Sunday, July 01, 2007
 A hearing in lawsuits filed regarding 9/11 was held in federal court last week. A 9/11 trial report from OnlineJournal.com Jun 29, 2007: "The usual suspects have been rounded up, lawyers for the airlines, the plaintiffs, a US attorney, fewer citizen onlookers, including myself, notebook open. Yet what I will hear will leave me as chagrined as June 14’s double-sized gathering reported in The 9/11 Victim's Compensation Fund: cui bono?
This time, Judge Hellerstein is to announce a number of remaining victims’ cases to be tried for victims’ families that have not accepted fund money, but wish to take their loved one’s case to court for further inquiry, perhaps even for justice. Judge Hellerstein reminds the room that "the value of settling [for the money] has run its course." And so? We are left with those who see some principle to stand for in a court trial, in discovery. In questioning how and why, for instance, their loved ones, how nearly 3,000, were murdered...
the money won't help those folks, those holdouts, get through the day and over the loss. Yet despite that fact, the good judge tells us, admitting it will probably come back to haunt him, "that money is the universal lubricant." Ah yes, so let's get to the greasing and make things turn. It’s going on six years since 9/11 and these hearings are still around.
That reminder leads the judge to a somber lecture that “life is short. And out of the mundane you can fashion something different, a memory for a different degree of pain for each person. Fashion a life beyond the pain. In fact, what is the fairest, most efficient way to get on with our lives? And if the opportunity comes, take it. We are not trying to cut short values or justice. But we have to get past 9/11. Let it go.” That is, despite the unanswered questions, despite these hearings, despite the massive sway of the media to swallow it all and buy the myth like a suit.
Then, rather than announce the cases chosen, the good judge asks both teams of lawyers what is the quickest, most efficient way to have some cases heard and -- subtext -- the whole bunch over with
[...]
when one of the lawyers stands and insists his client’s wish for trial is based on principle, not on money, the judge recites an anecdote. He remembers that when he was a lawyer and clients came to him, saying it was not the money, it was the principle for which they were bringing suit, that when his first bill came, it was a matter of money, how much would it cost, and soon the principle went out the window.
One wonders first how scalding his hourly was, and second what has brought him to this degree of cynicism about his own life’s work...
----- Labels: 9/11
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