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Bloomberg Urges Ground Zero Workers To Settle

NEW YORK (AP) -- New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the special master of the 9/11 compensation fund are urging ground zero workers to settle thousands of lawsuits over health problems caused by World Trade Center dust.

LISTEN: WCBS 880's Rich Lamb reports

Lawyers for about 10,000 workers tentatively worked out a settlement last spring. It could be worth $625 million to $712.5 million, depending on how many people take the deal.

Some workers with respiratory problems would qualify for tens of thousands of dollars in compensation. A few with more serious illnesses linked to the dust could get $1 million or more.

The mayor and 9/11 claims overseer Kenneth Feinberg were scheduled to appear together today to repeat their plea for workers to settle.

The deal only takes effect if 95 percent of all plaintiffs say yes.

(Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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