With the May 16 trial date approaching, lawyers for the city and attorneys for thousands of 9/11 responders who say they got sick or injured after working at Ground Zero are apparently hurrying to reach a settlement. Though attorneys from both sides declined to comment on negotiations, Judge Alvin Hellerstein told the Times that "[t]here have been intensive discussions going on looking to settlements of individual cases and globally of all cases...The parties have been working very hard...The settlement is complicated." more ›

The Obama administration will not support funding a 9/11 health bill intended to pay for medical treatment for those who have become sick in the aftermath of the attack. The news apparently came as a surprise to New York Democrats, who learned Thursday that the President won't back the bill, which would dole out $11 billion over 30 years to care for the people who have gotten ill after working at Ground Zero, and compensate families for their losses, the Daily News reports. more ›

In the ongoing battle between New York City and those suing it, claiming they got sick from working at Ground Zero after the September 11 attacks, the city now says 31% have mild illnesses, "like [a] runny nose or cough." Of course, the city would like to have as many of the thousands of lawsuits dismissed or settled as easily as possible, and the plaintiff's lawyers claim the city's review is skewed. The NY Times has different documents from both sides. more ›