Court Clarifies 'Catastrophically Injured' Standard for Firefighters

The Appellate Court of Illinois on Thursday released a decision holding that a firefighter was "catastrophically injured" in the line of duty, which means his municipal employer must reimburse him for health insurance premiums he paid until he became eligible for Medicare coverage.The case was Pyle v. City of Granite City, No. 5-11-0472.James Pyle worked as a firefighter for Granite City from 1977 to 2000. He injured his right shoulder and lower back while moving a water hose at residential fires in March 1998 and in September 1999. Pyle sought line-of-duty disability pension benefit...