Seraphim
06-04-2004, 05:17 PM
NEW YORK (*******) - A New York woman who suffered internal injuries and crushed legs when she was hit by falling debris in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks was awarded $8.6 million by the U.S. Victims Compensation Fund, her lawyer said on Friday.
The award, the biggest such grant yet, was given to 33-year-old Deborah Mardenfeld.
Mardenfeld had just come from a subway under the World Trade Center when falling debris from the second plane to hit the towers split open her back, punctured her intestines, sliced off her buttocks and badly damaged her legs.
She was hospitalized for more than a year, underwent repeated reconstructive surgery and needs more operations.
"It's not like she won the lottery," attorney Guy Smiley said. "She's not jumping for joy. She feels at least comfortable that her economic future is secure."
The fund has settled more than 2,500 personal injury claims. The average award to relatives of victims is about $1.85 million.
The award, the biggest such grant yet, was given to 33-year-old Deborah Mardenfeld.
Mardenfeld had just come from a subway under the World Trade Center when falling debris from the second plane to hit the towers split open her back, punctured her intestines, sliced off her buttocks and badly damaged her legs.
She was hospitalized for more than a year, underwent repeated reconstructive surgery and needs more operations.
"It's not like she won the lottery," attorney Guy Smiley said. "She's not jumping for joy. She feels at least comfortable that her economic future is secure."
The fund has settled more than 2,500 personal injury claims. The average award to relatives of victims is about $1.85 million.