Court Adds Occ. Disease Claims to 2nd Injury Fund Worries

A Missouri appellate court on Tuesday opened the door to an additional category of claims for which the state's near-defunct Second Injury Fund will have to pay benefits. A unanimous Western District panel ruled that an occupational disease qualifies as a "compensable injury" for purposes of triggering fund liability. In light of this, the court said, the fund owed Gloria Stiers lifetime benefits of $303.50 per week because she sustained an injury by occupational disease during her employment with Production Products Manufacturing & Sales. The occupational disease c...