Lawyer Says Just 1 9/11 Victim's Family Likely To Air Evidence At Civil Trial

Lawyer says just 1 9-11 victim's family likely to air evidence from WTC attacks at civil trial

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...,4095882.story

LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press Writer
January 6, 2010 | 3:23 p.m.

NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly completed settlements of two of the remaining three lawsuits brought by families of victims of the Sept. 11 terrorism attacks are likely to include language requiring evidence to be displayed at the National 9/11 Memorial & Museum, a lawyer said Wednesday.

Attorney Mary Schiavo said the public display of evidence collected for trial by lawyers in the case was important to the families.

She called the museum a fitting place for it and said the materials were likely to be put in the museum's reading room.

She commented outside a court hearing where lawyers announced they had settled 15 of 18 property damage cases stemming from the terrorism attacks for an undisclosed amount, including claims by the Windows on the World restaurant.

U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein said he expects he will insist the amounts be made public later because of the "extreme public interest" in the cases.

Schiavo said families were close to settling cases stemming from the deaths of Sara Low, 28, a Boston-based flight attendant who died when American Airlines Flight 11 struck the World Trade Center, and Barbara Keating, 72, of Palm Springs, Fla., who was also aboard American Flight 11.

The lawyer said the remaining family was unlikely to settle its case on behalf of Mark Bavis, 31, of West Newton, Mass., a scout for the Los Angeles Kings professional hockey team. He was aboard United Flight 175, which also struck the World Trade Center.

"The family since day one has said they want their day in court," she said.

The family's lawsuit may soon be all that remains of 95 lawsuits brought on behalf of 96 victims who chose to reject a special fund Congress established that distributed more than $7 billion to more than 5,000 survivors.

Most families choosing to sue had loved ones who were killed on planes that were hijacked by terrorists.