NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- A Brooklyn firefighter who was a first responder on 9/11 and worked for months digging survivors out of the rubble won $2.5 million in a lawsuit against New York City for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma he likely developed as a result of his work.
Brian Kevan, 53, was diagnosed with cancer in 2019, which forced him to retire.
He opted to sue the city instead of filing with the federal Victim Compensation Fund, which is how almost all first responders with 9/11-related ailments have sought compensation.
The fund has paid out almost $9.3 billion to 42,000 people exposed to the toxic dust released into the air after the 9/11 attacks, including those with backgrounds and cancer similar to Kevan.
Survivors who sue the city are barred from the funds. Those who sue are also not guaranteed compensation, and the process is much more time consuming which makes lawsuits rare.
Kevan’s earnings from the lawsuit came from the fund.
He received a life-saving bone marrow transplant from an anonymous donor in November.
Kevan says he plans to use the money from the lawsuit to fund a charity for others with severe illness.
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