My name is Phoebe von Satis, and I am writing to address a matter of grave concern, both personally and on behalf of countless others who have endured unimaginable losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The effects of this virus have not merely been statistics; they represent real lives, families shattered, and communities left to mourn.
Currently, I am represented by the esteemed law firm Frier Levitt, with attorneys Matthew Modafferi and Jonathan Levitt leading our case. We are a group of plaintiffs, each bearing the heavy burden of losing our loved ones to COVID-19 during its early and most devastating phases, long before the arrival of vaccines that have now allowed many to reclaim a semblance of normalcy. Regrettably, those we lost were subjected to treatments that did not deliver the hoped-for results and instead inflicted further danger.
In the nascent stages of the pandemic, there was a misguided belief that hydroxychloroquine could serve as a beneficial treatment for COVID-19. Encouraging findings from small and uncontrolled studies led to a fleeting sense of hope. However, subsequent comprehensive research and larger randomized controlled trials have decisively debunked these claims. It has since been established that hydroxychloroquine offers no effective treatment or preventive measures against COVID-19. Alarmingly, evidence supports that this drug can have severe adverse effects, particularly when administered in high doses, leading to significant heart-related complications like QTc prolongation and life-threatening arrhythmias.
As a result of the lack of clinical efficacy and the potential dangers inherent in hydroxychloroquine, numerous patients—including my father—were placed in jeopardy without any prospective benefits. My father, Peter Petrassi, was one of the initial employees of the NY MTA to contract COVID-19. He was admitted to Long Island Jewish Hospital and tragically succumbed to the virus mere days later, at the age of 49. At that time, there was no vaccine available, underscoring the stark reality of a pandemic that claimed so many lives prematurely.
For many of us, this endeavor transcends the pursuit of mere financial restitution; it is fundamentally about seeking justice for the lives lost and acknowledging the ongoing trauma faced by our families. We respectfully urge you, Judge Ali, to heed our calls for justice and to encourage the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP) to conduct a thorough and just examination of each claim, abiding by the law. Every plaintiff, including my family, warrants the justice and compensation that the government has pledged to provide in recognition of our suffering.
We thank you for your time and earnest consideration of our circumstances. We place our faith in your dedication to justice and your ability to instigate meaningful reform for those impacted by this catastrophic pandemic.
Sincerely,
Phoebe von Satis
