O'Reilly Doing Devastating Expose on Cantor Fitzgerald Tonight

The O'Reilly Factor/Fox News | truthkeeper

[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.)

[OldFriend]

Excuse me.....the Red Cross is handing out checks for initial expenses of thousands of dollars each. This man's entire company was wiped out including his brother. Cantor Fitzgerald employees who died left 1500 children without a parent. This woman wants a personal phone call.

[Woodman]

Everyone at Cantor was insured for 3 times their annual salary as one of the benifits. Problem is the Insurance money isn't there.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Buzz on the street is that Cantor Fitz is seriously shafting the families of the dead.

I missed it tonight (will catch it at 11), however last week a report [on FOX] detailed what a jerk this man is. If I recall, these were commssions already earned. A real dirt ball.

[poweqi]

Mrs. Fioni said that the Red Cross was paying for the funeral ONLY.

[Pharmboy]

A woman in my office lost her husband who worked at Cantor Fitzgerald. Our company is providing matching funds to what out employees give. I haven't seen her since just after the tragedy, but when I do I will ask her about Luttwick.

[truthkeeper]

This man's entire company was wiped out including his brother. Cantor Fitzgerald employees who died left 1500 children without a parent. This woman wants a personal phone call.

I understand what you are saying but please remember what the man has been spreading all over the airwaves; that is, being such a tight family, meeting for coffee regularly, insisting the family will get 25%, etc. Apparently she resorted to calling him at home because she couldn't get ANY other response from the company.
Kind of makes his earlier claims sound a little, er...disingenuous, doesn't it?

[habs4ever]

Where is the insurance money, then?

[belle99]

I remember seeing this Howard Luttnick jerk on one of the nightly interview shows, I don't remember which one...the interviewer kept asking him how people can help...he kept side stepping the issue of setting up a fund to help the families...in between the tears (obviously fakey) he kept on saying that people could help the most by sending him their business so that his business would stay afloat and this would help the families because he and his partners had pledged 25% of profits(?) to the families...I thought I had misunderstood what he was saying...I didn't think anyone could be that crass...I guess I heard right...his brother was also killed in the WTC collapse...what a piece of work...

[poweqi]

If that is true then he needs to go to JAIL for misapproiation of funds or whatever charge will get him the most time. He is scum and I ca'nt beleive that people are buying into his tears and sob story. OH poor me I lost all my WORKERS that made me RICH, but the people that lost FAMILIES? well, that's different they are on their own. I do'nt owe them anything not even what is theirs.:0) !

[LarryLied]

Businesses dont owe anyone a damn thing, beyond a paycheck for services rendered.

Yes they do. Without a moral basis free enterprise collapses. Look at Russia to see where capitalism goes without some moral constraints. The system is built on trust.

[Woodman]

Life time Cap on the payout from the insurer was the last I heard. It was no where near 3 times annual. Look I'm not making this stuff up, but I not implying that he stole it either, just that it isn't there.

[Woodman]

Life time Cap on the payout from the insurer was the last I heard. It was no where near 3 times annual. Look I'm not making this stuff up, but I not implying that he stole it either, just that it isn't there.

[Inspectorette]

Everyone at Cantor was insured for 3 times their annual salary as one of the benifits. Problem is the Insurance money isn't there.

Most big companies offer this type of insurance. It may not necessarily be 3X their annual salary, it's what the employee elects to pay premiums for: could be 1X, 2X,or 3X. Most companies also offer Special Accident Insurance, although I'm not sure a terrorist attack is covered (if it's deemed to be an Act of War).

If the insurance money that these employees have been paying for every week through payroll deduction isn't there, then where is it??

[writmeister]

Excuse me, but carrying life insurance when you have a wife and kids who depend on your income is a necessity, not a luxury. These brokers were making the big bucks and living to the hilt on every dollar. Maybe Luttnik is an SOB, but isn't that par for the course for NYC brokers and traders.

As for the feud with the Cantors, if there was so much bad blood why is Scott Fraser (Cantor's nephew) the co-managing partner. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram had a big article on Fraser right after the attacks because he owns our local minor league hockey team. It would seem odd to me that Fraser and Luttnik would be managing together if such family feud really exists.

[pbear8]

Why is it the resposibility of this company to take care of these people's families?

How about because he has been all over TV saying that he and the company would take care of them. He has given his word. For whatever it is worth.

I've see the 'give to the Cantor-Fitzgerald Fund' banner at the top of Matt Drudge's site.

[OldFriend]

Were all his employees indentured slaves?

[Andrew Byler]

There is no money coming in

Horse apples!

Cantor started trading bonds again on Thursday after the attack. The firm's large offices in Connecticut, LA and elsewhere were entirely undamaged, and many of those killed were easily replaced by the firms eSpeed trading system for Bond trades.

More disinformation.

[cookcounty]

"I don't know where the "theme" that Luttnick hasn't attended 700 funerals came from. The only reference to funerals in O'Reilly's interview was the fact that Mrs. Fiori sent notification of the funeral to Cantor-Fitzgerald and nobody from there attended. "

700 dead = 700 funerals, no? It's probably been 40-60+ funerals per day. That a company in some disarray wouldn't send a rep to most of these funerals seems pretty normal to me.

[poweqi]

O'Reilley said he would keep an eye on this and if he had to he would pay for Mrs.Fioni's lawyer. The O will not let this go, I hope.