WTC HERO Blog
World Trade Center Litigation
- The Battle of 9/11 Ailing First Responders
- When Heroes Get Sick - Part 2, Lee Ielpi
- When Heroes Get Sick - Part 1, Andrew Porazzo
- September 11th Firefighter Gets New Lung & Regains Spirits
- Judge Hellerstein Finally Sets Trial Dates For WTC Lawsuits
- Can the Economic Crisis Deter the 9/11 Memorial from being completed?
- Scars from 9/11 In Memoriam
- 7th Anniversary of 9/11 Evokes a Multitude of Feelings
- Charity for 9/11 Firefighters Fail’s to Live up to Promises
- Injuries already occurring a mist the new WTC building
- City Questions 9/11 Workers’ Claims of Illness
General
Legal News
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NY judge signs off on deal for 9/11 responders
– The Associated Press -
U.S. District Court Approves Ground Zero Health Settlement
– The New York Times -
Judge OKs Deal For Sept. 11 Responders
– National Public Radio NPR -
Judge Approves $712.5 Million Settlement for 9/11 Health Claims
– Bloomberg Businessweek -
More cash is put on the table for sick Sept. 11 first responders in new plan
– NY Daily News -
9/11 settlement now up to claimants
– United Press International (UPI) -
World Trade Center settlement approved
– United Press International (UPI) -
NY judge signs off on deal for 9/11 responders
– The Washington Post -
Hellerstein Approves Respiratory Illness Settlement for 9/11 Workers – New York Law Journal
Firm Library
NYC Health Crisis - Illnesses that Continue to Haunt 9/11 Survivors
Six years after the attacks on the World Trade Center there is still a great deal that is unknown about the increased rates of respiratory illness and related cancers in 9/11 survivors. The numbers are staggering. There are currently 71,000 registrants in The World Trade Center Health Registry, many of whom suffer from a variety of ailments that are believed to be the result of inhaling the toxic dust and smoke released during the fateful attacks on the World Trade Center.The diseases resulting from the attacks are frightening and wide-ranging – everything from post-traumatic stress disorder to respiratory illness, pulmonary fibrosis, sarcoidosis, cardiovascular disease, asthma, heartburn, throat irritation, acid reflux, shortness of breath, interstitial lung disease, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, and an increased risk for cancer. Many health experts expect that the true impact of the 9/11 attacks will continue to be felt for the next 20 to 30 years, as those present for the attacks and the resulting clean-up continue to develop health problems.
Consider recent findings related to a few of these illnesses:
- Asthma: A recent study by the New York City Department of Health revealed that Ground Zero workers are developing asthma at a rate twelve times that of the general population. Most affected are individuals who were caught in the initial dust cloud or who did not wear a mask.
- Mesothelioma / Asbestosis: These diseases are caused by exposure to asbestos fibers, which were released when the World Trade Center collapsed. What concerns researchers is that an increased risk for diseases like mesothelioma and asbestosis may not become obvious many more years.
- Low Lung Capacity: The Mount Sinai WTC Medical Monitoring Program found that non-smokers affected by the WTC disaster were five times more likely than the general population to experience reduced lung capacity. Responders who arrived early to the WTC site were most greatly affected.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): According to the NYC Health Department’s WTC health registry survey results, 12.5% of WTC workers have post-traumatic stress disorder compared to 4% of the general population. Individuals in non-emergency occupations are most affected by PTSD, with trained emergency responders being somewhat less affected.
- Blood Cell Cancers: Researchers at Mount Sinai speculate that the future holds an increase in blood cell cancers for Ground Zero workers, due to inhalation of the toxic dust and airborne pollutants at the WTC site.
- What is MetLife’s Critical Injury Insurance?
- If I don’t agree to participate in the settlement, can I still get the MetLife Critical Injury Policy?
- How does the MetLife Critical Injury Insurance work?
- What if I am diagnosed with a covered cancer?
- Will I need to prove that my cancer was caused by my exposure to Ground Zero dust or a result of my work at Ground Zero?
- How do I enroll?
- Why do I need to designate a beneficiary? Can I change the beneficiary at any point in time?
- Has this Insurance been approved by the New York State Insurance Department?
- What if I have more questions?
- Who is eligible to participate in this settlement process?
- What Defendants are involved in this settlement process?
- What Defendants are not involved in this settlement process?
- Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee Questions 9/11 Health Claims Hearing
- Nadler Questions at 9/11 Health Claims Hearing
- Conyers Questions at 9/11 Health Claims Hearing
The bottom line is that many researchers believe that the true impact of the 9/11 fallout will not be known for many years to come – what new diseases will become evident among WTC survivors, and how will the health of the men and women who risked everything to save lives be affected? With millions of dollars already paid out to survivors – and millions, even billions more expected to be paid out over the coming years, it is clear that the future holds more grim news for the brave survivors of the 9/11 attacks.
The law firm of Napoli Bern is committed to helping America’s heroes recover from injury and ailments resulting from the attacks of 9/11. If the life and health of you or someone you love has been negatively affected by the World Trade Center collapse, Napoli Bern wants to review your case at absolutely no cost to you.
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