Tuesday, March 29, 2011

NY Firefighter on 9/11: 'I was NOT there'

In the years since 9/11, we have all seen unscrupulous jerks try to make money off the misuse and abuse of images and names of those who sacrificed.



Today's episode:

Mon Mar 28, 12:04 pm ET

New York law firm, advertising agency under fire over 9/11 ad


By Brett Michael Dykes

One of New York's Bravest is objecting to the use of his likeness in a poster marketing the services of a New York law firm that specializes in 9/11-related illnesses.

The ad in question features a firefighter holding a photo of the devastated World Trade Center site, accompanied by the words, "I was there. And now, Worby Groner Edelman & Napoli Bern is there for me." And therein lies the issue: the man in the ad, Robert Keiley, didn't become a firefighter until 2004.

According to the New York Post's Reuven Fenton and Jennifer Fermino, Keiley is particularly upset that the photo in the poster was manipulated from a generic promotional photo for the department--of Keiley holding his fire helmet. The law firm's ad agency, Barker/DZP, swapped a picture of the World Trade Center in place of the helmet. They then debuted the poster at a fundraiser, the World Police Fire Games Event Gala; a move Keiley thinks makes him look like a "scumbag."

"It's an insult to the Fire Department. It's an insult to all the families who lost people that day," Keiley, an ex-cop who also works part-time as a model and actor, told the Post. "It makes me look like I'm cashing in on 9/11, saying I was there even though I was never there, and that I'm sick and possibly suing, trying to get a chunk of money."...


Yes, there is more and you can find that here.

1 comment:

ajlounyinjurylaw said...

At first, I didn't understand why he would be so upset. Personal injury attorneys, although don't work for free, do advocate for the victim. But upon reading further, the lawfirm did make a big mistake. They should have done their research or at least asked someone they have represented if they would mind using their image. It was a bad decision for sure.