A U.S. district judge blocked lawyers from charging September 11th first responders more than $6 million in fees.

At a Manhattan hearing, Judge Alvin Hellerstein banned attorneys from charging interest on money their clients borrowed to pursue their case against the government.

Some 10,000 police, firefighters, and construction workers are listed in the lawsuit.

Hellerstein signed off on a settlement that could pay them as much as $713 million.

However, 95 percent of the responders must opt into the deal for it to take effect.

On Wednesday, the company managing the settlement extended the deadline from early September to November. They say more than half of the plaintiffs already accepted the deal.

(Source: NY1)