Federal Judge Orders More Talks on 9/11 Deal

凹凸曼

NEW YORK, March 19 (Reuters) - A U.S. federal judge on Friday delayed a $657.5 million settlement for workers who suffered health problems after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, saying the process must be transparent and lawyers fees should not be drawn from the funds.

U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein said that workers injured should know the approximate value of the cash award they might get before having to decide whether to participate in the settlement. The deal requires the participation of 95 percent of the roughly 10,000 plaintiffs.

He also said attorneys fees for lawyers representing the workers should not be drawn from the $1 billion fund set aside by the federal government to help cover the claims, but should be paid by New York City.

The fund was set up after the attacks when New York City was unable to find private insurance to cover any claims stemming from the clean-up effort.

"I will not preside over a settlement that is based on fear or ignorance," the judge said.