NY judge: Others should join 9/11 responders' deal

NEW YORK — The judge who approved the settlement for thousands of 9/11 first responders exposed to toxic World Trade Center dust wants other defendants to join it.

U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein released a statement Friday urging hundreds of other defendants to consider participating in the settlement. They include workers involved in the extensive cleanup of buildings surrounding ground zero.

The judge also extended a suspension of all of the litigation. He did not set an end date.

Hellerstein on Wednesday signed off on a deal that could pay more than $700 million to about 10,000 police, firefighters and construction workers. It still must be approved by 95 percent of the plaintiffs before becoming final.