Ground Zero heroes urged to accept $750 million compensation package

Lawyers urged sick 9/11 first responders to accept the newest settlement Wednesday night as they took questions about the nearly $700 million compensation package.

The town hall-style meeting was set up to offer the roughly 10,000 plaintiffs an opportunity to ask questions about the settlement and get more information from the lawyers behind it.

"This, ladies and gentlemen, to me is a no-brainer," said Kenneth Feinberg, who runs the 9/11 victim compensation fund and was recently appointed by President Obama to oversee settlement claims against BP. "I would urge everyone of you who's waited years too long to finally get something in terms of compensation, something meaningful."

The beefed-up settlement for rescue and cleanup workers was unveiled last week. It includes more cash for the sick and less money for the lawyers.

The pact must be approved by 95% of the plaintiffs and already has the blessing of the federal judge who rejected the last offering as too paltry.

Marc Bern, a lawyer with the firm representing most of the sick workers, said it's time for his clients to seal the deal.

"The great, great majority of people want this behind them," he said.

Plaintiffs at last night's meeting at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square seemed less convinced.

"I really don't know yet, it's hard to make a decision," said Robert Brady, 51, of Deer Park, L.I., a retired cop who spent more than 900 hours working at Ground Zero. "I'm not going to decide until September, the last minute."

Some litigants were already dead set against the settlement. "Due to the severity of my illnesses, it's not enough," said Keith LeBow, 47, of Inwood, who said he spent 100 hours on the pile and now suffers from major respiratory illness.