NEW YORK POST - Last Updated:Sun., Feb. 28, 2010, 04:56am
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/cantor_bid_is_hiked_by_hWwWOXdIVfcvOL5nkISWuO

CANTOR Fitzgerald has boosted its damages claim in the September 11, 2001 terror attacks by more than $1 billion to cover lost profits after two-thirds of its work force perished in the World Trade Center collapse.

The global financial services firm, which initially sought only $102.5 million, demanded the eye-popping amount "on the eve of mediation" last year, according to a new Manhattan federal court filing, the New York Post reports.

Defendant American Airlines -- whose Flight 11 crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York -- will seek to have the "dramatic increase" dismissed on grounds that it's a "disguised wrongful death claim" with no basis in law, the court papers say.

A Cantor spokesman declined to comment.

Cantor's claim was revealed in an agreement to settle $6 billion worth of property-damage suits filed by 80 businesses, including the former Windows on the World restaurant, World Trade Center Farmers Market and numerous insurance companies.