A cloudy future: a recent New York law extending the deadline for Sept. 11-related worker's comp claim means insurers of first responders may experience liability for years to come.(Health/Employee Benefits: Workers' Compensation, Health)

Best's Review, September, 2006 by Chordas, Lori

New York City Police Department detective James Zadroga was inside 7 World Trade Center when it began to collapse. The 34-year-old detective was one of the first responders to the Sept. 11, 2001, attack, spending 470 hours searching for victims in the debris at Ground Zero. Despite wearing a paper mask during the clean up, Zadroga developed a chronic cough, shortness of breath, acid reflux and headaches, forcing him to take medication and supplemental oxygen to breathe. By the end of 2004, he had to take a disability leave from his position and was granted a disability pension equal to 75% of his salary. Earlier tiffs year, Zadroga died as a result of black lung disease and mercury on the brain. He's said to be the first NYPD officer to die as a direct result of...

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