As America marks the 11th anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center this Tuesday, the World Trade Center property owners have filed an appeal in a New York Federal court in their lawsuit against Massport, American Airlines, United Airlines and other others for lax security measures on the day of 9/11 2001.
Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein has already permitted WTC properties to seek $2.8 billion in damages, however if the judge allows interest to be included in claims, the amount may double. In addition, if the case goes to a jury, the jury could even assign a higher amount in payouts depending on their ruling.
"This could be bigger than your wildest imagination... You don't have any idea what will happen if this goes to a jury. Anything can happen," according to a partner in the Motley Rice law firm, attorney Don Migliori who told the Boston Herald in an interview.
WTC properties claim that they incurred a loss of $8 billion, half of which has been recovered under insurance. However, the owners are still paying for the 99-year lease.
As per the lawsuit, WTC Properties is holding the aviation companies responsible for lax security measures and flawed security protocols particularly because Logan Airport was deemed "category X" which means that the airport was susceptible to the "highest threat of hijackers," as reported by Boston Herald.
With the possibility of the case being handed down to the fate of a jury, experts say that many sealed and confidential information and details regarding the airport's security lapses could be made public.
"This now opens the door for embarrassing information to surface again. Massport is not off the hook. Security at Logan was a joke," said Federal Aviation Administration special agent, Brian Sullivan to the Boston Herald.
Massport has declined to comment.
Today, Americans mark the 11th anniversary of the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center by gathering at the 9/11 memorial site in New York, Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania to honor and pause for the 3,000 lives lost in the attack. As per the tradition the names of all victims will be mentioned.
President Barrack Obama is will attend the service at the Pentagon, while Vice President Joe Biden will speak at the memorial in Shanksville, Pa.
It's been eleven years, but that fatal incident of the two planes crashing into New York's landmark building the World Trade Center still haunt the people of America. Many lives were lost that day and the damage done was irreparable. Another plane crashed the West side of the Pentagon and yet another - Flight 93 crashed in Shanksville, Pa.
