CINCINNATI, OH, June 10, 2010 – Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein of the U.S. Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York today announced the appointment of the Garretson Resolution Group, Inc. as Allocation Neutral in the World Trade Center settlement that will pay out approximately $712.5 million to over 10,000 plaintiffs alleging injuries from the rescue, recovery and debris removal operations at the World Trade Center site after 9/11.
As Allocation Neutral, it is the Garretson Group’s responsibility to review medical and other supporting information submitted by the plaintiffs and determine each individual’s final settlement amount. The group will apply a predetermined set of objective factors to each case. They will also ensure that the administration of the settlement comports with all terms and requirements of the settlement process agreement.
Under this settlement, those claiming debilitating respiratory illnesses such as severe asthma, contracted by a non-smoker within seven months of exposure at the World Trade Center site and surrounding areas, could receive between $800,000 and $1,050,000, and approximately $1.5 million could go to compensate claims of death determined to be caused by the post 9/11 operations. Plaintiffs who have no qualifying injury, but have a legal claim for fear of becoming sick, will receive $3,250. All qualifying plaintiffs will be enrolled in a special insurance policy through MetLife to provide coverage for certain blood and respiratory cancers diagnosed during the coverage period, paying a benefit of up to $100,000.
“This settlement gives the plaintiffs immediate, fair and reasonable compensation, certainty and closure after years of protracted and costly litigation that will continue without this agreement,” said Christine LaSala, President and CEO of the WTC Captive, a not-for-profit insurance company enabled by Congress to defend and indemnify the City of New York and the contractors it hired for the rescue, recovery and debris removal operations after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. “This settlement establishes objective criteria, based upon accepted medical standards, to assess the type and severity of each illness alleged in order to achieve a fair value for each claim.”
The Garretson Group has made a significant investment in time and resources to build the complex infrastructure needed to support the settlement program and it is set to immediately begin reviewing claims. The group will be assisted by a panel of independent physicians.
“We are honored to be selected and will work diligently, objectively and fairly for the parties and the Court involved in this settlement process,” said Matt Garretson, President and Founder of the Garretson Resolution Group.
The group will review the proof that each plaintiff is required to submit under the settlement, showing that he or she was present and participated in 9/11-related rescue, recovery and debris removal operations, as well as specific medical documentation. All of this information must be submitted by plaintiffs under oath and will be subject to audit. Plaintiffs can ask for the Allocation Neutral to reconsider its initial decision and, after that review, appeal to the Claims Appeal Neutral -- former Special Master for the U.S. Government’s September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Kenneth R. Feinberg.
Judge Hellerstein described the deal as fair and said he hoped everyone injured in the rescue, recovery and debris removal operations at the World Trade Center site would come forward to participate in the settlement.
Garretson applauded the parties for creating a state of the art settlement program that is innovatively designed so that plaintiffs will receive compensation as quickly as possible, as well as a special cancer policy.
“…Mr. Matthew Garretson, who has more experience with mass tort settlements than anybody in America, has told me this protocol for this settlement is the fairest and fastest and the best he has seen…” Judge Hellerstein said.
“We will have a process that is second to none,” Hellerstein later continued. “There are 10,000 people out there, and I hope 100 percent of them will… come into this settlement, because it is worth it. But part of that reason for them to come in is that they are assured a fair deal. This is not going to be a run-around. This is going to be a process that puts money in their hands fast.”
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