New York City reached a settlement June 10 with the 10,000 rescue and cleanup workers who became sick or injured from responding to the 9-11 attacks. The agreement follows two failed settlement attempts between the parties. The city's insurer, WTC Captive Insurance Company, has agreed to pay the plaintiffs $712.5 million, up from its previous offers of $575 million and $657.5 million. Also, the plaintiffs' lawyers will reduce their legal fees from 33.33% to a maximum of 25%, giving their clients an extra $50 million.
The most severe injuries, most of which are asthma-related, could garner more than $1 million in compensation for a client. WTC Captive President and CEO Christine LaSala said she was pleased with the settlement:
This settlement gives the plaintiffs immediate, fair and reasonable compensation, certainty and closure after years of protracted and costly litigation that will continue without this agreement. This settlement establishes objective criteria, based upon accepted medical standards, to assess the type and severity of each illness alleged in order to achieve a fair value for each claim.
Judge Alvin Hellerstein of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York signed off on the legal settlement and immediately urged plaintiffs to take the deal. The agreement allows the workers 90 days to decide to whether to opt in to the settlement. In order for the settlement to be effective, it must be accepted by 95% of the 10,000 workers.
Hellerstein rejected a proposed settlement in March, citing an unfairness of claim amounts and the over-complicated process to determine compensation. Hellerstein also said that attorney's fees should be limited and paid by the WTC Captive Insurance Company, rather than by the claimants. WTC Captive is a nonprofit company created by Public Law 108-7 with $1 billion in FEMA funding to compensate injured workers involved in the Ground Zero rescue and cleanup efforts. In 2007, the City of New York agreed to enter into settlement negotiations over a federal class action lawsuit filed on behalf of more than 9,000 emergency and cleanup workers who may have inhaled toxic dust at WTC site, which Hellerstein allowed to proceed. The plaintiffs claim that they were not properly equipped or trained to perform their tasks.
From Jurist [2], June 10. Used with permission.
See our last posts on 9-11 [3] and its legacy in New York City [4].
See also our last post [5] and our special feature [6] on 9-11 ongoing health toll.
