Bloomberg Urges Plaintiffs To Accept WTC Health Settlement

By: Grace Rauh

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Mayor Michael Bloomberg is urging September 11th recovery workers and Lower Manhattan residents to opt into a settlement that would provide up to $712 million in aid.

The mayor and Kenneth Feinberg, the special master of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, said the deal is good for those suffering health effects from dust released into the air in the World Trade Center terrorist attack.

"In the last two weeks of the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund, 25 percent of all eligible plaintiffs filed. They waited until just about the end of the deadline to file," said Feinberg. "I see it happening again. Do not wait."

The settlement consolidates some 10,000 lawsuits, and 95 percent of individuals who have filed suit have to agree to the deal before anyone gets anything.

Sources tell NY1 so far about 75 percent of plaintiffs have signed on.

Plaintiffs must opt into the settlement by November 8.

Individuals would receive between a few thousand dollars to almost $2 million, depending on the extent of their injuries.

"I know for myself no amount of money can bring my husband back, but it will enable my family and others to have some peace," said 9/11 Lawsuit Plaintiff Jean Marie DiBiase.

Meanwhile, Bloomberg is assuring plaintiffs that they can still receive money under the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, if it passes in Congress.

"You can do both. If you opt into the settlement, you will receive compensation from it, and you will also retain your right to receive benefits from the Zadroga bill that are over and above the amount you receive from the settlement," said Bloomberg.

At a settlement conference in federal court Tuesday, the judge presiding over the claims also urged plaintiffs to sign off on the deal. He warned that taking the cases to trial would be highly risky.

Feinberg says it's not surprising so many people are waiting until the last minute to jump on board.

"People in grief, people uncertain about their future, hold off on making decisions even when the decision they are making will benefit them," he said.

The House of Representatives passed the $7 billion Zadroga measure last week.

It still needs to be approved by the Senate.