Judge Counsels 9/11 Workers to Settle

Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein, who approved a settlement of up to $712.5 million for more than 10,000 plaintiffs at a hearing in Manhattan in June, appeared before an audience of about 100 people at the Michael J. Petrides School in Staten Island. Also on hand were Matthew L. Garretson, the administrator of the claims; Kenneth R. Feinberg, who will hear appeals from plaintiffs who disagree with the individual payouts decided by Mr. Garretson; and lawyers for the two sides.

One sticking point in the agreement has been cancer cases that are expected to be assigned relatively low settlement amounts because they cannot be directly linked to exposure to contaminants at ground zero.

“If you ask me what’s wrong with the settlement, it’s cancer,” Judge Hellerstein acknowledged.

But he urged the plaintiffs to accept the settlement as the best possible alternative. “There’s no way the remedy will equal your pain,” he said.

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