NEW YORK, NY May 23, 2008 —Lawyers defending the city against charges it failed to protect World Trade Center workers say those filing suit are not as sick as they claim. In a recent brief, the city said many plaintiffs lack detailed medical records. Lawyer David Worby says that information is currently being compiled.

WORBY: All of these people have individual doctors, who are gonna either testify or submit documentation. There’s pulmonary tests. There’s blood tests. There’s a ton of medical.

REPORTER: The city also alleges that many of the health claims by plaintiffs are common in the general population or tied to preexisting conditions.

Plaintiffs’ attorneys say the city is focusing only on those with relatively mild problems. They cite research studies by city and private doctors describing more severe and widespread World Trade Center related illness among generally healthy firefighters, police officers and construction workers.

The two sides will be back in Federal Court next week to discuss how to handle the individual and group claims.