World Trade Center Litigation Developments
 

The September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center left lower Manhattan in ruins, the country’s financial system frozen and the nation terrorized. America called upon its police officers, firemen, EMS technicians, construction workers, and hazardous substance handlers to rescue the injured, recover the fallen, clean away the substances, and decontaminate the surrounding buildings of the toxic World Trade Center debris. Despite the bravery and hard work of these heroes, our elected officials, property owners, contractors, and employers ignored the long-term health hazards of the toxic World Trade Center debris, and permitted and encouraged those workers to work without the necessary and legally mandated safety protection.

The result of this disregard for the safety of these workers is now becoming manifest. Thousands of workers are suffering from respiratory illness such as asthma, bronchitis, COPD, RADS, sinusitis and lung masses. Others have been diagnosed with GERDs, ulcers and colon polyps. Many are developing cardiac conditions, cancers, and other debilitating illnesses. Some have died.

Gregory J. Cannata & Associates represents approximately 100 of these injured firemen, police officers, construction workers and hazardous substance cleaners in their suits against those responsible. These suits are being brought under the New York State Labor Law. 

There are currently 1200 plaintiffs in the Federal Court Docket for the hazardous substance cleaners. In 2005 the Federal Court appointed Gregory J. Cannata as “Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel” to lead the entire litigation in Docket 21 MC 102. Together with Robert A. Grochow, Gregory J. Cannata has moved this massive litigation forward with the goal of trial or settlement within the next year.