"The court deal shares some similarities with the aid program that the federal legislation would have created, but it involves far less money. Only the most seriously ill of the thousands of police officers, firefighters and construction workers suing New York City over their exposure to the dust would be eligible for a hefty payout."

"The compensation system set up by the court would make payments ranging from $3,250 for people who aren't sick but worry they could fall ill in the future to as much as $1.5 million to the families of people who have died. Nonsmokers disabled by severe asthma might get between $800,000 and $1 million."


This looks to me like if you settle then you are on your own. $3,250 is nothing if you come down with cancer and it may sound like a lot but 1 to 1.5 mil isn't gravy retirement for a healthy person my age let alone a young sick person. Can you even get medical insurance after something like this these days?