Why Barasch & McGarry

For nearly 3 decades, the law firm of Barasch & McGarry has been at the forefront of strengthening and protecting the right to secure compensation for injured NYC firefighters, EMT’s, and police officers. We have won many landmark cases in support of injured NYC responders. We continue to fight for firefighters whose job-related injuries force them into early retirement.

Among the firm’s proudest accomplishments are the rights we have secured for thousands of FDNY, NYPD, and EMS workers who came down with illnesses in the aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attacks. Our fierce advocacy for these brave men and women has led to multiple laws being passed, extending monetary compensation and medical benefits to hundreds of thousands of additional 9/11 victims.

We represented James Zadroga, an NYPD detective who developed pulmonary fibrosis as a result of his exposure to the deadly 9/11 toxins. His death and subsequent autopsy helped persuade Congress in 2010 to pass the “James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.” The act reopened the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) to provide benefits to those suffering with the harmful consequences of toxic exposure to the World Trade Center dust.

In 2015, after 68 cancers had been linked to the WTC toxins, Congress reauthorized the Zadroga Act. This extended the WTC Health Program for 75 additional years. But, while the VCF was given an additional $4 billion, the VCF was only extended until December 2020.

From October 2018 through June 2019, several of the attorneys and staff from Barasch & McGarry went to Washington, D.C. over a dozen times, joining scores of first responders and their union representatives, FealGood Foundation volunteers, and comedian and 9/11 advocate Jon Stewart. We advocated on behalf of the entire 9/11 community. It was an honor to be with the Zadroga family, and our client Caryn Pfeiffer, when the U.S Senate overwhelmingly passed the “Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeiffer, & Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund Act.” The law reauthorized and fully funded the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. We were invited to appear at the Rose Garden signing of the permanent extension and full funding of the law on July 30th, 2019.

The firm now represents more than 20,000 responders, downtown residents, office workers, students, and teachers who have been sickened by the 9/11 toxins. We are blessed to be able to help so many people.

We are also very proud of the fact that we have helped direct hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations to the FDNY’s Firefighter Foundation. We take seriously the importance of giving back to those who are so important to our City’s safety. Since the pandemic, Barasch & McGarry has donated over 55,000 masks to every firehouse and EMS station throughout New York City. We have also delivered over 2,500 meals to firefighters and health care workers throughout the metropolitan area.