Victim Compensation Fund

Grace Montgomery was born and raised in New York City and graduated from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, with a B.A. in Political Science and a paralegal certification after completing the pre-law program. Grace spent her first year after graduation coaching middle schoolers in volleyball, swim, and baseball. Over the years, she has helped […]

After years of being underrepresented, women who have developed uterine cancer—including endometrial cancer—from their exposure to 9/11 toxins are now eligible for free health care and compensation. “I’m just thankful and so grateful to all the people who really advocated for this,” says our client Diane Rivera (pictured). She was working at Citibank at 111 […]

9/11 Victims Forced to Pay Over 150% Interest for Loans Managing Partner Mike Barasch was interviewed on 60 Minutes for a story about a lending company that was charging people in the 9/11 community exorbitant interest rates for loans they needed while they waited for their VCF award payments. We blew the whistle on RD […]

April is Testicular Cancer Awareness Month. Young men between the ages of 15 and 35 generally have the highest risk of developing testicular cancer. But individuals who were exposed to Ground Zero toxins in Lower Manhattan on and after 9/11 also have a higher risk of developing testicular cancer, along with 68 other types of cancer and many […]

April is Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month. 9/11 first responders and people who were working, living, or studying in Lower Manhattan below Canal Street on and after 9/11 are at risk of developing many respiratory illnesses and 69 different types of cancer — including esophageal cancer. According to a report from the American Cancer Society, an estimated 21,560 new esophageal cancer […]

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Nearly half a million first responders and survivors who were exposed to Ground Zero toxins on and after 9/11 have a higher risk of developing respiratory illnesses and 69 different types of cancer, including colorectal cancer. Barasch & McGarry represents about 1,000 9/11 first responders and survivors who have […]