NU Online News Service, June 28, 12:25 p.m. EDT

A federal judge is encouraging defendants currently outside the scope of a recently announced $712.5 million World Trade Center settlement to join the settlement, calling it fair and reasonable for injured plaintiffs.

Speaking in court on June 25, Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, said, "It is my hope that the pathway opened by the plaintiffs and the city and its contractors is one [other defendants] can explore to the extent they want to.... The proper mode to move forward is to organize a procedure so that any party that wishes to settle may do so...."

On June 23, Judge Hellerstein signed an order approving a settlement for workers' claims against the World Trade Center Insurance Company--a not-for-profit insurance company enabled by Congress to defend and indemnify New York City and the contractors it hired for 9/11 rescue work.