What’s a life worth? That’s the central question in the movie “Worth,” a true story about the lawyers who distributed the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund. It’s a job most people would run from, but Ken Feinberg and Camile Biros not only volunteered for the task but did so pro bono as their contribution to the country in its time of tragedy.
I’ve read and watched a lot about 9/11 but this movie added a new dimension I had not considered before. Should the payout be based on earnings or potential earnings? Should custodians receive the same as executives? Should the number of dependents be taken into account? All these and many more questions had to be resolved without a playbook to guide them.
Volunteering for one incredibly complex and sensitive job created a model that was unfortunately put to use again and again as they became the firm to distribute compensation in the Boeing 737 MAX crashes, BP Deep Water Horizon oil spill, Boston Marathon bombings, Catholic Church sexual abuse claims, and multiple shootings including Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook, Aurora Colorado, and the Orlando Pulse Night Club.
If you want a discussion starter or an example of complexity, this movie is for you. It’s also a reminder that doing hard things — and doing things you aren’t sure you know how to do — is really the only way to learn them. Knowledge gained always has worth.
