Victim Compensation Fund

Congress created the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) to compensate people who suffered physical harm due to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and/or the subsequent debris removal. The original VCF operated from 2001 to 2004, but the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 reactivated the VCF in October 2011 […]

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.