9/11 Settlement Far from Certain

Nearly 10 years have passed since the awful events of September 11, 2001. Unfortunately, today 10,000 first responders-firefighters, paramedics, and police officers-suffer from asbestos-related diseases which they contracted during the aftermath of 9/11. In an attempt to resolve their claims out-of-court, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has proposed the World Trade Center Disaster Site Litigations Settlement. To accept the City's Settlement offer of $713 million, or roughly $70,000 per victim, 95 percent of the City's affected first responders must file their claim by November 8. To date, only about 75 percent have filed, leaving 2,000 outstanding claimants needed in order to satisfy the conditions of the offer.

These first responders face a dilemma that's common to victims of asbestos poisoning: should I accept the proposed settlement offer? Many of New York's finest must surely look at the average cost of asbestos treatment - more than $100,000 - and worry that the City's offer just isn't enough. Of course, they must also consider that $70,000 in their bank account today may be worth more than a potentially larger settlement sometime down the road.

If you are an asbestos victim considering a settlement offer, it may be time to visit with the asbestos and mesothelioma experts at Fears | Nachawati. For a free consultation, call us today at 1.866.705.7584 or send us email to info@fnlawfirm.com. We can advise you through the difficult decisions which you and your family face.