whistleblower on an alleged scam by RD Legal Funding targeting 9/11 first responders, is speaking out. Read full article: Whistleblowing Lawyer Who Exposed Alleged 9/11 Victims’ Fund Scam Speaks Out, NY1 News, February 8, 2017

Before you get the wrong idea, I’ll admit that getting sued is usually not something to be particularly happy about. As a rule, it’s expensive, stressful, and time consuming. But, believe it or not, there are times when getting sued actually feels kind of good. When the lawsuit affords us the opportunity to take on […]

When Congress reauthorized the Zadroga Act, renewing the Victim Compensation Fund for five years, some substantive changes were made. The new law places a cap on pain and suffering awards for cancer at $250,000 and for non-cancer illnesses at $90,000. But that does not mean new claimants will necessarily receive lower awards than previous claimants […]

Michael Barasch met with both Senator Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand at a recent benefit for 9/11 Health Watch. They discussed the implications of the new JASTA law and the importance of extending the Victim Compensation Fund past 2020.

When the James L. Zadroga 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund Reauthorization Act went into effect last December, Congress charged the Justice Department with writing a rule to implement it. The Attorney General appointed Sheila L. Birnbaum as Special Master, and Ms. Birnbaum recently published the Interim Final Rule for the VCF. Potential claimants should be aware […]