AMERICAN TRIAL LAWYERS PRESIDENT-ELECT (AND SAN FRANCISCO ATTORNEY) MARY ALEXANDER, ON 6-MONTH TERRORIST ANNIVERSARY MARCH 11, ASSERTS NEED "SENSE OF CLOSURE" FOR VICTIMS' FAMILIES

SAN FRANCISCO VICTIMS' RIGHTS ADVOCATE SAYS 2,000 "TLC" (TRIAL LAWYERS CARE) ATTORNEYS NATIONWIDE PROVIDING FREE AID TO MORE THAN 1,000 TERRORIST VICTIM FAMILIES

(San Francisco, CA) - In marking the six-month anniversary of the September 11 terrorist acts today, Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA) President-Elect Mary Alexander, a leading San Francisco victims' rights attorney who helped to establish a network of 2000 free lawyers to assist the terrorist victims' families, asserted that "the victim compensation federal fund prevents compounding of family tragedies."

More than 2,000 "TLC" (Trial Lawyers Care) volunteer attorneys are providing free aid to more than 1,000 terrorist victim families, with all the families invited, Alexander stated.

"As we mark this sad anniversary, we need to focus on helping the victims' families achieve some sense of closure. Because of the devastating nature of the incidents, no TLC lawyer is taking any money for the work of obtaining assistance from the compensation fund for the families who seek our support," Alexander said.

According to Alexander, ATLA has pressed for creation of the $6 billion fund and the increased amounts per individual announced this week by the Fund's Special Master, Ken Feinberg.  ATLA had advocated in Congress for the creation of the Fund as well as the just announced improvements.  In addition, ATLA has called for a moratorium on lawsuits and sought immediate direct aid to victims' families from the Fund.

Alexander herself has clients from September 11 including the father of a young woman on Flight 93, which crashed in a farm in Pennsylvania en route to Washington because of the courage of the passengers, and the family of a Pentagon worker killed in the events there.

Alexander and ATLA stated that eligible victims and their families - those who suffered physical injury or the loss of a loved one as a direct result of the terrorist acts of September 11 - are urged to contact Trial Lawyers Care toll-free at 888-780-8637, or www.9llLawHelp.org  for more information about the Fund and obtaining a free lawyer.

Source:  Robert Weiner Associates 301-283-0821