Victims, Lawyers, and Money: Legal Representation in the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund

Brian H. Bornstein, University of Nebraska at Lincoln

Abstract

We surveyed claimants to the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund about their experiences with legal representation in filing a claim. Most claimants used a lawyer and believed that they received more compensation than they would have without a lawyer. Nearly two-thirds did not pay their attorney, and claimants who paid their lawyer were less satisfied with their outcome. Nearly half of claimants felt pressured to file a claim with the Fund, and they were split on the likely outcome if they had filed a lawsuit instead of going through the Fund. These findings have important implications for public policy and the experience of future victim compensation fund claimants and the attorneys who work with them.