On Demand
Audio
The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund: New Changes and the Future of the Fund
Produced on September 06, 2019
Course Information
Course Description
2019 has been a historic and transformational year for the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund. On July 29, 2019, President Trump signed into law the new "Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act". The new law adds $10.2 billion to the Fund and permanently funds it until the year 2090.
Prior to passage of the new law, in February 2019, the Fund's Special Master, Rupa Bhattacharyya, determined that there was "insufficient funding" remaining in the Fund to pay all current and projected claims at the same levels under current Fund policies and procedures. As a result, the Special Master announced cuts of between 50% and 70% for pending and future claims. The Special Master publicly acknowledged that she was "painfully aware of the inequity of the situation". 9/11 victims soon began receiving awards with a full 50% reduction from similar awards made to other claimants just a few months earlier.
As a result, advocates for the 9/11 community, including former Daily Show host Jon Stewart, joined in a bipartisan effort with members of Congress to pass the new "Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act" with record speed.
Building on his prior 9/11 VCF Lawline seminars from 2011, 2015, and 2017, Troy Rosasco, partner at Turley Hansen & Rosasco, LLP, a long-time 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund Attorney and Adjunct Professor at St. John’s University School of Law, explains the brand new "Never Forget the Heroes Act" and the future of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund.
Learning Objectives:
- Examine the changes in the new 9/11 “Never Forget the Heroes Act” and how these new changes impact current and future claims
- Review “eligibility”, 9/11 “covered conditions”, and the health benefits of the World Trade Center Health Program
- Identify the filing deadlines for 9/11 Victim Compensation claims
- Discuss the increasing number of 9/11 cancer claims and how the Fund handles these claims
Credit Information
Faculty
Troy G. Rosasco
Turley Hansen & Rosasco
Practice Areas
*9/11 Zadroga Victim Compensation Fund Claims
* Social Security Disability Claims
* Long Term Disability Claims
* Workers’ Compensation Claims
* New York State / New York City Retirement Disability Pensions
Troy G. Rosasco is one of the leading disability lawyers in the New York metropolitan region. His practice has spanned all areas of disability benefits law, including 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund claims, ERISA and Private Long Term disability claims, Social Security Disability claims, Workers' Compensation claims, Civil Service Disability pensions and Construction Site Accidents.
One of Mr. Rosasco's unique qualities is his experience coordinating and strategizing different claims in order to protect and maximize all benefits for the injured or disabled client. With a combination of compassion, experience, and aggressive advocacy, he has prosecuted literally thousands of disability claims and collected multi-millions of dollars for clients over his twenty year career.
A frequent author, lecturer, and expert witness, Mr. Rosasco is the New York Disability Law Blog, a website providing information and commentary for injured and disabled workers.
Education
J.D., St. John's University School of Law, 1989
-President, Labor & Employment Law Society
B.S., Labor Relations, Cornell University, 1985
Professional & Bar Association Memberships
New York Injured Workers' Bar Association
-Executive Board Member: 2005 – Present
National Organization of Social Security Claimant Representatives
-Board of Directors: 2007 -Present
Nassau County Bar Association
Member Since: 1990
Board of Directors, 2005 - 2008
Chair, Workers'Compensation Law Committee, 1999 - 2001
American Trial Lawyers' Association
Queens County Bar Association
Featured Cases
Brown vs. Commissioner of Social Security, 174 F. 3d 128 (2d. Cir. 1999)
Featured Pro Bono Activities
Nassau County Volunteer Lawyers Project
-Assisted disabled children in Special Education matters before local school districts.
Representative Clients
Injured and disabled workers throughout the New York metropolitan region, including New Jersey, Connecticut, and Long Island.
Languages
English, Spanish