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| World Trade Center owners fail in bid to claim more damages from airlines | World Trade Center owners fail in bid to claim more damages from airlines |
| (2 months later) | |
| The owners of the World Trade Center cannot demand billions of dollars more in insurance money for the destruction caused by the September 11 attacks, a federal judge decided Thursday. | The owners of the World Trade Center cannot demand billions of dollars more in insurance money for the destruction caused by the September 11 attacks, a federal judge decided Thursday. |
| Judge Alvin Hellerstein ruled after hearing testimony by economic experts for the trade center owners and for the airlines linked to the planes that were hijacked in the attacks. The non-jury trial was held to decide whether the owners of the owners could collect more than the nearly $5bn they've already received toward reconstruction. | Judge Alvin Hellerstein ruled after hearing testimony by economic experts for the trade center owners and for the airlines linked to the planes that were hijacked in the attacks. The non-jury trial was held to decide whether the owners of the owners could collect more than the nearly $5bn they've already received toward reconstruction. |
| In ruling against developer Larry Silverstein and World Trade Center Properties, Hellerstein cited state laws that bar "windfalls and double recovery on the same loss." | In ruling against developer Larry Silverstein and World Trade Center Properties, Hellerstein cited state laws that bar "windfalls and double recovery on the same loss." |
| The judge said that though he was ruling against the trade center owners, they deserved credit for spearheading the recovery effort at the site. | The judge said that though he was ruling against the trade center owners, they deserved credit for spearheading the recovery effort at the site. |
| "You were dealt a very severe blow," he said of the attack that turned the trade center into an inferno. Since then, the developer's workers have labored to "create beauty out the ashes of the destruction," he added. | "You were dealt a very severe blow," he said of the attack that turned the trade center into an inferno. Since then, the developer's workers have labored to "create beauty out the ashes of the destruction," he added. |
| The plaintiffs' lawyers said they would appeal the decision. | The plaintiffs' lawyers said they would appeal the decision. |
| During the four-day proceeding, Silverstein's attorneys had insisted that the aviation companies owed at least $3.5bn for letting hijackers board planes that destroyed three skyscrapers on 9/11: the prominent twin towers, and 7 World Trade Center, a 47-story building that caught fire after debris from one of the jet crashes pierced its facade. It collapsed hours later. | During the four-day proceeding, Silverstein's attorneys had insisted that the aviation companies owed at least $3.5bn for letting hijackers board planes that destroyed three skyscrapers on 9/11: the prominent twin towers, and 7 World Trade Center, a 47-story building that caught fire after debris from one of the jet crashes pierced its facade. It collapsed hours later. |
| Attorney Roger Podesta, speaking for companies including United Airlines, US Airways, American Airlines and its parent company, AMR, had argued that making aviation companies pay would amount to double compensation. | Attorney Roger Podesta, speaking for companies including United Airlines, US Airways, American Airlines and its parent company, AMR, had argued that making aviation companies pay would amount to double compensation. |
| He said an $8.5b total recovery would be more than two and a half times the fair value of the buildings that fell. | He said an $8.5b total recovery would be more than two and a half times the fair value of the buildings that fell. |
| But attorney Richard Williamson, representing World Trade Center Properties, said damages from the attacks had totaled at least $7.2bn. | But attorney Richard Williamson, representing World Trade Center Properties, said damages from the attacks had totaled at least $7.2bn. |
| The trade center owners say it has cost more than $7bn to replace the twin towers and more than $1bn to replace the third trade center building that fell. | The trade center owners say it has cost more than $7bn to replace the twin towers and more than $1bn to replace the third trade center building that fell. |
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