As the attorneys for James Zadroga’s family, we are delighted for the entire 9/11 community in general, and for our thousands of clients in particular.
New York, NY (PRWEB) December 18, 2015
Attorney Michael Barasch, of Barasch McGarry Salzman & Penson, PC is celebrating the passage today by Congress of a $1.1 trillion omnibus spending package that extends the James A. Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, allowing the firm’s clients to get the health benefits and compensation they deserve. President Obama is expected to sign the law, which passed with bipartisan support. The $8.1 billion extension came as the result of intense lobbying from survivors, victims’ advocates and New York lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. The new law extends the World Trade Center Health Program for 75 years, until 2090, at a cost of $3.5 billion, and renews the Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) for five years at $4.6 billion. The extension is welcome news to thousands of anxious first responders and others, as 9/11-related illnesses and cancers with long latency periods continue to manifest.
The original Zadroga Act passed late in 2010, and President Obama signed the law in January2011. It was named for decorated NYPD Detective James A. Zadroga, who worked more than 450 hours during rescue and recovery efforts at Ground Zero. He soon developed a chronic cough, difficulty breathing, and frequent headaches. In 2003, he was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis and passed away in 2009, at the age of 34. Attorney Michael Barasch, of Barasch McGarry Salzman & Penson, who had advocated for Det. Zadroga and thousands of other injured 9/11 responders, joined with other supporters to push for the law that provided health screening and treatment for a wide variety of 9/11-related illnesses and cancers, and monetary compensation for losses. To date, more than 70,000 survivors have registered with the WTC Health Program, and the VCF approved more than 7,000 applicants and has paid out more than $550 million.
Attorney Michael Barasch calls the bill’s passage “a wonderful Christmas present for both sick and healthy first responders, local residents, and their families. As the attorneys for James Zadroga’s family, we are delighted for the entire 9/11 community in general, and for our thousands of clients in particular.”
While the Department of Justice still must write regulations for the VCF extension, the bill should shorten the time that it will take for victims to actually receive compensation. According to Mr. Barasch, “The good news is that instead of being paid just 40 percent of awards and having to wait until October, 2017, VCF claimants will potentially receive 100 percent of their awards within months of getting their award letters. Moreover, for the next five years, anyone diagnosed with one of the 67 cancers linked to the WTC toxic dust will be able to make a claim — as long as the claim is made within two years of the date of diagnosis.”
About Barasch McGarry Salzman & Penson, PC
Barasch McGarry Salzman & Penson, PC is a prominent New York City-based law firm that represents injured firefighters and other injury victims. The firm’s primary areas of practice include:
- Post-9/11 health and compensation
- Firefighter law
- Personal injury
The firm’s attorneys also have extensive experience representing families of victims of the World Trade Center attacks on 9/11.
The lawyers at Barasch McGarry Salzman & Penson, PC have more than 100 years of combined experience. For more information, please visit the firm’s website or call 888.746.8212.