ISTANBUL (AA) - Larry Silverstein, one of the owners of World Trade Center, demolished in September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, brought a lawsuit against the airline companies whose hijacked planes hit the center.
Along with Silverstein, the owners seek additional money from airline defendants to rebuild the site of the 9/11 attacks.
The buildings' owners, World Trade Center Properties, earlier received USD 5 billion in an insurance payment but are seeking USD 3.5 billion from the airline companies whose planes were hijacked.
The federal court began the trial on Monday to decide whether the owners of the World Trade Center buildings can pursue billions of dollars in damages from airline companies linked to the hijacked planes.
US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein in Manhattan will announce his decision as soon as several witnesses from both sides conclude testifying in the trial expected to last about three days.
Attorney Roger Podesta, speaking for companies including United Airlines, US Airways, American Airlines and its parent company, AMR Corporation, said the USD 3.5 billion demanded for destruction of the twin towers and a third skyscraper would amount to double compensation.
He argued that an USD 8.5 billion total recovery would be more than two and a half times the fair value of the buildings that fell.
Attorney Richard Williamson, who represent the World Trade Center Properties, stated that the assessed damage was of at least USD 7.2 billion from the 9/11 attacks.
