Judge Seeks Changes to Proposed WTC Settlement
U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein wants to see some changes made to a proposed settlement for injured World Trade World Trade Center emergency responders.
The settlement proposed earlier this month would have paid individual plaintiffs anywhere from $3,200 to $2 million, before attorney fees, in exchange for dropping their suits. Payouts for the settlement would come from WTC Captive Insurance, an entity created with $1 billion federal grant that provides insurance coverage to the City of New York and its debris-removal contractors.
On Friday, Judge Hellerstein held a hearing during which he heard from 10 injured and sick Ground Zero workers. Afterwards, he said legal fees must be lowered and paid by WTC Captive, and individual plaintiffs must be given a proposed dollar amount before being asked to opt in or out of the proposal. The Judge also said would be the one to supervise how plaintiffs’ claims are categorized. He also said more money should be set aside for people who later develop cancer that may be linked to ground zero toxins.
The judge set another hearing for April 12.
