By
DAVID SEIFMAN
Courtesy of
The New York Post
Union leaders are urging families of the 343 firefighters who died in the World Trade Center not to rush into settlements with the federal government.
"Under the current statute, the moment you file you immediately give up any kind of claim forever involving the World Trade Center - except you can still sue the terrorists," said attorney Michael Block.
Block, representing firefighter unions, pointed out that pension and life-insurance payments are deducted from the awards made by the multibillion-dollar Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund.
"In effect, they're being penalized for getting city pensions and insurance they paid for," said Block.
He added that he doesn't know of any family that has accepted the minimum settlement of $250,000, plus $50,000 for each dependent.
Kevin Gallagher, president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, and Peter Gorman, head of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association, met last week with legislators in Washington to argue for changes in the statute that gave birth to the fund.
Gorman conceded the unions face "an uphill battle."
Families have until Sept. 21, 2003, to make a decision.
"We are not telling them not to do it. We are telling them to hold off until we can give them better information," Gorman said.
