Metro

Only WTC responder yet to settle has ‘fat’ chance due to criminal past, health

TRAGIC SCENE: One ironworker who worked the 9/11 “pile” refused to take part in the city’s settlement. (NY Post: Tamara Beckwith)

Only one of the 10,000 Ground Zero workers who sued the city claiming toxic materials at the site damaged their health is headed to trial — and he’s a convicted crook.

Ironworker Bruce Greenberg, 58, was one of 85 responders who opted out of a $680 million settlement, hoping to get more from a jury.

The other 84 withdrew their suits by the Jan. 2 deadline to make them eligible for federal compensation under the Zadroga Act.

While many of the emergency responders may wind up getting money from both the city and Zadroga, Greenberg apparently hopes to hit an even bigger jackpot by pressing his lawsuit.

His case — in which he claims a lung ailment contracted by working on the cleanup left him unable to “work and earn a living’’ — is on track for trial in Manhattan federal court.

But whether he was even hurt on the pile is being questioned.

“From our understanding of the facts, he was not injured while working at Ground Zero,” Peter Spencer, a spokesman for the Staten Island DA said.

The corpulent ex-con, who weighed 370 pounds last year, admitted in February he raked in $138,000 worth of Social Security disability payments for his claimed WTC injuries — while also collecting a six-figure salary for a cushy job at the Deutsche Bank demolition downtown.

“This fat guy pulled up in his Corvette, sat in a director’s chair and basically supervised, ” said a source close to the Staten Island DA’s probe.

A 2007 blaze at the Deutsche Bank killed two FDNY firefighters unable to get water from a disconnected standpipe.

Both Greenberg and his lawyer, Stephen Cantor, declined comment. “No comment, nice talking to you,’’ Greenberg said before hanging up.

Before Greenberg and his wife, Angela, were busted in April 2011 for bilking Social Security and evading taxes, they allegedly spent big bucks renovating their Staten Island home. They also bought a $60,000 Corvette and two Cadillac Escalades, authorities said.

They were charged with failing to pay more than $30,000 in city and state income taxes in 2006 and 2007 while pulling in $325,000 from their jobs.

He pleaded guilty to felony tax evasion in that case and will avoid prison if he repays about $200,000. His wife admitted to lesser charges.

Greenberg also cashed in on 9/11 by collecting Workers Compensation.

But a Workers Comp judge recently cut off his payments — finding his breathing difficulty stemmed from obesity not Ground Zero, a source said.

Greenberg and his brother David, an ex-cop, were found guilty in 1990 of insurance fraud involving Brooklyn video stores they ran.

Despite his rap sheet, Bruce Greenberg can still win his lawsuit — unless he’s faking it, said Robert Grochow, a lawyer for other 9/11 workers.

“The city can raise his criminal record to challenge his credibility before a jury, but that alone should not invalidate what may be a legitimate claim,” Grochow said.

“However, if the court concludes it’s a fraudulent claim, the judge would not only dismiss it but probably refer the plaintiff to the US Attorney for investigation.”

Depending on the severity of his claimed lung disease, sarcoidosis, Greenberg could have snagged up to $750,000 in the city settlement.