911 Victims sue Port Authority, Silverstein + Westfield

NY Newsday

Sept. 11 Families to Sue Port Authority

By Luis Perez -Staff Writer - June 30

"...Families of Sept. 11 victims will file a lawsuit Monday against the Port Authority to obtain greater public scrutiny in the rebuilding of the former World Trade Center site.

The suit, which will be filed in Supreme Court in Manhattan by The Skyscraper Safety Campaign, asks the court to declare the Port Authority subject to city building and fire codes.

The authority, a bi-state authority created in 1921, has always claimed immunity from local laws because it doesn't fall under one jurisdiction. The campaign, which is a coalition of victims' families, charges that public oversight of the authority help ensure that there will not be structural problems at the new trade center site.

"No building should be above the law," said Sally Regenhard, chairwoman of the group, whose son Christian, a probationary firefighter, died at the trade center collapse. "When the Port Authority acts as a commercial landlord, it should be held to the same standard as private landlords."

The suit, which also is being brought on behalf of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association, Rep. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.) and several community groups, is moving forward despite an effort last month to resolve the issue out of court.

Anthony LoPresti, one of the lawyers representing the families in the lawsuit, said Port Authority officials were asked to sign off on the groups' demands, but refused.

In a letter to the families' lawyers dated June 26, Port Authority lawyer Jeffrey S. Green noted that the agency has signed memorandums of understanding with the fire and buildings departments.

But LoPresti said those agreements do little to influence the authority, which remains immune to fines and mandatory inspections as long as it is not under city jurisdiction.

Greg Trevor, a spokesman for the Port Authority, yesterday said that the authority is "saddened and disappointed that they [the Campaign] have decided to break off discussions, because we share the same goals to ensure that the buildings at the World Trade Center site meet and exceed building and fire codes."

Others named in the suit include the Lower Manhattan Development Corp., trade center leaseholder Silverstein Properties, and trade center retail leaseholder Westfield Group..."

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