9/11 Legal Suit

[Grahameeboy]

Geeze, only in America.

How can it be that New York City are liable for this?

I mean is this a risk that rescue workers take by virtue of their work?

NEW YORK - New York City is willing to enter discussions to settle a lawsuit with 9000 rescue and cleanup workers at the World Trade Center disaster site who may be sick from inhaling toxic dust, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said.

The plaintiffs are seeking damages from the city in federal court, saying they suffer from respiratory illnesses attributed to breathing toxic ash, dust and other contaminants from the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks.

The city previously has attempted to convince a federal judge to dismiss the suit, though it has the benefit of a $1 ($1.33) billion federal fund established in case the city was found to have liability.

[ZeroIndex]

Hang on... firefighters and rescue workers... isn't going into dangerous places for the money they get paid their, um.... JOB!!?!?!?

[Romeo]

I'm sure if you were suffering from a terminal lung disease caused by someone covering up the truth about the hazard of your work place you'd be suing as well.

I seem to recall the city pushing for a faster cleanup at the expense of rescue worker safety - "It's safe to breathe boys, get back to work".

[Grahameeboy]

I'm sure if you were suffering from a terminal lung disease caused by someone covering up the truth about the hazard of your work place you'd be suing as well.

Probably not if I was going to die...I would have more important things on my mind

I seem to recall the city pushing for a faster cleanup at the expense of rescue worker safety - "It's safe to breathe boys, get back to work".

That may explain why then?

...............

[canarlee]

Hang on... firefighters and rescue workers... isn't going into dangerous places for the money they get paid their, um.... JOB!!?!?!?

agreed.


also



a large amount of the rescue workers were volunteers...........so why should they be able to claim/sue? they went in voluntarily, didnt they......?

[car]

Probably not if I was going to die...I would have more important things on my mind

Well, last time I thought I was going to die my first thought was "how will my wife and kids live without my support?"

Actually, I lie: my second thought was about how my family would support themselves; my first thought was "argh, my chest!"

[Grahameeboy]

agreed.


also



a large amount of the rescue workers were volunteers...........so why should they be able to claim/sue? they went in voluntarily, didnt they......?

There be some truth in that Sir.....Novus Actus Intervenien (spelling may be a bit ??).............if someone is aware of risks then that exonerates the original wrongdoer

[Usarka]

if you volunteered to help the city in a crisis or as part of your job in the fire service and broke your leg would you expect to get it patched up with city resources free of charge?

whats the difference if you broke your lungs in the process?

fuck all if you ask me......just more expensive.

[Grahameeboy]

Well, last time I thought I was going to die my first thought was "how will my wife and kids live without my support?"

Actually, I lie: my second thought was about how my family would support themselves; my first thought was "argh, my chest!"

I know what you mean but if it was a choice between spending quality time with my family or trying to sue the City, I would rather go for the former cause my family would manage..................mind you I only have my Daughter to think about and she is covered.

[Grahameeboy]

if you volunteered to help the city in a crisis or as part of your job in the fire service and broke your leg would you expect to get it patched up with city resources free of charge?

whats the difference if you broke your lungs in the process?

fuck all if you ask me......just more expensive.

They will be claiming Special Damages for loss of earnings, dependants etc, not just the body repairs.

They may well be getting medical help via Insurance or the Public Health system which does operate in the States so likely they are claiming other damages which I guess is where the grey area is.

[Usarka]

Actually, I lie: my second thought was about how my family would support themselves; my first thought was "argh, my chest!"

Those fucking aliens again eh.

[The Pastor]

if the city council made them do somthing unsafe, like couldnt provide dustmasks or somthing then you can say they are at fault,

still messed up, instead of getting sued the council should be PAYING them dubble the costs for a good serivce provided.

[Romeo]

Oh, and remember that they don't have a public healthcare system. If you're uninsured (or if the insurance companies aren't going to pay out for "9/11 related injuries") you and your family are going to have to foot the bill for your medical costs (imagine how much it would cost for a year of hospital and home care - we're talkin hundreds of thousands of dollars). It's not like these people just drop dead, then get burried. They slowly rot away from terminal lung disease over an extended period of time, so that's 1-5 years of assisted living culminating in a painful, untimely death - NOT CHEAP!

Would you enjoy your family and leave them penniless paupers, or would you fight for your family's future? Sounds like most people on here would rather have the former...

[canarlee]

they do have a public (NHS equivalent) health care system in yank land.

[Romeo]

they do have a public (NHS equivalent) health care system in yank land.

Doesn't sound like it.

For Joel Segal, it was the day he was kicked out of George Washington Hospital, still on an IV after knee surgery, without insurance, and with $100,000 in medical debt. For Kiki Peppard, it was having to postpone needed surgery until she could find a job with insurance -- it took her two years. People all over the United States are waking up to the fact that our [American] system of providing health care is a disaster.

...

An estimated 50 million Americans lack medical insurance, and a similar and rapidly growing number are underinsured. The uninsured are excluded from services, charged more for services, and die when medical care could save them -- an estimated 18,000 die each year because they lack medical coverage.

...

And most Americans know why: the United States leaves the health of its citizens at the mercy of an expensive, patchwork system where some get great care while others get none at all.

Would this happen in New Zealand?