Former federal judge to help disburse Sandy Hook donations

Alan H. Nevas Alan H. Nevas Photo: File Photo, ST Photo: File Photo, ST Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Former federal judge to help disburse Sandy Hook donations 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

NEWTOWN -- Officials with the foundation charged with distributing $11 million donated in response to the Sandy Hook massacre are looking to bring in a former federal judge to help with the effort.

Several sources confirmed for The News-Times Friday that Alan Nevas, a former federal judge and practicing attorney from Westport who specializes in arbitration and mediation, will be brought in to serve as chairman of a distribution committee that was announced earlier this month.

While officials with the Newtown-Sandy Hook Foundation charged with distributing the money declined to comment on Nevas' appointment, board members said they hope to have an announcement next week.

Board member Dr. Charles Herrick said foundation officials continue to "hammer out" the details of the committee and its membership.

"When that is completed we will be able to reach out to the families and make an announcement," he said.

The board is expected to meet early next week to vote on a variety of issues, including the makeup of the committee. Whether the board will decide how much of the $11 million will go to the 40 families most impacted by the shooting isn't known.

Foundation officials announced two weeks ago that the distribution committee would decide how approximately $4 million would be distributed among 40 families, which includes the 26 people killed at the school, a dozen students who escaped the classrooms where the shooting occurred and two educators who were injured.

Family members of those slain have said, however, that the board may reconsider the amount that's divided among the families.

Foundation officials have said they believe a portion of the $11 million donated to date should be divided among the families, while a portion should be retained to handle long term community needs.

Both the governor's office and family members have been urging the foundation in recent weeks to bring in a single administrator, such as Ken Feinberg, to handle the disbursement of the money.

However, Feinberg, who has spearheaded several notable funds including the 9-11 Victims Fund and the BP oil spill settlement, agreed to oversee the fund established for the victims in the wake of Monday's Boston Marathon bombing.

Several relatives of those murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School said they reached out to Boston officials in recent days urging them to bring Feinberg on board.

"I am grateful to Ken Feinberg for stepping in to administer the One Fund," said Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick. "Ken has a long history of public service, especially in times of tragedy."

Feinberg had met with Newtown families, at their request to seek his advice and counsel, at an undisclosed location in Monroe last week.

One family member, who declined to be named, said the foundation is attempting to placate the families by bringing Nevas on board, but it falls short of the single administrator like Feinberg they've been calling for.

"We want a single administrator to come in and distribute the funds so we can be done with this and move forward," the relative of a Sandy Hook victim said.

Herrick said both foundation officials and the transition team that created the organization reached out to Feinberg, and others, in the past.

He said local officials also spoke with officials in other communities, including Aurora, impacted by mass shootings that had funds administered by Feinberg.

Nevas could not be reached for comment Friday.

dperrefort@newstimes.com; 203-731-3358; www.twitter.com/DirkPerrefort