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Ross Huffer, a volunteer firefighter, died in his sleep from hypertensive and atherosclerotic heart disease after responding to two calls and attending a drill. His wife, the claimant, filed for workers' compensation death benefits, alleging his death was causally related to his employment duties. The Workers’ Compensation Board denied the claim, a decision which was subsequently affirmed on appeal. The court found insufficient evidence regarding the specific duties Huffer performed on the day prior to his death, thus failing to meet the requirements for the statutory presumption under Volunteer Firefighters’ Benefit Law § 61. A physician's opinion supporting the claim was also dismissed for being based on assumptions and a lack of concrete information.
Matter of Huffer v. Nesconset Fire District is a workers' compensation case decided in Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York. This case addresses legal issues related to compensation claims, benefits, and court rulings.
It is commonly referenced in legal research involving workers' compensation laws in Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York.
Full Decision Text1 Pages
Ross Huffer, a volunteer firefighter, died in his sleep from hypertensive and atherosclerotic heart disease after responding to two calls and attending a drill. His wife, the claimant, filed for workers' compensation death benefits, alleging his death was causally related to his employment duties. The Workers’ Compensation Board denied the claim, a decision which was subsequently affirmed on appeal. The court found insufficient evidence regarding the specific duties Huffer performed on the day prior to his death, thus failing to meet the requirements for the statutory presumption under Volunteer Firefighters’ Benefit Law § 61. A physician's opinion supporting the claim was also dismissed for being based on assumptions and a lack of concrete information.
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