House of Representatives Passes Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Benefits Bill

Posted on September 29, 2010 by Troy Rosasco

Three cheers for the House of Representatives!!!

The House of Representatives today approved legislation to provide billions of dollars in medical benefits to rescue workers and residents of New York City who suffered illnesses from breathing in toxic fumes, dust and smoke at Ground Zero.

The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act,  is named after a New York City detective who participated in the rescue and recovery efforts at Ground Zero after 9/11. He in died in January 2006 due to difficulty breathing caused by his exposure at Ground Zero.

Importantly, the bill includes a provision that permits money from the Victims Compensation Fund to be paid out to plaintiffs who receive payments under the pending settlement stemming from lawsuits that 10,000 rescue and cleanup workers filed against the New York City.

The bill's prospects in the Senate are unfortunately less bright, but this was a morally right step for the victims and families of first responders. These heroes need permanent heath care guaranteed!

 

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Troy Rosasco Wins Third Term on NOSSCR Social Security Disability Lawyer Board

Posted on September 22, 2010 by Troy Rosasco

I am humbled to have been re-elected to a third term by my colleagues as their Second Circuit Representative on the NOSSCR Board of Directors. I thank them for their continued support and look forward to helping them promote their top-notch and ethical attorney representation in Social Security disability claims.

I flew into the "windy city" of Chicago this morning to attend the Fall 2010 NOSSCR Disability Claim Lawyer conference. This year I will be attending some great sessions on the functional restrictions caused by multiple sclerosis, cancer, diabetes, PTSD caused by sexual abuse, hypertension, chronic pain, fibromyalgia and other auto-immune disorders.

I have always believed that thorough preparation of a client's case, including knowing the medicine of the claimant's disability better than the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ),  is a key element of winning any disability claim.

In addition, I will be presenting the NOSSCR Eileen P. Sweeney Distinguished Service Award tomorrow to two giants in the field of Social Security Disability Law: Charles Hall and David Traver. This is NOSSCR's highest honor, and both Charles and David are most deserving.

Last, but not least,  my friend and colleague Lew Insler and I plan to take in a Cubs game tomorrow night at the classic Wrigley Field. It doesn't get much better than that!

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9/11/2010: The Rebirth of Ground Zero - One World Trade Center Rises

Posted on September 10, 2010 by Troy Rosasco

 

"U.S. Attacked" read the headline from the New York Times on 9/12/2001. Nine years ago tomorrow the former World Trade Center was taken down by two jetliners hijacked by radical Islamic terrorists associated with  Al-Queda. While the physical structure of a great city landmark was reduced to rubble, the immediate deaths and continued illnesses caused by this attack continue to haunt many New Yorkers.

However, a ray of light is now shining on Ground Zero as the new One World Trade Center (formerly the Freedom Tower) rises from the ashes as seen in the recent photo above. As the New York Disability Blog has done since its inception, we again mourn those who perished at Ground Zero resulting in the largest workers' compensation event in history. We salute those heroes who sacrificed their lives on and after that fateful day. Finally, we pray for the health of those who are currently sick or will become sick in the future.

On a related issue, it is often easy for those of us in New York to forget the victims of 9/11 who perished at the Pentagon building or in a Pennsylvania farm field. I just happen to be traveling upstate tomorrow for a West Point football game with my son, where I am sure there will be a ceremony acknowledging the impact of 9/11 on Army families throughout the country and overseas protecting us from future attacks.   Please remember them in your prayers as well.

 

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