Report: N.Y. Port Authority holding funds

The New York Port Authority is holding $650 million in liability insurance funds that could benefit sick World Trade Center workers, it was reported Sunday.

If the agency's coverage is added to the city's current $1 billion insurance fund, city officials could begin settling a number of ailing workers' compensation claims, the New York Post reported.

Attorneys representing those city workers have said using that additional money would expedite a settlement of a lengthy legal battle between the two sides. They also have accused the port authority, which owned the World Trade Center, of not taking appropriate precautions for workers during the clean-up of the Sept. 11 attack.

Defense attorney David Warby said that while the agency's liability for damages in the matter was capped at $650 million by Congress after the terrorist attack, little has been done since to aid sick workers.

"Congress intended to compensate the workers while also protecting the port authority from exposure above their insurance," Worby told the Post. "The port authority's policy decision is to hurt the workers -- not pay them."

Source:United Press International