As we blogged about earlier, a tentative settlement for WTC workers who responded to the terrorist attacks in New York on Sept. 11, 2001 was reached, estimated at between $625 million and $712.5 million.
A recent "fairness hearing" in a New York courtroom allowed both supporters and critics to comment on the proposal, according to the Associated Press. One of the speakers was retired New York Police Dept. Detective Joseph Greco, who told a judge the settlement would help ease financial difficulties caused by 9/11-related illnesses:
"Our families have been through so much. This can't go on anymore."
Joseph Greco suffers from chronic asthma as a result of being a first responder to the attacks on the World Trade Center nearly nine years ago. The New York personal injury lawyers who reached the settlement urged the plaintiffs to accept it, including attorney Paul Napoli:
"There is no question in my mind that this settlement is substantial, fairly administered and good for all plaintiffs."
But not everyone agreed that the proposed settlement is, in fact, good for all plaintiffs. Some critics argued that the settlement favors those with lung cancer and other respiratory problems, to the detriment of other victims. US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein acknowledged that the deal was "far from perfect" but that it was about as good as they could expect.
Retired firefighter Kenneth Specht said many of his colleagues died from other cancers and deserved as much compensation as those who died from lung cancer. He said he "watched some good men die" before their time.
Half of the plaintiffs are not currently sick but believe they may get sick in the future; they qualify for payments of between $3,250 and $11,000. Roughly 94 percent of the award would go to people with lung cancer and emphysema, while about 25 percent of the total will go toward legal fees.
Related Resources:
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Resolution Before Trial: Settlement (FindLaw)
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NYC, Victims Settle at $657M in World Trade Center Lawsuit (FindLaw's Decided Blog)
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