The New York Black Car Operators’ Injury Compensation Fund was created by statute (Chapter 49 of the laws of 1999) for the sole purpose of providing Workers' Compensation coverage for Black Car operators in the state of New York.

The statute was signed into law by Governor George Pataki in May, 1999.

On October 1, 1999, the billing, collecting and remitting portion of the statute took effect. On January 20, 2000, workers’ compensation coverage for drivers affiliated with member companies took effect.

The statute is a state statute which covers all drivers of The Black Car Fund member companies in the state of New York, although 95% of the companies are based in the greater New York City Metropolitan area.

Companies must become members of the The Black Car Fund if they meet the criteria outlined in the statute – meaning they cannot own 50% or more of their vehicles and must do 90% or more of their business on a non-cash basis.

Black Car and limousine companies operating outside of New York State are also required to become members of the The Black Car Fund if they do work in the state of New York and if they meet the criteria outlined in the statute.

The Fund derives its income to provide workers’ compensation insurance, from a 2% surcharge, which is billed and collected by member companies from their clients and then remitted to the fund. The statute permits the fund to either increase or decrease the percentage by notifying and filing a request with the Department of State.

	Berj Haroutunian, Chairman of the Board Berj Haroutunian has been in the Ground Transportation Industry since 1984. He is currently President of Vital Transportation, Inc. and President and a member of the board of the Black Car Assistance Corporation, The Black Car Industry’s Trade Association. Mr. Haroutunian was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Victor Dizengoff at the The Black Car Fund. He was reappointed to the Board of the The Black Car Fund in 2003 and again in 2006. He was elected as Chairman of the Board of the Black Car Fund in June 2007.
	Wayne I. Baden, General Counsel to the The Black Car Fund Wayne I. Baden has been practicing law since 1976 and joined the firm of Schlam Stone & Dolan, LLP in January 2007. He concentrates on the corporate, financial, insurance, franchising and regulatory aspects of the ground transportation industry. Mr. Baden currently serves as general counsel to the The Black Car Fund. He graduated from Brown University in 1968 and from Brooklyn Law School in 1975. He served in the United States Army from 1968 until 1971.
	Victor Dizengoff, Executive Director of the The Black Car Fund Victor Dizengoff began his career in the ground transportation industry in 1959 as a part-time taxicab driver in Brooklyn, NY. He served as secretary of the industry’s first trade association, the Association of Radio Metered Taxicab Owners Council, and published the first "Two-Way Radio" newspaper for the industry in 1975, the ARMTOC News. A pioneer of the city’s Black Car industry, Mr. Dizengoff helped start the first Black Car company in New York in 1976. The company was eventually sold in 1983. And in 1984, he opened Vital Transportation, Inc., which he sold to the drivers as a cooperative in 1990. After spending some time in Chicago opening that city’s first Black Car company, King Cars, he returned to New York in 1991, taking over ownership of Black Car News. Today, the monthly publication is one of the most respected newspapers in the industry. The newspaper was sold in 2005 and Victor remains its Chairman of The Board. In 1991, Mr. Dizengoff became the Executive Director for the Black Car Assistance Corporation (BCAC). In 1999, he was made Chairman of the Board of Directors of the The Black Car Fund. He is currently Executive Director of the Fund. In 2009, Mr. Dizengoff was elected President of The Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association (TLPA), the for-hire Ground Transportation's Preeminent Industry Association.
	Craig Davis, Claims Manager of the The Black Car Fund Craig Davis first joined the The Black Car Fund in 2004 as a Clains Adjuster. In a short period of time, he proved his value to the fund and was promoted to Claims Manager. Craig has 10 years experience in the insurance industry which began at Liberty Mutual Insurance Company. Craig holds a BA in Government & Law which he attained from Lafayette College and a Paralegal Certificate from Long Island University, C.W. Post Campus.