Nov 12, 2001 CHARGES FLY OVER AILING ZIFF DAVIS "This is an absolute malicious lie," said Mr. Dunning's attorney Blair Fensterstock, when asked to comment on such charges. "I have evidence to prove that right now, and we will." "I just think it's outrageous that a vulture capitalist like Avy Stein would breach representation to an honorable and successful executive like Jim Dunning, when Jim has made Avy probably a billion dollars," said Mr. Fensterstock. While no court dates are currently scheduled, Mr. Fensterstock said that "we may get some interesting decisions by the end of the year." Jon Fine, Charges Fly Over Ailing Ziff Davis, AVERTISING AGE, Nov. 12, 2001.

    Nov 7, 2001 DUNNING US WRONG. SUIT: ZIFF BOSS HIRED HIS GIRLFRIEND, SPENT LAVISHLY. Blair Fensterstock, the attorney representing Dunning in his $300 million breach of contract and defamation suit, blasted back against the Willis Stein claims. "Their allegations are treacherous and insidious misrepresentations in their continuing campaign of defamation against Mr. Dunning," he said. Keith J. Kelly, Dunning Us Wrong. Suit: Ziff Boss Hired His Girlfriend, Spent Lavishly, N.Y. POST, Nov. 7, 2001.

    Nov 6, 2001 OUSTED CEO IN COURT WAR WITH FORMER BACKERS. "Jim Dunning is going to win a lot of money -- he's been badly wronged," said Dunning's attorney, Blair Fensterstock.

    Oct 10, 2001 LAWSUIT FREEZE PROMISES SPEEDY RELIEF "I can't put a number on this one, it's too large. I can't even imagine what it might be," said Blair C. Fensterstock of New York, one of 20 attorneys for the World Trade Center Bombing Litigation Steering Committee representing victims of the 1993 truck bombing of the center, which still is an open case. "I think the moratorium was a valiant and noble effort to allow victims time to digest the horrific ramifications of this attack, and to suggest to lawyers that they sit back, bide some time, and allow that process to occur," Mr. Fensterstock said. "We did finally get the documents that would prove liability by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey," Mr. Fensterstock said, explaining the theory that the building was a magnet for terrorists. "[They] proved conclusively the World Trade Center was the building most likely to be bombed in the United States." Those 75 documents were stripped of what New York's highest court called "security-sensitive" data on threats other than the truck bomb, but Mr. Fensterstock said the Port Authority clearly considered the risk that an airliner could crash there, even if not necessarily in a deliberate act of terror, and had been on notice of the buildings' attraction for terrorists from arguments in the 1993 case. "For one thing, it is absolutely clear that when the Port Authority designed the World Trade Center it boasted that it could withstand a crash of a 707," he said. Frank J. Murray, Lawsuit Freeze Promises Speedy Relief, WASH. TIMES, Oct. 10, 2001.

    Oct 8, 2001 '93 LAWSUITS UNSETTLED. TRADE CENTER CAR BOMB VICTIMS STILL WAITING. "Their own experts had predicted that of all of the buildings in the United States likely to be bombed by a terrorist, the World Trade Center was the most likely," said Blair Fensterstock, lead lawyer for the plaintiffs. Helen Peterson, '93 Lawsuit Unsettled. Trade Center Car Bomb Victims Still Waiting, DAILY NEWS, Oct. 8, 2001.

    Oct 8, 2001 SUITS PENDING FROM '93 TRADE CENTER BLAST "The position we always put forth was that the World Trade Center was the target for terrorists," said Blair Fensterstock, of New York's Fensterstock & Partners, who chairs the plaintiffs' steering committee in the 1993 bombing cases. The Port Authority "downplayed that." Bob Van Voris, Suits Pending from '93 Trade Center Blast, NAT'L. L.J., Oct. 8, 2001.

    Oct 4, 2001 DILEMMA FOR FAMILIES: QUICK CLAIM OR COURT? Blair Fensterstock, the lead attorney in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing suit, said his "guess is that by going through the court, you're going to get many multiples of what you would if you were going through the fund." Any negligence verdict that has come down in the past, he said, is going to pale in comparison. However, Broder and Fensterstock argue that the time and effort involved with a lawsuit may prompt a larger payoff over the long run. Fensterstock, who is still awaiting a trial date for the 1993 bombing, said the decision will be highly personal. "If it is important for you to get this behind you and get paid quickly but not as much, sue the claim fund," he said. "If it is important for you to ... discuss the problems thoroughly and to obtain proper compensation, then litigation is the proper route." The two sides also disagree on whether high civil verdicts will be paid in full, with Boyle saying there is a limited pot to draw from and Fensterstock saying challenges will go well beyond the airlines, making the payout potential "huge, almost bottomless." Karen Freifeld, Dilemma for Families: Quick Claim or Court?, NEWSDAY, Oct. 4, 2001.

