Long Overdue Public Safety Worker Coverage

Legislation has been reintroduced to provide workers’ compensation benefits for certain public safety workers who developed an occupational illness or injury flowing from the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. A closer look at the legislation reveals that it removes defenses such as causal relationship, statute of limitations, and jurisdiction. Complicated statutory and regulatory challenges may ultimately offset the benefits offered. 

Zadroga WTC Health Claims Fund Town Hall Meetings

The Special Master for the Zadroga 9-11 Victims Compensation Fund, Sheila L. Birnbaum, will be holding a series of public town hall forums to discuss the operation of the Fund. Those meetings will take place in both New York and New Jersey.

• Wednesday, July 27th 6:00-7:30pm: Queens Borough Hall, 120-55 Queens Blvd, New York, NY
• Thursday, July 28th 6:00-7:30pm: Jersey City City Hall - Council Chambers, 280 Grove Street, Jersey City, NJ
• Tuesday, August 2nd 6:00-7:30pm: Melville Marriott, 1350 Old Walt Whitman Road, Melville, NY

The program was established to provide compensation and medical monitoring to victims of the September 11th tragedy in New York City. Regulations for the operation of the Fund have yet to be announced. It is anticipated that the Fund should be operational by July 1, 2011. Those who were exposed to the toxic dust and fumes of the World Trade Center disaster continue to suffer from latent and progressive medical conditions. The New England Journal of Medicine has reported that a substantial population that was exposed to the toxic residuals of the event are suffering from sever medical conditions. Positive pathological findings reflect the existence of aluminum and magnesium silicates, chrysotile asbestos, calcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, glass, and carbon nanotubes (CNT) were found in specimens of exposed individuals.

Eligibility for benefits under the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act include those who were World Trade Center victims and First Responders. Under the law those who worked, attended school, childcare and adult day care, may be eligible. The program also covers some who were present in the area of the dust cloud or who lived in the the New York City disaster area. Certain  cleanup and maintenance workers are included including tele-communications workers such as Verizon, AT&T and other employees.

For over 3 decades the Law Offices of Jon L. Gelman  1.973.696.7900  jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.

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• New York Dignitaries Celebrate The Zadroga Act Taking Effect (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
• World Trade Center (Zadroga) Compensation Fund Rules Announced (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
• New Website for September 11th Victims Compensation Fund (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
• Zadroga 9-11 Compensation Fund Opens for Business (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)