Final protocol of Virginia Tech Victim Assistance Program announced

BLACKSBURG, Va., Aug. 16, 2007 – Kenneth Feinberg, who has been advising Virginia Tech leadership on the administration of the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund, announced the final "protocols" for Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund distributions.

The final protocol is posted online. Supporting documents and instructions, including claim forms, are also available on that page.

"I wish to personally thank Mr. Feinberg for his service to Virginia Tech and for his compassionate involvement in the administration of the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund," said Virginia Tech President Charles Steger. "We deeply appreciate his advice and service. With Ken's help we have heard the wishes of the families and those injured. Thanks to Ken we have been able to incorporate many of those ideas in the distribution protocol. The heartaches from these painful losses remain, but we are hopeful this effort can continue the healing process for those most grievously touched by the April 16 tragedy."

Feinberg, who served as "Special Master of the federal September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001," was appointed by Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger to administer distributions of the university's Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund July 6. Feinberg, who worked pro bono for the university, is an attorney and one of the nation's leading experts in mediation and alternative dispute resolution. While in his role as "special master" of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, he developed and promulgated regulations and administered distributions of federal monies to families of the deceased and injured in the terrorist attacks on New York, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Penn.

Kenneth Feinberg can be reached at 202-371-1110.