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| The Division of Federal Employees’ Compensation is an agency of the U.S. Department of Labor that oversees workers’ compensation claims for federal workers under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA). Federal workers can file for workers’ compensation benefits for all injuries and illnesses that occur “in the course of employment” and “arise out of employment.” This can include injuries and illnesses related to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. |
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| The 2017 law allowed unlimited paid sick leave for public employees at state agencies, authorities and municipalities outside New York City, who had developed illnesses due to their rescue, recovery and clean-up activities at Ground Zero. However, it soon became clear the law did not go far enough: it left out responders who came from other areas of the state and classes of employees, such as utility workers, who are not generally considered first responders. |
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| In this interview with Shelli Sonstein on Q104.3, Louis Rivera honors his late mom, Liana, who was attorney Michael Barasch’s paralegal before dying of 911 related breast cancer. Joining Louis is his surrogate mom, Liana’s sister, Melinda. |
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| Two new studies published in April of 2018 in the JAMA Oncology Journal found that first responders who worked at the WTC site from September 11, 2001 to July 25, 2002 (the day the rescue, recovery, and cleanup efforts officially ended) were exposed to unprecedented environmental toxins and, as a result, have increased risk of developing a variety of cancers. |
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| We are very pleased to report that Judge Daniels denied Saudi Arabia’s motion to dismiss and ruled that the plaintiffs may conduct limited jurisdictional discovery of the Kingdom. This is a historic decision and opens the door for us to proceed with our key claims under the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act. |
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| This week on Thursday, I had the honor of speaking at a major press conference at New York City’s Stuyvesant High School, which stands in the shadow of the former World Trade Center. Our goal was to let the public know that former students, teachers, local residents, and office workers are developing 9/11-related illnesses at the same alarming rates as the first responders. |
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| According to a recent story in the New York Post, Michael Abramowitz, whose work at Ground Zero included transporting victims’ body parts to the city morgue, was forced into retirement in 2010 at the age of 56, when doctors declared him medically unfit for duty due to asthma and psoriasis. Doctors certified that his asthma was due to exposure to 9/11 toxic dust. |
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| Michael Barasch and Richard Alles appeared on PBS MetroFocus “9/11 & Student Cancer” that aired on January 26, 2018. |
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| Judge Daniels acknowledged that the 9/11 Commission report’s finding of “no evidence” did not by itself warrant dismissal of the plaintiff’s’ case, but he pressed plaintiff’s counsel about what evidence does exist to establish that the Kingdom bears responsibility for the 9/11 attacks. |
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| In addition to representing our clients for their 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund claims, Barasch McGarry represents the majority of our clients in their lawsuit against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (“Saudi Arabia”) for the 9/11 terrorist attacks. |
