Are you Eligible for the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF)?

Jared Levine, Managing Partner of Morgan Levine Dolan, P.C. , tells the Patch about his personal involvement with the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund and explains why he decided to pursue a career in law.

Patch: What is your definition of success?

Jared: In my line of work, I've defined success as when you have fought as hard as possible for the rights of a client whose world has been turned upside down after a life altering injury, and achieved a result which exceeded his or her expectations. We all know life will throw us a curve ball every so often. Some events will happen which could change the trajectory of our plans and future. We have all been confronted by such situations. I have lived my life under the mantra of not allowing a single event to alter my goals and dreams in a negative way.

When I meet a new client and their family, they are usually in the beginning stages of going through one of the worst periods of their lives. They have suffered injuries which have caused them tremendous pain. They get diagnosed with cancer or other illnesses through no fault of their own. Maybe they have lost the ability to walk or talk. Maybe they can no longer work or provide for their children, spouses or parents.

They come to us for legal representation, but the truth is there are hundreds, if not thousands, of law firms out there who are very good at the practice of personal injury law and mass tort litigation (there are many who try to make a quick buck as well and those should be avoided at all costs.). Our law firm takes pride in separating ourselves from all the other law firms by offering not just legal representation, but also counseling for clients and their family members to ensure they know they are not alone. We make sure they know we are there to guide them away from those traps and paths which could make this life altering event worse than it needs to be.

When we give this kind of support, we make sure they get back on that path they chose before the injury occurred. Coupled with providing the excellent legal representation they deserve by exceeding their expectations, this is how I define success.

Patch: What inspired you to pursue a career in law?

Jared: At an early age, I always looked up to people who were able to explain things to me which, for whatever reason, I could not comprehend. Of course there were a lot of teachers who fit this mold, but I was more enamored with people who stepped into the shoes of the underdog and took the time and energy to lend a helping hand. Whether it be a police officer, fireman, doctor, coach or religious figure, it always left an impression on me that if I had the ability to fight for someone who didn't have a voice, I would. I became inspired to become an attorney when I witnessed several legal situations of people around me while growing up. I saw how scared and confused they were and how after meeting and retaining an attorney, they immediately felt less stressed, more comfortable and confident. The attorneys helped educate them about the perils of certain legal situations, and prospects for a brighter future. Once I saw this first hand, I was sold on learning the law and help explain these laws to people in need. And this was all before I was 10 years old.

Patch: Can you tell us a little bit about your background and experience?

Jared: I was born and raised in New York and have been practicing personal injury law since I graduated law school in 2000. I focused on litigation during my law school years and was thrown right into the fast-paced New York City personal injury litigation field from day one. I started our firm with my partner Duane Morgan in 2008 after he and I worked together at a law firm for several years. In 2013, one of our mentors from the old firm joined our practice, Glenn Dolan, and Morgan Levine Dolan was born.

Patch: If you had to recommend three books to someone, what would they be and why?

Jared: "The World Is Flat" by Thomas Friedman. This is one of the best books in recent years to read for anyone who thinks they cannot achieve something because of their upbringing or background. The book opened my eyes to how technology and the Internet have greatly equalized caste systems in our generation and that anything is possible no matter what they say, or if the odds are against you.

I have recommended this book to many of my clients who feel their future is bleak because of a career ending injury or illness. I remind them anything is possible in this new interconnected world regarding career changes and medical advancements.

"Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse. I was turned onto this book by one of my law school professors (I'm sure I was supposed to have read this is high school, but following assignments back then was not on the top of to do list).

I had just won a national mock trial with a very seasoned debater and felt on top of the world. While my professor was proud of the victory, he did not appreciate some of my trial tactics and attitude. He told me to take the weekend and read "Siddhartha."

I've read "Siddhartha" a couple of times since those days to remind myself to continue to remain conscious of other people's feelings as I tried to build my career and knowledge of the law.

This book talks a lot about knowledge and wisdom and soul searching. In representing victims of serious injuries, I have a lot of "why me" conversations. Most of my clients, after reaching their respective low points in recovery, rebound with a new perspective on life and the things that matter. Not unlike the main character in this book.

"A Prayer for Owen Meany" by John Irving. This is a true underdog story from start to finish. The book sheds light into the mind of what would appear to be a severely disadvantaged boy. The story highlights several social injustices and forces the reader to remain self-aware of other people's feelings and circumstances.

This book was given to me by my wife in the earlier years as an attorney. She knew I was sitting on trains and in courtrooms all day waiting for my various court appearances. Not only was it a great book to read, it's now also a reminder of how important a support system is to have around you. Especially in situations where people are injured and they need to lean on the love and support of family.

Patch: Can you tell us a little bit about the background of the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund

Jared: The 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund, or VCF, was set up to provide medical treatment and financial compensation for the hundreds of thousands of people who are sick from exposure to toxins at Ground Zero, as well as those sick from exposures at the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania sites. Unfortunately, the latency period often associated with diagnosing cancer has created a potential hurdle in appropriately compensating individuals who may die or become ill in the future as a result of their exposure following 9/11.

In 2015, the fund was reauthorized and many new cancers and illnesses were added to the list of sickness caused by the unsafe and toxic air in the months following 9/11.

Patch: How did you get involved with the issue?

Jared: Our law firm became involved with the VCF after meeting with several survivors and first responders who worked on the pile at Ground Zero. After hearing their stories, we realized the public was not properly educated on the zone of danger of exposure to the toxic air following 9/11. We knew it was our duty to make sure anyone who worked or lived south of Canal Street in the 8 months after 9/11 knew of the benefits available to them in the VCF.

Patch: Where were you on 9/11?

Jared: On 9/11, I was on my way to Kings County Supreme Court for a court appearance. I was walking over the Brooklyn Bridge because the subway wasn't running. I was trying to get to my office on Maiden Lane about four blocks from World Trade Center. As I was walking over the bridge, the first tower fell.

My office was closed for about two weeks after 9/11. Once my office reopened, I worked downtown everyday. I still recall the smell of the air. Even though we were told the air was safe, we all could tell something wasn't right. But all of us relied upon what we were told and continued to work and commute south of Canal Street in the months and years following 9/11.

Several of my colleagues and friends with whom I worked with at the time came down with illnesses: Asthma, COPD, skin cancer, prostate cancer, thyroid cancer and many other sicknesses. We all thought you needed to be a first responder who worked on the pile at Ground Zero in order to be eligible to access the VCF. This was not the case at all.

Patch: Who is eligible to access the fund?

Jared: Anyone who worked or lived south of Canal Street for 80 hours or more between 9/11/01 and 5/30/02.

Patch: Can readers receive access to the fund on behalf of a relative or loved one?

Jared: Yes, readers can receive access to the fund on behalf of a relative or loved one. All that is needed is some proof of being south of Canal Street during that time and a medical diagnoses of suffering from any of the covered illnesses. Many people have been submitted an affidavit of a friend, neighbor or coworker as proof of exposure during that time.

Patch: How can readers contact you or learn more about the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund?

Jared: We can be reached at 212-785-5115 or via email at jlevine@mldlegal.com. More information is available at our website www.mldlegal.com.