Proposed compensation for Ground Zero workers being called 'unfair and illogical'

Cleanup man has a case of asthma & may nab $175,000! But an ironworker stricken with cancer gets just $5,800?

By SUSAN EDELMAN

Last Updated: 9:54 AM, April 4, 2010

Posted: 3:21 AM, April 4, 2010

Comments: 13

EXCLUSIVE

A Ground Zero worker with asthma could get 30 times more money from the city's proposed 9/11 settlement than one dying of cancer -- a deal critics call "unfair and illogical."

Ironworker Brad Bonaparte, now 48, spent three months on the smoky World Trade Center pile, torching steel beams to clear paths for other rescue and recovery workers. Recently diagnosed with advanced esophageal cancer, the father of six stands to get $5,800 in compensation.

"It's not enough to pay for his burial," said his lawyer, Gregory Cannata. "This is a disgrace."

Catherine nance/Angel chevrestt

Waldemar Balcer (left) and Brad Bonaparte

In contrast, 58-year-old Waldemar Balcer, who still works part time despite suffering asthma and other ailments after removing dust and rubble from downtown offices and schools for a city contractor, would get an estimated $175,000.

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Lawyers excluded from the top-secret negotiations between the city and two major firms that crafted the deal claim the overall settlement -- worth $575 million to $657 million -- is marred by glaring inequities.

"These rankings seem to give preference to mild and moderate illness at the expense of severe, life-changing injury," Cannata and his partner say in a letter to Manhattan federal Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who is overseeing the cases.

Hellerstein blasted the overall settlement as too stingy for workers and too generous for lawyers. He called for further negotiations "to come up with a better and fair" deal, including "more money to pay for the cancers."

Of the sickest 9/11 workers, those with solid-tumor cancers like Bonaparte's or who have suffered heart attacks would get the least compensation. That's because it's hard to prove such cases were related to Ground Zero's toxic brew. At least 16 other workers claim esophageal cancer, of some 800 cancers in all.

Generally, scientists say, it takes 10 years or more for tumor cancers, such as liver and colon cancer, to develop. But few studies have examined the effect of the jumble of known carcinogens at the WTC site.

Blood-cell cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma, can strike three to five years after exposure. The settlement would pay workers with those cancers around $320,000 each, since they're deemed likelier to have been caused by Ground Zero toxins.

WTC links to asthma, sleep apnea and digestive disorders also are less disputed.

The settlement assigns a number of points based on the type and severity of illness, from 650 for minor or difficult-to-prove ailments to 100,000 for severe lung disease. Death from certain respiratory causes gets 200,000 points.

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speakthetruth

04/04/2010 9:56 PM

Besides the fact they were fore-warned by their unions not to go there to work because of the dangers of the job.
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speakthetruth

04/04/2010 8:59 PM

I wonder if the fact that someone smokes marijuana heavily since they were 10 yrs old and the fact that his his a heavy smoker (cigarettes) has anything at all to do with his cancer. We all want to blame 9/11, but in reality there are a whole lot more circumstances surrounding some of these law suits. They need to look closer before they settle.. And for the record... Some men don't even know how old their children are...
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word2thewise

04/04/2010 5:31 PM

The saddest part of all is the ones who will get the most for this are the lawyers. They have turned the legal system into a machine for making themselves rich rather than serving the interest of justice or the people.
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eagle4life

04/04/2010 1:43 PM

The way i look at anyone who was there on 9/11 and is sick deserves something ,yes they cant link cancer to 9/11 so i do feel this article is correct people from every where get cancer the cancer guys should not get a quarter as much as the guys with lung conditions until cancer is provin to be related to 9/11 which it will never be i agree with this also get rid of the guys looking for a free hand out those guys are taking money away from the real sick guys and put money on the side for them for future illness not give them a dime now
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fire Bettman

04/04/2010 12:33 PM

#5 Mr. Coffee, building 7 came down because two 110 story buildings came dome around it and they all share the same foundation with the subway system underneath it. When a buildings foundation is ruined the building falls down. Why can't you idiots ever get that. Stop blaming our government for some inside job. You just look stupid which you probably are.
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Notgood

04/04/2010 10:36 AM

I feel for the victims, but why in the world should they get all this money or sue because we were attacked and casualty's happened. The firemen,fire-women, police. guards were doing their jobs. That is what they get paid for. Why should we compensate them or their family's more than what they are suppose to get? I suppose ten ENGLAND should do the same for all those killed when the Germans bombed them, what about all those at Pearl Harbor, what about all those in the Philippines I could go on and on. MOST OF ALL WHAT ABOUT OUR AMERICAN SOLDIES AND MARINES? THEY ARE OUT THERE EVERY DAY ALL OVER THE WORLD???

Our problem is we are a sue happy nation (EASY MONEY) and greedy lawerys. We need to stop this bull. I seen people working 9/11 with no protection on and some with their mask hanging aound their necks not useing them.
If you want to risk your life as a good citizen no problem but this is on you and you should not be expecting anything in return. This is outragious. Sorry just gets me when people act so brave then want to take the government (us people) or their neighbors if something goes wrong and they end up a victem.
Next time stay home, fire people police turn in your bages and pay.
I don't here our MARINES complaining because they are in 100 degree dusty filled air and bullets flying at them. Mercy.
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sadtruth

04/04/2010 10:29 AM

But the lawyers will get $200 million just for bringing the case to court.
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#5Mr. Coffee

04/04/2010 9:47 AM

can anyone tell me what the process is for this? i also have asthma which got massively worse after 911 and requires two meds now to control. previous i was off asthma meds for 10 years.

why did building 7 collapse? we need more investigations into the events of this day.