†Archived News -- April 2004

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April 30, 2004

On April 30, the NY Post, NY Newsday, and the Wall Street Journal provided more details on Silverstein's insurance verdict, in which he lost his case against eight out of 12 insurers. From the print edition of the Wall Street Journal article, "Jury's Decision Leaves Rebuilding of World Trade Center in Turmoil," (online access requires a paid subscription): "It's time for Plan B at Ground Zero..." The Journal article said his loss, "signals the possible end of Mr. Silverstein's role as lead developer of the highly symbolic site."

Full detail about the case as it stands today is available in the NY Newsday story, "$1-billion verdict," while the NY Post story, "Silverstein $lammed," provides a more condensed version.

NY Newsday: "$1-billion Verdict: Jury Rules in Favor of Insurance Companies, Meaning Leaseholder Silverstein will Have Less for Construction," by Errol A. Cockfield

NY Post: "Silverstein $lammed," by William Neuman



April 29, 2004

On April 29, Crains NY Business reported that Larry Silverstein lost his double-settlement insurance case against eight out of 12 insurers, representing $1.1 billion in coverage. They were bound by the Wilprop form, which regards the Twin Towers attack as a singular incident. Three of the insurers, representing $176 million were ruled to be bound by the Traveler's form. The Traveler's form definition of the Twin Tower attack will be determined in a later trial. A verdict has not been reached yet regarding Swiss Re, which represents $878 million in coverage. This means that Silverstein won the right to go to a second trial on roughly 14% of the coverage where verdicts have been reached, and lost 86%.

Crains NY Business: "WTC Verdicts Unanimous for all but Swiss Re"



April 25, 2004

On April 25, the Washington Post published a letter to the editor from Stuart Gosswein questioning the non-use of the Twin Towers' exterior skin in any official memorial planning. "Now they are not even on a draft list of historic WTC elements subject to protection under a federal law. Instead, their fate is to be chopped up and displayed in an underground museum. The most tangible and evocative visual symbols of 9/11 will disappear if this occurs. Despite a federal law to save objects of national significance, two of the tallest buildings in the world will have no preserved vertical elements," he wrote.

Washington Post Letters: "What about the World Trade Center Facades?" by Stuart Gosswein



April 12, 2004

On April 12, TTT went to Rutgers University, by invitation of author and Rutgers Professor, Angus Kress Gillespie, Ph.D. from the American Studies Department, to make a presentation to his American Studies class. Dr. Gillespie is the author of Twin Towers: The Life of New York City's World Trade Center.† The public was not allowed to attend as this was a private class at Rutgers University. The class took place on April 12th and discussed "technology". Jonathan Hakala and Ken Gardner both spoke to the class, which included 150 students. Ken Gardner presented the model for the† Plan of the People and was met with huge enthusiasm from the entire class. At the end of the presentation and question and answer period, there were absolutely no sentiments of opposition at all. Students came on stage to take a closer look at the model and continued to ask Ken and Jon questions.† The outcome of this event is very telling as the Rutgers class was an impartial audience, who were not aware of all the goings on surrounding the rebuilding issues. We feel this is a very positive step in the right direction as we continue to educate the public and provide a voice for the people. Many thanks to Professor Gillespie for inviting us and being a wonderful host. Also many thanks to TTT members Fred J. De Vito who offered to video tape the event and David Kelly who took photographs, which will be seen on the TTT website shortly.