By Jennifer Glickel
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — Lawyers for 9/11 workers sickened from inhaling toxic dust at Ground Zero submitted a new settlement to a judge Thursday — possibly signaling an end to the longstanding legal battle.
Under the new settlement, the city's insurer will contribute more money and the plaintiff's lawyers will reduce legal fees to better compensate workers for their illnesses.
“The heroes and heroines of 9/11 deserve the maximum settlement possible and this is a step in the right direction,” said Rep. Carolyn Maloney in a statement.
The new settlement will increase the plaintiffs' payout to $712.5 million, which is up from the earlier terms of $575 million to $657.5 million, according to the New York Times.
“This settlement ensures guaranteed, immediate and just compensation to the heroic men and women who performed their duties without consideration of the health implications,” Marc J. Bern, one of the plaintiffs’ lawyers, told the Times.
The lawyers representing approximately 10,000 Ground Zero workers will reduce their fees from 33.3 percent of the settlement amount to 25 percent, the paper said. Between the lowered legal fees and the increased payout, plaintiffs would receive an additional $50 million.
An earlier settlement was rejected in March by U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein for benefiting the lawyers too much and the 9/11 workers too little, the New York Post said.
Judge Hellerstein was kept informed of the newly negotiated settlement terms and, according to a statement released by the lawyers and obtained by the Times, Hellerstein finds the new agreement to be "fair and reasonable."
