Family Wins Case For 9/11 Rescuer's Benefits

Everyone has heard stories about disabled individuals who have had to battle the Social Security Administration for disability benefits. One would imagine that a family would not, however, have to battle the government for benefits after losing a family member in the 9/11 rescue. That is exactly what happened to a New York family:

After a five-year battle, the United States government has dropped its effort to prevent a volunteer firefighter killed at the World Trade Center from receiving a death benefit for public safety officers who die on the job.

The firefighter, Glenn J. Winuk, was a longtime member of the Jericho Volunteer Fire Department who rushed to the burning towers on Sept. 11, 2001.

Mr. Winuk, 40, died when the skyscrapers collapsed, but for years, the Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance declined to award his family a $250,000 payment.

The agency contended that the benefit was intended for active-duty public safety officers, and Mr. Winuk had not been on regular duty since 1998.

Let's hope they show more consideration to other families in the future.

9/11 Worker's Kin Rejects Death Ruling

Fresh from ruling that World Trade Center dust did not kill a police detective, a medical examiner offered the man's relatives other reasons Friday for his death, an explanation the family found lacking, their lawyer said.

Chief Medical Examiner Charles Hirsch would not publicly elaborate on his findings in the death of James Zadroga, who had worked hundreds of hours in the toxic dust at ground zero after the Sept. 11 attacks, Hirsch's spokeswoman said. Hirsch asked the family not to disclose what he told them, said Michael Barasch, the Zadrogas' attorney.

"Dr. Hirsch felt that there were other reasons for Zadroga's death. The family disagrees with it. I disagree with it," Barasch said. The doctor "came up with reasons that were not acceptable to us," the attorney said.