TheinspirationfortheNetflixfilm’Worth,’starringMichaelKeaton,StanleyTucci,andAmyRyan:thetruestoryofthemanputinchargeofthe9/11VictimCompensationFund,andatestamenttotheenduringpoweroffamily,grief,love,fear,frustration,andcourage.JustdaysafterSeptember11,2001,KennethFeinbergwasappointedtoadministerthefederal9/11VictimCompensationFund,aunique,unprecedentedfundestablishedbyCongresstocompensatefamilieswholostalovedoneon9/11andsurvivorswhowerephysicallyinjuredintheattacks.ThosewhoparticipatedintheFundwererequiredtowaivetheirrighttosuetheairlinesinvolvedintheattacks,aswellasotherpotentiallyresponsibleentities.Whentheprogramwaslaunched,manyfamiliescriticizeditasabrazen,tight-fistedattempttoprotecttheairlinesfromlawsuits.TheFundwasalsoattackedasattemptingtoputinsultingdollarvaluesonthelivesoflostlovedones.Thefamilieswereinpain.Andtheywereangry.Overthecourseofthenextthreeyears,Feinbergspentalmostallofhistimemeetingwiththefamilies,convincingthemofthegenerosityandcompassionoftheprogram,andcalculatingappropriateawardsforeachandeveryclaim.TheFundprovedtobeadramaticsuccesswithover97%ofeligiblefamiliesparticipating.ItalsoprovidedimportantlessonsforFeinberg,whobecamethefilter,thearbitrator,andthetargetoffamilysuffering.Feinberglearnedabouttheenduringpoweroffamilygrief,love,fear,faith,frustration,andcourage.Mostimportantly,helearnedthatnocheck,nomatterhowlarge,couldmakethefamiliesandvictimsof9/11wholeagain.
