Judge Nixes $657M Ground Zero Deal, Wants More Talks

A federal judge put the kibosh today on New York City’s deal to set aside as much as $657 million for 10,000 workers sickened by toxic debris at the World Trade Center site. Alvin Hellerstein thinks it’s not enough money, would leave out other first responders to the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks—and that lawyers are getting too much of it, the Daily News reports.

“There has to be additional negotiations to come up with a better and fair settlement,” Hellerstein said. “I will not preside over a settlement based on fear or ignorance.” And while one affected worker tells the Times “more delays mean that the more time that passes, the more illnesses unfold,” she agreed on the financial aspect: “In all fairness, it’s not enough.”
(More Ground Zero stories.)