Firefighter's Time as Volunteer and Trainee Counts as 'Employment'

By Sherri OkamotoLegal ReporterIn a case of first impression, the Colorado Court of Appeals last week ruled that a firefighter's time spent as a volunteer and at the fire academy counted towards his years of service for purposes of applying the cancer presumption statute. Colorado Revised Statutes Section 8-41-209 provides that cancers of the brain, skin, digestive system, hematological system or genitourinary system in firefighters will be presumed to have been caused by their employment if they have had over five years on the job. Until last Thursday, the Court of Appeals had n...