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O'Reilly Doing Devastating Expose on Cantor Fitzgerald Tonight
The O'Reilly Factor/Fox News | truthkeeper

Posted on 10/04/2001 5:42:56 PM PDT by truthkeeper

Did anyone watch O'Reilly's opening segment? He's exposing an awful story concerning the shabby treatment of surviving family members of Cantor Fitzgerald, the firm that lost 700 of the 1,000 employees in the attack on the towers.

His guests were one of the widows, Linda Fiori, and a writer named MacDonald of Forbes Magazine. The firm CEO, Howard Luttman (not sure about the pronunciation/spelling, maybe someone can correct), has been all over the airwaves crying and carrying on the past couple of weeks about how he is desperately trying to help the stricken families. (I personally saw him on Larry King a couple of weeks ago sobbing away.) The man has been begging for business and donations, saying he's pledging 25% of future business for the families. He presented them as a close-knit, devoted, and caring group; "we're like a family here."

Mrs. Fiore, however, revealed that she has never been contacted by Luttman, even after she called his house and spoke to his wife (or possibly the maid; in any event she was told "I'll have him call you back."). She hasn't received a dime of money from Cantor Fitzgerald, and not one person from the firm came to her husband's funeral, even after she sent the obituary to them. Furthermore, O'Reilly revealed that all paychecks had been stopped four days after the attack. It doesn't look like any money is forthcoming, not even the bonuses these people already earned. Mrs. Fiore was desperate, and said she's been entirely dependent upon her family and neighbors who have been giving her money. She stated, "I don't want a handout from Cantor Fitzgerald...I just want a pamphlet or information stating what they will be doing about the money." (My paraphrasing.)

O'Reilly was plainly disgusted. He asked the writer what kind of man this Luttman was, and her response was not very flattering. She said he took control of the company while the previous owner, Bernie Cantor, was dying. She added that, as a result, he was banned from his funeral. O'Reilly: "Okay, I'm getting the picture about this guy."

I can't tell you how bad this story made this Cantor Fitzgerald CEO look. You'd have to see it for yourself...it's quite an eye-opener. (Watch the rerun.)


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To: truthkeeper
Cantor Fitzgerald's benefit policy.
121 posted on 10/04/2001 7:11:44 PM PDT by Andrew Byler
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To: innocentbystander
It is inexcusible that a month has not passed yet, and all these high-dollar families are broke. It is just plain inexcusible, they should be ashamed

When you make big money, your expenses are big. The more I made, the worse my expenses got. My income dropped a little lately, but my expenses receded a great deal.

122 posted on 10/04/2001 7:11:56 PM PDT by Lazamataz
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To: Headlong
Why is it the resposibility of this company to take care of these people's families? Why is it any different than if they had died in an automobile accident?

I don't know - but I kind of expect that if I died, my family would get my paychecks due me, my family would get my insurance and my benefit plan funds and the refunds due from funds paid in and not used for medical benefits etc.

I pity you if you have worked for a company that would claim no responsibility to carry forth on agreements made to you after you died. What a money grubbing attitude. I wouldn't think of working for a company that operated the way you seem to expect a company to operate.

123 posted on 10/04/2001 7:14:03 PM PDT by ClancyJ
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To: Hillary's Lovely Legs
On the other hand, Luttnick just lost 700 employees, including his own brother. I don't think he has time to attend 700 funerals. There is no money coming in, and he said that right after 9-11 that families were calling wanting money. I feel for the families and I feel for Luttnick. He is only one guy. Have you ever tried to attend 700 funerals and call 700 people? I am sure there are two sides to every story.

You constantly amaze me with your observations and rational. Your response here is thoughful and fair. Many kudos....the guy may be a dirtbag but I respect your response, ya caused me to drawback and think a moment. I love FReepers.

124 posted on 10/04/2001 7:14:19 PM PDT by Republic
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To: Lazamataz
My income dropped a little lately, but my expenses receded a great deal.

You can only buy so much cheese and play-doh.

125 posted on 10/04/2001 7:14:25 PM PDT by hole_n_one
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To: writmeister
These people were adequately insured, or so they thought, through their job. The all had coverage equal to about one year's salary, but the company maxed out way before it got to 700 people at one time. That's the problem, no one ever anticipated losing that many at one time. Very few companies would be able to cover that type of catastrophic loss.
126 posted on 10/04/2001 7:15:57 PM PDT by Eva
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To: Alberta's Child
Look I'm not implying that they stole the money. I am just saying that the Families are not getting the money and they are hurting. I don't know every detail and haven't really wanted to start asking when everyone is still dealing with their grief. I just know that they’re not being taken care of by the company, and they have NO cash flow to speak of. I'm sure there are many other people from other companies in the same boat. I’m not making a judgment about the company, but the CEO is “brokering” the public.
127 posted on 10/04/2001 7:16:31 PM PDT by Woodman
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To: Headlong
Headlong, Luttnick put himself into this position with his nationwide pledges to "take care of the families" monetarily and his asking for money contributions to his firm's foundation. IF he's not following through (or explaining to the families why he can't), he's either a fraud or he can't manage his own firm's money.
128 posted on 10/04/2001 7:16:46 PM PDT by laconic
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To: truthkeeper
He said it on one of his "sobbing" apperances........it made me sick. I thought to myself immediately either he was crazy or he didn't have any idea what he was saying.....he said over and over "We're going to take care of our families forever."
129 posted on 10/04/2001 7:16:48 PM PDT by Howlin
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To: Thinkin' Gal
Because, as Mrs. Fiori said 1) they have a huge mortgage 2)they had no savings 3) they lived from paycheck to paycheck.

