Cancer-stricken Ground Zero worker receives compensation cheque for 0$
68 replies, posted
[quote]CANCER-STRICKEN Ground Zero worker Edgar Galvis has finally received a compensation cheque - for zero dollars.
The New York Post reported the 51-year-old Queens man, who suffered sinus problems and then throat cancer after months of removing toxic debris from the World Financial Center, was relieved to get a cheque in the mail for his court settlement with Merrill Lynch, whose offices he had cleaned.
But he was stunned when he saw the amount: $0.00.
His award had been $10,005, but his lawyers at the firm Worby, Groner, Edelman & Napoli Bern lopped off $2579 for unitemised legal expenses.
Then they took a 33.3 per cent fee of $2124. They also subtracted $352, a fee to the lawyer who referred him.
The remaining $4950 was withheld for unspecified "liens", the letter says.
Mr Galvis thinks this was repayment of workers' compensation for aid.
"I have hit rock bottom," said Mr Galvis, who is jobless and $30,000 in debt.
"I was expecting a cheque, and you can imagine how I felt when I opened it.
"I couldn't believe it. I thought it was a joke."
The father of two, who lives in Glendale with his fiancee and her two kids, said he had to sell his car and relies on relatives for rent.
"I get collection agencies whenever I open the mail. What little credit I had I don't have anymore," he said.
Mr Galvis said he arrived in New York from Bogota, Colombia, in February 2001.
Hired by contractors clearing dust and rubble from Merrill Lynch offices next to Ground Zero, Mr Galvis said he toiled 16 hours a day for six months in a jumpsuit and paper mask that would tear when he sweated.
At $8 an hour, he made close to $800 a week.
In May 2005, a friend gave him a business card passed out by the law firm. A representative came to his home.
"The man told me that more than likely I will get sick and I would get 60 per cent of whatever he won," Mr Galvis said.
"He even mentioned the words 'millions of dollars'."
In April 2010, he got a $10,000 offer. A letter from the law firm said he could expect about $5000 after expenses and fees.
It warned that if his case went to trial and he lost, he could owe the firm up to $100,000 in costs.
He took the settlement.
His claim cited chronic rhinosinusitis and sleep disorders. He was diagnosed with throat cancer last August and began chemotherapy and radiation.
But it was "too late" to adjust his claim.
The total Merrill settlement came to $18 million for about 400 clients, documents show.
Galvis is one of nearly 10,000 Ground Zero workers represented by Napoli Bern, which led talks for a separate settlement with the city for $712 million.
A partner in the firm, Paul Napoli, did not respond to a request for comment.[/quote]
[url]http://www.news.com.au/world/cancer-stricken-ground-zero-worker-receives-compensation-cheque-for-0/story-e6frfkyi-1226105601952[/url]
damn that's just greedy
This is probably a regional thing but I'm assuming that cheque is how you spell check in Austrailian English.
Also he should rob a bank for $1 to get free medicare like that one guy.
Yes that's correct. that's how we spell cheque here in Australia we also spell jail as gaol and ass is arse.
that's disgusting. what a sleezy asshole.
$30,000 in debt with 2 kids, and fucking throat cancer to top it off.
And I bet those lawyers are laughing in their Lincolns with their silk ties throwing his deserved cash in the air.
[QUOTE=tehfrog;31461386]that's disgusting. what a sleezy asshole.[/QUOTE]
I know, I hate Australians :3.
[QUOTE=-n3o-;31461343]Yes that's correct. that's how we spell cheque here in Australia we also spell jail as gaol and ass is arse.[/QUOTE]
no one spells them arse or gaol anymore
All about the money anymore...
[QUOTE=-n3o-;31461343]we also spell jail as gaol[/QUOTE]
who would come up with a word that looks so strange
[QUOTE=cis.joshb;31461436]I know, I hate Australians :3.[/QUOTE]
cool we hate you too
money is not everything.[img]http://snipurl.com/tiuwk[/img]
[QUOTE=RIPBILLYMAYS;31461289]This is probably a regional thing but I'm assuming that cheque is how you spell check in Austrailian English.
Also he should rob a bank for $1 to get free medicare like that one guy.[/QUOTE]
No, "cheque" is English English, not just Australian.
[QUOTE=Hamsterjuice;31461531]cool we hate you too[/QUOTE]
That was meant to be a joke, acting as if:
"That's disgusting, sleazy asshole."
was directed to
"We spell cheque 'cheque' here in Australia."
Sorry for any offence.
ain't no rest for the wicked
[QUOTE=CunningHam;31461827]Good to see everyone is arguing over the spelling of the word check.[/QUOTE]
it's cheque
This reminds me of some Americans who didn't get compensated for their work and were all dying of various diseases. Plus, they were basically going into debt because they kept having to buy overpriced medication so they went to Cuba, got cheap meds and free healthcare. Maybe this guy should go to Cuba?
My mom told me to be a lawyer.
Fuck that.
well schlock mercenary has the right idea: shoot the lawyers.
Don't cheques have to at minimum be $5 ?
[QUOTE=Unreliable;31462053]My mom told me to be a lawyer.
Fuck that.[/QUOTE]
you know
you could be like
a good lawyer and not do bad things
[editline]1st August 2011[/editline]
but yeah being a lawyer would suck i feel ya man
Hate this world.
[QUOTE=skynrdfan3;31461528]who would come up with a word that looks so strange[/QUOTE]
whoever they are I'm sure they'd say the same about "jail"
Things like this are fucking embarrassing for my country, I know there are much worse places to be but it's like we can't even fucking take care of our heroes anymore.
[QUOTE=Killer900;31462366]Hate this world.[/QUOTE]
Whenever people tell me that, I tell them to be the change they want to see.
This is too terrible.
What a wonderful greedy world we live in!
A couple of things here:
He's 30k in the hole, even if he got the full 10k he's still be 20k in the hole. That amount of money was not going to improve his life one bit.
About half the money is being held for 'liens'. This means someone he owes money to is trying to collect. So once again, even if every cent goes to him, his creditors would take it all before he sees one dime.
As soon as those towers came down everyone knew the debris would cause health problems. People taking jobs there did so knowing they were putting their health at risk. It's a gamble, risk your health but make steady money or don't risk your health and give up a sure job.
[quote]
In May 2005, a friend gave him a business card passed out by the law firm. A representative came to his home.
"The man told me that more than likely I will get sick and I would get 60 per cent of whatever he won," Mr Galvis said.
"He even mentioned the words 'millions of dollars'."
In April 2010, he got a $10,000 offer. A letter from the law firm said he could expect about $5000 after expenses and fees.
It warned that if his case went to trial and he lost, he could owe the firm up to $100,000 in costs.
He took the settlement.
His claim cited chronic rhinosinusitis and sleep disorders. He was diagnosed with throat cancer last August and began chemotherapy and radiation.
But it was "too late" to adjust his claim.
The total Merrill settlement came to $18 million for about 400 clients, documents show.
[/quote]
And a heaping pile of regret to top it all off.
The only people who win lawsuits are the lawyers.
Nice to know that Congress finally passed a bill to provide healthcare for...oh, no, wait, they decided to exempt CANCER. :rolleyes:
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