Appeals Court Grants Disability Award to Firefighter Who Suffered Stroke

An appeals court in Illinois on Wednesday granted a disability award to a firefighter who suffered a stroke but may have had preexisting conditions. Charles Melton, an East Peoria employee for more than 20 years, in 2020 applied for an occupational disease disability pension, alleging a “work-related stroke brought on by exposure as a firefighter” and that he was “precluded from performing normal work activity by statute and medical recommendations,” according to City of East Peoria v. Melton, filed in the 4th District Appellate Court of Illinois. The city h...