"We are only seeing the tip of the iceberg three years later interms of the number of victims as well as the variety and severityof their illnesses," said David E. Worby; a senior partner atWorby, Groner, Edelman, & Napoli, Bern LLP, who is handling thecase.

"The rescue, recovery and cleanup of the World Trade Center sitewas conducted completely under the auspices and control of theFederal Emergency Management Agency and the City of New York," saysHoward J. Rubenstein, a spokesman for Larry Silverstein, whoseSilverstein Properties is the site's leaseholder. "We had nocontrol over that operation and no ability to supervise what safetyprecautions were taken." The claim was also brought against anumber of companies hired to oversee the debris removal processincluding Lend Lease, Turner Construction, AMEC Construction andTully Construction.

According to Worby, the suit, which currently has more than 800plaintiffs, is seeking billions of dollars in compensation forvictims and to establish funding for a decades-long protocol ofmedical testing for all those exposed to these poisons. The suitwas filed in US Federal Court on Friday, the day before athree-year statute of limitations for lawsuits relating to theterror attacks expired.