Hansen & Rosasco, LLP

When a loved one passes away due to a 9/11-related illness, the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) mandates the designation of a Personal Representative to manage the claim on behalf of the deceased. As the deceased cannot file a claim due to their passing, the VCF requires an authorized living person to act on behalf of the deceased’s estate. This individual is typically the executor, as designated in the deceased's last will and testament. In the absence of a will, an administrator is appointed by the local surrogate’s court to handle the estate. Whether an executor or an administrator, the appointment is made by the surrogate’s court in the county where the deceased resided at the time of passing. In most all VCF claims, it is the court-appointed executor or administrator who then acts as the Personal Representative of the VCF claim filed by the estate. 

The World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) was established as part of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act (Zadroga Act) to provide comprehensive medical monitoring and treatment for individuals affected by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Whether you were a responder or someone who lived, worked, or attended school in Downtown Manhattan and the surrounding Exposure Zone, the WTCHP offers no-cost health services for both physical and mental health conditions linked to 9/11 toxic exposure. The program is administered by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

The dust and fumes from the September 11th attacks are a known cause of leukemia in downtown workers, residents, students, and first responders.  Research has proven that individuals in lower Manhattan between 9/11 and May 30, 2002, are at an increased risk of developing leukemia and other blood cancers. Understanding this connection is crucial for those who were exposed to the toxic environment created by the collapse of the Twin Towers, as it highlights the importance of health monitoring, treatment, and support through programs like the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) and the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF).

If you or a loved one was present in lower Manhattan during or after the 9/11 attacks, understanding the risks is an essential step in protecting your health. Ongoing health monitoring and no-cost treatment are available to downtown workers, residents, and first responders and can make a significant impact on an individual’s health outcomes. 

The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) was created to provide a cash award to first responders and anyone who lived, worked, or went to school in lower Manhattan who since got sick with cancer or other 9/11-linked conditions. In addition to awards for pain and suffering, if a 9/11 claimant is not able to work due to a 9/11-related cancer or other condition, the VCF will make an award not only for lost wages but also all employer-provided benefits including lost or reduced pension benefits. If you or a loved one suffered from a 9/11-related condition that impacted the ability to work and contributions to a pension, you may be eligible to recover lost pension benefits from the VCF.

Situations can change after filing your initial claim with the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF), which provides a cash award to individuals suffering from a 9/11-related cancer or other condition. If you developed a new 9/11-related health condition or experienced a new economic loss (including becoming disabled from work due to your 9/11 cancer or other condition) after filing your original VCF claim, you may need to amend your original claim. Here’s how the amendment process works and why it might be necessary for you to amend your claim.

Since the terrorist attacks, 9/11-related sarcomas – rare cancers that can affect soft tissue and bone – have been diagnosed in downtown residents, workers, and responders. While sarcomas are rare, anyone who lived, worked, or was otherwise present in lower Manhattan and the surrounding area on 9/11 and into mid-2002 is at an increased risk of developing sarcoma due to exposure to toxic dust, chemicals, and smoke. 

Uterine cancer is recognized as part of the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP), individuals diagnosed with 9/11-related uterine cancer can access health monitoring and treatment and financial compensation. In January 2023, the World Trade Center Health Program issued a final rule adding all types of uterine cancer, including endometrial cancer, to the List of WTC-Related Health Conditions. The addition of uterine cancer to the list of 9/11-related conditions marked a significant development for many women affected by exposure to toxins following the attacks on the World Trade Center. In addition to healthcare and financial compensation, counseling and support groups are available that can provide necessary emotional support and mental health care. Here, we discuss the various resources available to those diagnosed with 9/11-related uterine cancer.

The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) allows claims to be amended to seek additional compensation for a variety of reasons.  A VCF claimant can amend their claim for an increased additional award if, among other circumstances: 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to highlight the risks of 9/11-related breast cancer. Breast cancer is a growing concern for many in the 9/11 community who were exposed to toxic substances following the terrorist attacks. Unfortunately, since 2001 Hansen & Rosasco has helped hundreds of 9/11 breast cancer victims. Our office recently won a $3.4 million plus award for a female downtown Manhattan executive disabled by breast cancer after having a radical mastectomy, chemo, radiation and lymphedema complications.  

The 9/11 attacks covered all of lower Manhattan with cancer-causing dust that was breathed in by 500,000 downtown workers, residents, students, responders, and others during the months after the attacks. In the years since, tens of thousands of those exposed to this dust have gotten sick with any number of 9/11-linked cancers, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, skin cancer, blood cancer, cancer of the digestive system, and more.