It is terrible that this lady lost her husband and her children have lost their father, but why in the heck did he not do something to provide for his family in the event of his death? My goodness, how can an intelligent couple in their 30's with 2 children not have something put back in case of an emergency? Although OReilly didn't ask and Mrs. Fiori didn't say, I got the impression that her husband didn't even have life insurance.

Of course, that doesn't not excuse the behavior of the company that has done nothing to help this lady and their other employees.

I also can't imagine why this guy was crying all over TV for everyone to see and then not do what he said he was going to do. Bad publicity and kinda stupid on his part. I am hoping that he is, in fact, trying to do something and just has not been able to get it done yet.

130 posted on 10/04/2001 7:16:51 PM PDT by TexanaRED
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Comment #131 Removed by Moderator

To: Alberta's Child
I hate to be coldhearted, but the guy was an absolute idiot to leave his family in this situation. For all of his financial knowledge, he was too dumb to buy a life insurance policy to provide some financial support in case something happened to him.

I agree. There is something not right about this story or some of the others. Almost everyone has some sort of life insurance tied into their employment or have purchased insurance on their own. What if the guy had been hit by a bus? What would his family be doing for income in that case? It is kind of like hearing people crying about the flood that just washed their house away even though they choose to live in a flood plain.

Richard W.

132 posted on 10/04/2001 7:17:32 PM PDT by arete
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To: hole_n_one
You can only buy so much cheese and play-doh.

Imagine how much money you'd save if you never bought pants!

133 posted on 10/04/2001 7:18:20 PM PDT by Howlin
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To: innocentbystander
Actually, thanks to 401K's, alot of people are cash poor, but have plenty of savings that they can't touch.
134 posted on 10/04/2001 7:18:43 PM PDT by Eva
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To: Andrew Byler
Sheesh, by the time this thread is finished, a bunch of people here will be suggesting the man planned the attack himself. Why not lay low folks until you have a few more facts. One fact: 700 employees killed. Another fact: An entire office gone. Third fact: Brother dead.

Cripes, and you all expect him to be personally taking care of the woman who is ALL OVER TV wihtin a few days herself, crying about Lutnick (sp?) not being her personal sugar daddy, and then attacking him for being all over TV defending himself.

If not one Cantor rep attended her husband's funeral, it causes one to question her husband, doesn't it? After all, we already know the HUSBAND obviously did nothing to take care of her. You should all be more outraged at him than Lutnick, but he is a convenient target because he is alive and rich (oh the horror - we can't have rich people now can we? after all this IS a Socialist country isn't it?). And in her grief, she manages to get on TV and get her complaints aired as well. Hmmm.. makes you wonder. Acting a little callous herself AND a hunsband who nobody cares about AND a husband who doesn't care about HER.

My conclusion? Luttnic or whoever may be scum, but all these whiners had chosen to work for him and many if not most of them were probably not very nice themselves. The people attacking him were on him like a bad rug before half the populace even caught the news that a plane had hit tower one for criminey sakes. She was on him as fast as the Dems had identified seniors who mis-voted in Palm Beach County. And she managed to accomplish the national air time all by her poor, misfortunate, misunderstood, under-cared for self? Not on your life. Someone is helping her and they have an agenda and she is just as callous as Luttnick himself.

You all are being fooled on both sides. Stop the moral outrage folks - your socialist sheep colors are showing through. Half of you are all up in arms about what "he might do." Sheesh, settle down and find out before stringing him up.

135 posted on 10/04/2001 7:19:20 PM PDT by bluefish
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To: Faithfull
The question is not whether the company should take care of the families for life. There is obviously no duty to do so. The question is whether this man is committing fraud by having people send in money under false pretenses. (I don't know the answer to that question.) If he is asking for donations, or business, under false pretenses, then he is potentially guilty of a crime. That's all there is to it.
136 posted on 10/04/2001 7:19:20 PM PDT by SpencerRoane
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Comment #137 Removed by Moderator

To: angcat
A regular insurance policy would provide a lump sum of money (say, $500,000) to the beneficiary upon the death of the person who is insured. In the case of this widow, she would be able to use the money for whatever she wishes.
138 posted on 10/04/2001 7:20:16 PM PDT by Alberta's Child
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To: Woodman
I don't think anyone is "dancing on the victim's graves". I think people are just dumbfounded about how many people do not take the steps to financially protect their families if something should happen to them.

I think this should be a wake up call to all people -- particularly when one spouse makes substantially more than the other spouse. I would not dream of not carrying adequate life insurance (as well as other savings) to allow my wife to maintain (as much as possible) our lifestyle.

I understand that many people in their 20s have no sense mortality. Perhaps, I had a wake-up call when I was 28 because I was shot at my workplace in an incident where two other people were killed. As I said before, I just hope the WTC attacks gives other 20-something people the same wake up call.

139 posted on 10/04/2001 7:21:05 PM PDT by writmeister
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To: Howlin
Imagine how much money you'd save if you never bought pants!

My ass isn't that big.......how much is polyester by the yard now?

140 posted on 10/04/2001 7:21:15 PM PDT by hole_n_one
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