Legal Question in Employment Law in New York

9/11 rescue recovery worker question

i worked at ground zero for the port authority of new york/new jersey doing rescue and recovery, etc.

i got sick w/ post tramatic stress disorder and depression.

approximately a year later ( the day before thanksgiving of 2002) i was suspended pending an arbitration hearing.

over a year after my suspention, the port authority and a union lawyer went ahead and had the arbitration meeting w/o telling me & as a result, i was fired.

the eeoc said that they couldnt help me because they went by new jersey law stating that i only had 90 days to file w/ them ; and this is after the eeoc told me that i had 180 days to file w/ them.

the port authority also didnt follow the union memorandum, and what should of been a warning, skipped steps and went straight to suspention.

as a result, i got much sicker and then lost everything i had, and even becoming homeless for a while.

i have most, if not all the documentation including minutes from hearing, false charges,doctors paperwork, ADA,etc.

i would like to know if i still have enough time to file lawsuits against the port authority and the union( union for misrepresentation, etc.

the lawyer or law firm would have to be specialist in employment and labor issues.

i now get ss disability


Asked on 7/18/09, 9:55 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
John W. DeHaan DeHaanBusse LLP

Re: 9/11 rescue recovery worker question

With regard to your employment related questions, my firm does not handle those types of claims. Our practice focuses on disability claims under federal and state law.

However, you may be eligible for specific WTC benefits. For example, the NYS Retirement System has a presumption for rescue and recovery workers, but the deadline to file a notice that you may have a claim is September 11, 2010. Some deadlines may have already passed. I urge you to contact an attorney to find out what benefits you may be entitled to as soon as possible.

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Answered on 7/20/09, 3:59 pm


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