    Sep 30, 2001 LITIGATION THREATENS TO ENTANGLE RECOVERY. Eight years after that bombing, the case has yet to be heard. Blair Fensterstock, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs, says the delay is the fault of the Port Authority. The agency resisted turning over a series of internal reports that showed its officials not only anticipated a terrorist attack, but also predicted it would be carried out with a bomb in a parking lot. "I would hope that the judicial system would permit us to move much quicker in this situation," Fensterstock says. "Discovery can move a lot faster than the first time." The Port Authority is a likely target for suit in the latest attack, Fensterstock says -- particularly because an announcement made in the south tower after the first plane hit told workers it was safe to return to their offices. Moments later, a jet hit that building, which subsequently collapsed. "Those people should be compensated, clearly, as a result of that announcement," the lawyer says. "They could have gotten out and didn't." Kate Shatazkin, Litigation Threatens to Entangle Recovery, BALT. SUN, Sept. 30, 2001.

    Sep 19, 2001 LAWSUITS FROM ATTACKS LIKELY TO BE IN THE BILLIONS. "Right now is not the time to initiate litigation," said Manhattan attorney Blair Fensterstock. "It's more important to rebuild the country. On the other hand there have been lives that have been disrupted and lost and families that will be left destitute as a result of this tragedy." The amount of litigation should be enormous -- "thousands and thousands of lawsuits involving billions and billions," of dollars said Fensterstock. It may be years before these cases are tried. Fensterstock knows. He is the lead plaintiff attorney in a lawsuit brought by more than 400 individuals against the Port Authority for the 1993 WTC bombing. Eight years later that case is still pending in Manhattan Supreme Court. Robert Gearty, Lawsuits From Attacks Likely To Be in the Billions, DAILY NEWS, Sept. 19, 2001.

    Sep 17, 2001 WHO PAYS THE DAMAGES FOR SEPT. 11? The first World Trade Center bombing killed six people, yet resulted in 500 lawsuits by 700 individuals, businesses, and insurance companies, asking for $500 million in damages, says Blair Fensterstock, lead attorney in the case. Eight years later, the case is still not finished. In the WTC case, Fensterstock says, attorneys limited their fees to 6 percent, instead of the 33 percent that is the norm. Or, as in the case of medical malpractice, legislators may enact laws limiting attorney fees. Blair Fensterstock, the lead plaintiffs' lawyer, says the parties rae waiting for a trial date, which is unlikely this year. "I would think there would have to be a special tribunal set up for this," Fensterstock says. "This is not something that the judiciary should allow to clog up the courts." Seth Stern, Who Pays Damages for Sept. 11?, CHRISTIAN SCI. MONITOR, Sept. 17, 2001.

    Sep 14, 2001 LAWSUITS LINGER YEARS AFTER FIRST WORLD TRADE CENTER ATTACK. The litigation, consolidated before New York County State Supreme Court Justice Stanley Sklar, includes more than 400 personal injury and business interruption claims, according to Blair Fensterstock, lead attorney for the companies and individuals bringing the suits. "The initial World Trade Center case is continuing," Fensterstock said. "The plaintiff steering committee has completed discovery on liability. We are getting ready for trial." Fensterstock finally won access to some of the documents last year, among them parts of a 1986 study of World Trade Center security that suggested an attack by a vehicle loaded with explosives was the most likely threat. The study also recommended eliminating public parking at the center. Claude Solnik, Lawsuits Linger Years After First World Trade Center Attack, FIN. & COM., Sept. 14, 2001.

    Sep 6, 2001 JIM DUNNING SUES ZIFF DAVIS HOLDINGS Jim Dunning, ex-Chairman of Ziff Davis Holdings sues Ziff Davis Holdings for in excess of $50 million. Fensterstock & Partners LLP represents the plaintiff.

    Feb 6, 2001 PERSONAL PATH SYSTEMS, INC. SUES PRICEWATERHOUSE COOPERS Personal Path Systems, Inc., privacy softare company, sues Pricewaterhouse Coopers for conversion of proprietary privacy solution model. Fensterstock & Partners LLP represents the plaintiff.

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