• 08
  • November
    2010

Thousands of rescue workers who were injured by exposure to debris on 9/11 face a deadline that ends today for an $800 million workers' compensation settlement. The rescue workers have until 11:59 p.m. Monday to accept the settlement or reject it and bring their own case to trial. The settlement was reached in June and requires 95 percent of the plaintiffs to approve the settlement by the Monday deadline to be validated.

Around 10,000 police, firefighters, emergency responders and health workers have sued the city of New York, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, a marine transportation company and other entities for failing to provide proper safety equipment to protect their lungs. Many responders claim they got sick from exposure to the toxic dust and debris that came from the destruction of the World Trade Center. A large majority of the litigation could be over Monday. According to the lead attorney of the plaintiffs' legal team, 90 percent of plaintiffs have already approved of the settlement. The challenge is persuading the final five percent. The attorney commented that many plaintiffs are waiting until the last moment to make their decision and compared it to tax day when many filers wait until the last minute to complete their tax filings.

Responders who were critics of the workers' compensation settlement have joined the settlement believing it is the best result that can be achieved even though the deal may not be able to provide enough compensation for illnesses. One retired fire rescue worker who initially criticized the settlement said the idea of fighting for more money in court was going to be a losing battle. He believes the shelf life of sympathy for 9/11 responders is running out.

Source: The Associated Press, "9/11 Workers Face Deadline for Health Settlement," 11/7/10