By Kami Barrett-Batchelder LLS Associate Director
Kenneth R. Feinberg
On Thursday, January 19, 2017 at 4 p.m., LLS Jupiter will present a one-time lecture by Kenneth R. Feinberg, an advocate best known as Special Master of the Federal September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001. During his lecture, Feinberg will focus on the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Boston Marathon bombings, and the Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook Elementary School and Aurora, Colorado movie shootings. This lecture will not only focus on the characteristics of such compensation programs, but also will raise the philosophical and practical issues surrounding the wisdom of such programs. A light reception and book signing will follow the lecture.
New York City, September 2001
Appointed by Attorney General John Ashcroft to be Special Master of the fund, Feinberg worked for 33 months entirely pro bono. He developed the regulations governing the administration of the fund and administered all aspects of the program, including evaluating applications, determining appropriate compensation and disseminating awards. His work with the September 11th Victim Fund cemented his reputation as the “master of disasters” according to a March 2016 article in the “Observer.”
Additionally, Feinberg served as the government-appointed administrator of the BP Deepwater Horizon Disaster Victim Compensation Fund, and was appointed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to administer the One Fund—the victim assistance fund established in the wake of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. Most recently, Feinberg was retained by General Motors to assist in their recall response and by Volkswagen to oversee their U.S. compensation of VW diesel owners affected by the Volkswagen emissions scandal.
Boston Marathon
In his book titled “What is Life Worth?”, Feinberg describes the eight-part plan which was applied to approaching the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. Feinberg explains the well-thought–out process that must go into each decision, while addressing the most important question that comes after a tragedy, why compensate at all? He discusses practical and philosophical problems of using money as a way to tackle wrongs and reveal individual value.
In addition to handling these funds, he is also an adjunct professor at the Columbia University School of Law, University of Pennsylvania Law School, Georgetown University Law Center, New York University School of Law, the University of Virginia School of Law and the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.
To register for the lecture, visit www.fau.edu/llsjupiter.
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