Many New Yorkers’ lungs bear the damage from the toxic dust breathed after the 9/11 attacks. Some firefighters still have abnormal lung function years later, and certain respiratory diseases such as mesothelioma take decades to appear.
New York, NY (PRWEB) January 5, 2011
New York personal injury attorney Joseph W. Belluck called the recent signing of the 9/11 health care bill a milestone in helping the many rescue workers and NY residents who have suffered serious health problems from inhaling toxic dust after the World Trade Center terrorist attacks.
“America has lived up to its moral duty to the brave responders who served selflessly on September 11 and the days after," says Belluck, a partner in Belluck & Fox, a New York personal injury law firm that represents victims of mesothelioma, a respiratory disease caused by exposure to asbestos.
“Many New Yorkers’ lungs bear the damage from the toxic dust breathed after the 9/11 attacks,” Belluck says. “Some firefighters still have abnormal lung function years later, and certain respiratory diseases such as mesothelioma take decades to appear.”
President Obama on Sunday signed into law H.R. 847, the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act that provides medical care and compensation to rescue workers and others harmed by the toxic dust after the 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.
The $4.3 billion measure will be funded with a fee on some foreign companies that receive U.S. procurement contracts. Democrats and Republicans in Congress finally negotiated a compromise to pass the bill after years of wrangling about the cost.
The bill was named in honor of the late NYPD detective who some consider the first responder to die from inhaling dust and debris at the World Trade Center. Zadroga died in January 2006.
The measure provides $1.8 billion to establish an ongoing monitoring and treatment program for first responders and New Yorkers to measure the health effects of those harmed by the toxic dust.
It funds a survivor program to provide health screenings and follow-up monitoring to people who live, worked or were present in lower Manhattan, south of Houston Street or in Brooklyn within a 1.5 mile radius of the World Trade Center site during a set period after the attacks.
As of March 2010, there were 4,000 individuals enrolled in the survivor program. The bill permits the enrollment of 25,000 additional people.
The Zadroga Act also provides $2.5 billion to re-open the September 11 Victims’ Compensation Fund for five years to provide fair compensation for economic losses and harm. Ground Zero workers can start making Zadroga claims in July.
“Some people are already working with a lawyer to prepare claims,” says Belluck, a nationally recognized New York City asbestos attorney. “It’s important to consult with an experienced mesothelioma lawyer who understands the far-reaching effects of exposure to airborne asbestos and other carcinogens."
About Belluck & Fox, LLP
Belluck & Fox, LLP is a nationally recognized law firm that represents individuals with asbestos and mesothelioma claims, as well as victims of crime, medical malpractice, motorcycle crashes, lead paint and other serious injuries. The firm provides personalized and professional representation and has won nearly $350 million in compensation for clients and their families.
Partner Joseph W. Belluck is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell and is listed in New York Magazine’s “Best Lawyers in the New York Area” and in Super Lawyers. Mr. Belluck has won numerous cases involving injuries from asbestos, defective medical products, tobacco and lead paint, including a recent asbestos case that settled for more than $12 million.
Partner Jordan Fox is a well-known asbestos and mesothelioma attorney who has been named to the Best Lawyers in America, New York Magazine’s “Best Lawyers in the New York Area” and to Super Lawyers. On two separate occasions his verdicts were featured as the National Law Journal’s Largest Verdict of the Year.
In September, Belluck & Fox, LLP won a coveted spot on a list of America's best law firms, which was published jointly by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers magazine. The listing showcased 8,782 different law firms ranked in one or more of 81 major practice areas.
For more information, contact the firm at (877) 695-2909, or through the firm's online contact form.
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