A decision may take months over a proposed settlement offer to workers who've developed health problems from the ruins of New York's World Trade Center after the 9-11 attacks.

Some 10-thousand workers claim to have become sick with illnesses from the dust, fumes and debris at Ground Zero.

The settlement would pay up to 657 million dollars to the workers, with a minimum payment of three-thousand-250 dollars and up to one-million dollars for the severely ill.

A lead attorney for the firm which negotiated the settlement says most of the feedback from clients so far had been good.

James Nolan, carpenter says;
"Hearing this, you know, if I do pass away from working down at Ground Zero, my wife and kids have something, you know. It's hard, you know. It's an up and down thing, you know, but we're getting it done and Worby's the best lawyer out there and he proved to everybody who had
doubts against this man."

"I'm still living 9-11 (referring to attack on New York, 11 September, 2001). I go up to Mount Sinai (Hospital) every six months, go for the check-ups. I have some great, you know, private doctors I see. You know, my co-payments were up to 200 (US dollars,) a month and I was
paying that myself. I have to work to keep my coverage."

The group has three months to decide whether to accept the settlement package with a 95 percent approval, or the deal is off.

Ebru News