Comp Claim Accepted Just Before Alaska Firefighter Dies

October 18, 2010

The municipality of Anchorage has agreed that a firefighter’s cancer was caused by his work and that his family is entitled to additional benefits.

Andy Mullen, who died of the disease last week, was exposed to burning wires 13 years ago. He filed a workers’ compensation claim six months ago.

City claims adjustors initially disputed the compensation claim, but Mullen and the city reached an agreement 12 days before he died.

Eric Croft, Mullen’s attorney and a former Democratic state legislator, says the case was the first test of Alaska’s “firefighter presumption” law.

Under the 2-year-old law, firefighters are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits if they develop certain types of cancer after documented exposure to known carcinogens while on the job.

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Latest Comments

  • October 18, 2010 at 4:01 am
    Lou says:
    I don't know, but to me it seems like you should know the hazards of your profession, or learn pretty quickly after starting a job/career. It doesn't seem fair for a workers c... read more
  • October 18, 2010 at 1:08 am
    Bob says:
    They used to have insurance to cover pre-mature death, I believe it was called life insurance.
  • October 18, 2010 at 1:08 am
    Bob says:
    They used to have insurance to cover pre-mature death, I believe it was called life insurance.

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