Kenneth Feinberg - What's a Life Worth?

BRAVE JOURNEYS with TAMMI FARADAY

My next guest, Kenneth Feinberg, literally stopped me in my tracks.

Ken is a prominent attorney, a world-renowned MEDIATOR and the one time chief of staff of the late U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy. But when we all stood still on 9/11 after one of the most horrific terrorist attacks the world has ever seen, Ken stood up and wanted – indeed asked - to be counted.

Ken was appointed as the Special Master of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund just a few weeks after the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon.

In this role, Ken met with nearly every family who was a victim of 9/11 at the absolute height of their grief. He listened. He empathised. He held space for their sorrow. He travelled the length and breadth of the country to make it easier for families to meet with him. He enlisted the support of others, including clergy, when victims’ families were simply too broken to apply for their share of the Fund. He even offered to fill in the forms on behalf of the victims.

Whilst Ken could never return a father to a grieving child, or a son to an inconsolable mother, or a husband to a pregnant wife, what he could do was ensure that some of victims’ dreams would continue in their absence and that financial hardship would not be another challenge for these all, but shattered, families.

Ken presided over this unprecedented Fund that ultimately awarded over $7.1 billion DOLLARS of public taxpayer money to the families of 2,983 killed and approximately 2,400 physically injured and maimed, in the most devastating of ways on 9/11.

The administration of this Fund took 33 months. Ken Feinberg was never paid a cent for his efforts, insisting he take on the role on a pro bono basis. His epic story, now memorialised in his memoir – WHAT IS LIFE WORTH – has inspired the extraordinary Netflix film WORTH starring Michael Keaton and Stanley Tucci.

On a more personal note, from the first instance I had the pleasure of coming across Ken, I have been overwhelmed by his warmth, generosity and his impeccable character. His Solomonic efforts in fighting for fair for every single claimant is just incredible.

So it is with immense humility and gratitude that I welcome Kenneth R Feinberg to the BRAVE JOURNEYS family.

This is Ken’s story….

BUT BEFORE YOU GO…

Find out more about Ken here

Find Ken’s books here

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1. a person of integrity and honour.

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CREDITS:

Creator, Host & Executive Producer: Tammi Faraday

With thanks to my special guest: Kenneth R Feinberg

Audio Editor: Zoltan Fecso

With very special thanks to George Weinberg and Ursula Ferguson

BRAVE JOURNEYS acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we record this podcast on, the Yaluk-ut Weelam Clan of the Boon Wurrung who are part of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respect to their Elders, both past, present and