Judge: NY Must Answer 9/11 Claims

[kpete]

NY must answer September 11 cleanup damage claims:
judge By Matthew Verrinder
Tue Oct 17


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Claims brought by 3,000 emergency workers who sued New York City over health damages caused from the cleanup after the September 11 attacks can move forward, a U.S. federal judge ruled on Tuesday.

The World Trade Center recovery workers sued the city, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and hundreds of city contractors in 2003. They claimed they lacked proper breathing equipment to combat the toxic air during the 10-month cleanup, and that their lungs were permanently damaged as a result.

The city and the Port Authority have argued that they are immune from negligence suits when responding to terror attacks and filed motions to have the suit dismissed.

In his opinion, U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein said that while the city and the agency are provided immunity under U.S. state and federal law, the degree varied "according to date, place and activity" and more information was needed to determine their level of responsibility.

more at:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061017/us_nm/sept11_insurance_dc;_ylt=Ao_Iy9gyjlxe7iLYelosu5nMWM0F;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MjBwMWtkBHNlYwM3MTg-