Dozens Of Ground Zero Workers Choose Lawsuits

Updated: Sunday, 15 Jan 2012, 10:45 AM MST
Published : Sunday, 15 Jan 2012, 10:45 AM MST

(New York Post) - New York City is facing 89 lawsuits from 9/11 workers who chose to stay in court instead of seek a payout from the federal government — setting the stage for a battle over cancer claims.

Ailing Ground Zero responders had until Jan. 2 to drop their legal actions or be barred from receiving compensation under the $2.5 billion Zadroga Act.

The 89 workers include some who opted out of the city's $680 million settlement with 10,000 World Trade Center responders and others who filed suit after the deadline to be included in the settlement.

Some have cancer, which is not currently covered under Zadroga but may eventually be added.
Now they'll have to prove in court that 9/11 triggered the disease and that the city is liable.

A win could set a costly precedent as more Ground Zero responders come down with cancer.

"The city is going to fight it tooth and nail, for sure," said attorney Robert Grochow, whose firm represents two cancer-stricken 9/11 workers with pending suits.

Manhattan Federal Judge Alvin Hellerstein has set eight of the 89 lawsuits for trial. The city still has about $300 million socked away in a fund used to pay the mass settlement.

Also remaining are 1,088 suits by workers who cleaned and repaired buildings surrounding Ground Zero, including the private World Financial Center and Bank of New York as well as some city offices and schools.

Read more: New York Post

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Dozens Of Ground Zero Workers Choose Lawsuits

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