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Who is Responsible for Uncovering VCF Fraud?
Whenever there is money involved, fraud is a concern. The Victims Compensation Fund is no exception, especially in light of several high-profile cases of fraud that occurred during the administration of the first VCF. Fortunately, it has been very encouraging that cases of fraud have thus far been few and far between in the new […]
September 18, 2014 Posted in Victim Compensation Fund Tagged VCF fraud, zadroga act Leave a comment
Attorney Fees for VCF Representation
One of the most common reasons that people hesitate to consult an attorney following a personal injury or other loss is the fear that the attorney’s fees could consume a substantial portion of whatever award they receive. However, in nearly all cases the enhanced rewards you receive coupled with the stress and uncertainty you avoid […]
September 15, 2014 Posted in Victim Compensation Fund, Zadroga Act Tagged vcf claims, zadroga act Leave a comment
Proving You or Your Loved One Was Present at Ground Zero or the Pentagon on 9/11
To be eligible for 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund benefits, you must prove that you were present during or immediately after the terrorist attack. If you are applying for loss of your loved one, you must prove that she or he was present and died as a result of 9/11-related injuries or disease. Proof of presence […]
September 11, 2014 Posted in Victim Compensation Fund Tagged proof of presence, Victims Compensation Fund Leave a comment
Your Acid Reflux May Be 9/11 Related
Post 9/11, many Ground Zero, Pentagon and Shanksville crash site first responders and lower Manhattan residents and workers experienced Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disorder (GERD). After several studies concluded that GERD could be triggered by the conditions at the attack and crash sites, the medical disorder was included in the list of presumptively covered conditions under the […]
September 8, 2014 Posted in 9/11 Injuries Tagged 9/11 illnesses, acid reflux, GERD, New York WTC lawyers Leave a comment
What to Expect at a VCF Hearing
The VCF hearing process has been largely uncharted territory, owing in part to the fact that the Zadroga Act did not provide any detailed guidelines for adjudicating contested VCF eligibility and compensation decisions. Indeed, the first such hearings have only taken place within the last year. However, consistent with the purpose of the Act, the […]
September 4, 2014 Posted in Victim Compensation Fund Tagged New York WTC lawyers, vcf appeals, VCF hearing, Victims Compensation Fund Leave a comment
VCF Claims on Behalf of Minor Children
Tragically, many children were victims of the World Trade Center collapse, Pentagon attack and plane crash at Shanksville. Some lost parents either during the attacks or in later years as a result of 9/11-related diseases. Others who lived or attended school in lower Manhattan sustained physical injuries or illnesses. In fact, children exposed to the […]
September 1, 2014 Posted in Victim Compensation Fund Tagged children's rights to the VCF, New York WTC lawyers, registering a child for the VCF, Victims Compensation Fund Leave a comment
Options for 9/11 Victims Struggling with Mental Health Issues
The psychological aftermath of being involved in an event such as 9/11 can be just as painful, debilitating and real as any physical injury. Even more than a decade later, many first responders still struggle with flashbacks, anxiety, depression and other serious psychiatric symptoms. For some, these issues can reach disabling severity. For others, they […]
August 28, 2014 Posted in Health Programs Tagged mental health, New York WTC lawyers, Workers' Compensation Board of the State of New York, WTC Health Program Leave a comment
Proving Non-economic Losses in a VCF Claim
For most VCF claimants, non-economic losses represent the bulk of their recovery. While out of pocket costs for medical treatment — as well as lost wages from total or partial disability — can be significant, intangible losses like pain, disfigurement and the inability to fully enjoy life’s pleasures remain a major factor. Unfortunately, proving the […]
August 25, 2014 Posted in Victim Compensation Fund Tagged New York WTC lawyers, non-economic losses, VCF, Victims Compensation Fund Leave a comment
9/11 Illness No Longer Bar to Insurance Coverage Under Affordable Care Act
In a 2006 New York Times article, the co-director of Mount Sinai’s World Trade Center Worker and Volunteer Medical Screening Program, Dr. Robin Herbert, stressed the lifelong health consequences faced by ground zero workers: ”There should no longer be any doubt about the health effects of the World Trade Center disaster . . . Our […]
August 21, 2014 Posted in 9/11 Injuries Tagged 9/11 illnesses, Affordable Care Act, health insurance for 9/11 victims, New York WTC lawyers Leave a comment
How the DOMA Supreme Court Ruling Helps Spouses of 9/11 Victims
The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) prohibited the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages. As a result, same-sex partners who were legally married in their home state were nonetheless denied federal benefits. In 2002, Kenneth R. Feinberg, the special master of the initial September 11 Victims Compensation Fund (VCF), announced that gay and lesbian domestic […]
August 18, 2014 Posted in Victim Compensation Fund Tagged DOMA, New York WTC lawyers, VCF benefits for same-sex partners, Victims Compensation Fund Leave a comment
