Revised 9/11 First Responder Compensation Deal Gets Thumbs Up From Judge

A revised deal to compensate 9/11 first responders is likely to get approved by Judge Hellerstein following public hearings later this month.

Hellerstein had rejected an earlier deal because the lawyers fees were excessive and didn't devote sufficient funds to the compensation of those sickened by working at Ground Zero during the relief and recovery phase following the attacks.

The revised deal would raise the amount of the settlement to $625 million to $712 million and reduces the fees lawyers would collect from one-third to one-fourth of the settlement. Previously, the settlement range was $575 million to $657 and in both iterations, the amount was based on how many members of the class approved of the deal.