Q: Following the 9/11 attacks, the families of the victims were provided a settlement by the government if they agreed not to file a lawsuit. How many families filed suit, have those cases been settled and did the payments result in a greater payout than the government settlement?
-- P.N. Mercer, Hoschton
A: Ninety-five families initially didn't file a claim with the $7 billion Victims Compensation Fund, according to The Associated Press. Eventually, all of them settled with or accepted money from the fund before the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, except for the Bavis family of Roslindale, Mass. Mark Bavis was a pro hockey scout who died on United Flight 175 out of Boston that was flown into the south tower of the World Trade Center. The Bavises held out until Wednesday, the AP reported, finally settling because they felt U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein "essentially gutted the case so that the truth about what led to the events of Sept. 11, 2001, would never be told at trial." The trial was set to begin Nov. 7 in federal court in Manhattan. Terms of the settlement, with United Airlines and its security contractor, Huntleigh USA, are confidential and were not disclosed, The Boston Globe reported. "We were always going to trial," Mike Bavis, the twin brother of Mark Bavis, told the Globe. "How that changed has everything to do with the court, the legal system and the rulings from Judge Hellerstein."
Lori Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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