by Alison Gendar
First responders who sued the city over exposure to toxic air at Ground Zero will have more time to consider a landmark settlement, officials said Wednesday.
The WTC Captive Insurance Company extended the deadline to accept or reject the $625 million offer to Nov. 8.
The original deadline was Sept. 8.
"We are encouraged by the thousands of plaintiffs who have already opted-in, but we decided to extend the deadline to make sure every plaintiff has ample time and information to make an informed decision," said Christine LaSala, President and CEO of the WTC Captive.
Officials said the delay was not because they feared defeat.
Roughly 50% of the eligible responders have opted-in to the settlement, with less than one-half or one percent voting no, according to WTC Captive accounts.
To take effect, the settlement still has to be approved by 95% of the more than 10,000 people, but many 9/11 heroes told the Daily News that the settlement was too small compared to their suffering.
Many who sued debated accepting the settlement while the Congress was still weighing the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, which would award first responders sickened at Ground Zero.
The Zadroga bill had been defeated, but proponents vowed to bring it to another vote in the House in early September.
An amendment added to the House's version of the Zadroga bill would allow plaintiffs who accept the settlement to still be eligible for the Zadroga bill, and any re-opened Victim Compensation Fund, if Congress approves the legislation.
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