Revised settlement between NYC and Ground Zero rescue workers

Here's the lede from the New York Times story:

Lawyers for the city and about 10,000 rescue and cleanup workers who say their health was damaged at ground zero announced Thursday that they had negotiated a new, $712 million settlement to replace one that a federal judge rejected three months ago.

The new pact drew a vigorous endorsement from the judge, Alvin K. Hellerstein of United States District Court in Manhattan, who had said the previous one, amounting to $657 million, was too small.

Heeding another complaint from the judge, lawyers for the workers agreed to reduce their fees to one-quarter of the total payout rather than the one-third called for in the lawyers’ original agreement with their clients.

Under the settlement, those with no qualifying physical injury who nevertheless fear they may become sick could recover $3,250, while the survivors of workers who can demonstrate that the worker's presence at ground zero caused his or her death would receive $2 million.

Ninety-five percent of those in the plaintiffs' class must agree to the settlement by Sept. 30 in order for it to become effective.

Read the rest of the story here.