Try2B Comprehensive
03-19-2010, 10:16 PM
I am actually not particularly emotionally invested in this issue, regardless of the fact that I have brought it up at least a few times already :)
But I read this article (http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-national/20100319/US.Attacks.Health.Trials/), here are some quotes:
NEW YORK — A federal judge on Friday rejected a legal settlement that would have given at least $575 million to people sickened by ash and dust from the World Trade Center, saying the deal shortchanged 10,000 ground zero workers whom he called heroes.
"In my judgment, this settlement is not enough," said U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who delivered his pronouncement to a stunned gallery at a federal courthouse in Manhattan.
Rising from his chair, the 76-year-old jurist said he feared police officers, firefighters and other laborers who cleared rubble after the 9/11 terror attacks were being pushed into signing a deal few of them understood.
Under the terms of the settlement, workers had been given just 90 days to say yes or no to a deal that would have assigned them payments based on a point system that Hellerstein said was complicated enough to make a Talmudic scholar's head spin.
"I will not preside over a settlement that is based on fear or ignorance," he said.
So. It sounds as if some kind of paperwork is being foisted upon these beleaguered workers. But who would do such a thing? How about... paper pushers! It goes on:
A third or more of the money set aside for the workers was expected to go to their lawyers. Some plaintiffs had agreed at the start of the case to give as much as 40 percent of any judgment to cover fees and expenses. That might have meant $200 million or more going to attorneys.
I hope the lawyers around here don't come after me. Relax guys, I tend to respect lawyers for their skill- they aren't your typical book-keeper. And this is an extreme case. But- what happened to billable hours in this case?!?
Hellerstein spoke after several ground zero recovery workers had risen in court to describe a litany of health problems they believe are linked to inhaling the ash and dust left by the collapse of the World Trade Center.
The deal covers a broad list of ailments suspected of being linked to trade center dust, including asthma, chronic coughing and interstitial lung disease, which involves scarring of lung tissue. Some types of cancer are also covered.
Just to be clear: in New York, workers self-selected to risk their lives in the aftermath of the attacks. They went out to clean up the city and croaked. Meanwhile the lawyers went to school. Not bad, but $200-million-not-bad? From these guys!? Really???
But I read this article (http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-national/20100319/US.Attacks.Health.Trials/), here are some quotes:
NEW YORK — A federal judge on Friday rejected a legal settlement that would have given at least $575 million to people sickened by ash and dust from the World Trade Center, saying the deal shortchanged 10,000 ground zero workers whom he called heroes.
"In my judgment, this settlement is not enough," said U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who delivered his pronouncement to a stunned gallery at a federal courthouse in Manhattan.
Rising from his chair, the 76-year-old jurist said he feared police officers, firefighters and other laborers who cleared rubble after the 9/11 terror attacks were being pushed into signing a deal few of them understood.
Under the terms of the settlement, workers had been given just 90 days to say yes or no to a deal that would have assigned them payments based on a point system that Hellerstein said was complicated enough to make a Talmudic scholar's head spin.
"I will not preside over a settlement that is based on fear or ignorance," he said.
So. It sounds as if some kind of paperwork is being foisted upon these beleaguered workers. But who would do such a thing? How about... paper pushers! It goes on:
A third or more of the money set aside for the workers was expected to go to their lawyers. Some plaintiffs had agreed at the start of the case to give as much as 40 percent of any judgment to cover fees and expenses. That might have meant $200 million or more going to attorneys.
I hope the lawyers around here don't come after me. Relax guys, I tend to respect lawyers for their skill- they aren't your typical book-keeper. And this is an extreme case. But- what happened to billable hours in this case?!?
Hellerstein spoke after several ground zero recovery workers had risen in court to describe a litany of health problems they believe are linked to inhaling the ash and dust left by the collapse of the World Trade Center.
The deal covers a broad list of ailments suspected of being linked to trade center dust, including asthma, chronic coughing and interstitial lung disease, which involves scarring of lung tissue. Some types of cancer are also covered.
Just to be clear: in New York, workers self-selected to risk their lives in the aftermath of the attacks. They went out to clean up the city and croaked. Meanwhile the lawyers went to school. Not bad, but $200-million-not-bad? From these guys!? Really???