Statue of Repose for Firefighter Cancer Claims Didn't Bar Claim for Medical Benefits

The Commonwealth Court ruled that a veteran firefighter’s potential entitlement to medical benefits for cancer was not extinguished by the 300-week statute of repose applicable to occupational disease claims prior to the passage of Act 46.  Case: Caffey v. WCAB (City of Philadelphia), No. 1268 C.D. 2017, 04/12/2018, published. Facts and procedural history: Joseph Caffey spent 31 years working as a firefighter for the City of Philadelphia. He retired in December 2003. In March 2009, doctors diagnosed Caffey with bladder cancer. Caffey filed a workers’ compensation claim...