Recent Blog Posts

VCF Awards Likely to Be Cut by 60% Unless You Take Action to Contact Congressmen Outside of the New York Area. “I’m embarrassed. I’m embarrassed for our country.” That’s how Jon Stewart described the failure of Congress to extend health and compensation programs for 9/11 first responders and survivors – 33,000 of whom are suffering […]

The legendary heroism of FDNY firefighters, Port Authority police and NYPD officers has cast a long shadow over the events of September 11th, 2001. At times, it seems as though emergency medical service workers have gotten lost in that shadow. Nevertheless, eight EMS workers were lost that day and many more continue to suffer physically […]

Many 9/11 responders have suffered from PTSD in the days, months and years after the attacks. But if certain people in Washington have their way, the diagnosis might change to PTS. According to the Washington Post, a movement is afoot in the nation’s capital to change the way politicians and veterans’ advocates talk about post-traumatic […]

Attorneys Mike Barasch and Noah Kushlefsky were invited to speak at a Voices of September 11th Forum.  They joined the  Victim Compensation Fund’s (VCF) Special Master Sheila Birnbaum, and the VCF’s NY Director Fran Gottfried.  The four discussed the progress that the VCF has made since Congress passed the Zadroga Health & Compensation Act in […]

First responders suffering with cancers, respiratory problems, and other illnesses say people will die if 9/11 health and compensation programs expire:  Joe Zadroga, father of NYPD Detective James Zadroga Without Congressional action, the World Trade Center Health Program and the Victim Compensation Fund will expire next year, leaving over 70,000 9/11 responders and survivors in […]

Mike Barasch attended a press conference at Ground Zero where several NY area Congressmen urged their colleagues—particularly House Republican leaders—to bring the WTC Zadroga extension bill to a vote. Barasch joined politicians, union leaders and dozens of responders to urge passage.  Several survivors, including Barasch’s client Joe Zadroga, spoke of the health and financial hardships […]