The widow of a Salem firefighter who died of cancer is battling to keep benefits.
Firefighter Maurice (Mo) Stadeli died of tonsillar (throat) cancer, KATU reported.
The city of Salen filed yet another appeal that Stadeli had pre-existing conditions that led to the cancer not his exposure during his 28-year firefighting career.
Oregon has a presumption law that says cancer is an "on-the-job" injury for firefighters, which makes them eligible for workers' compensation.
In 2021, the Oregon Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Stadeli's estate. But, Salem is appealing that decision.
Tina Stadeli is not standing alone fighting to keep her husband's benefits. His friends and members of the Salem Professional Fire Fighters Association are right there with her. Some feel the string of appeals shows a lack of compassion.
"To take it this far, this award (workers' comp) came out in 2021, and to wait two years to file like the city did, and days before we put his name on the (Fallen Fire Fighter) Memorial in Colorado Springs is absolutely wrong," said Matt Brozovich, president.
Tina told a reporter: "My husband told me that he wanted me to fight, you know, for future firefighters, and that is what I have done ever since. Basically, my husband just said this is what they have done and this is what you need to do after I'm gone. He said for future firefighters this is what we need to do, and he asked me if I would do it, and I told him absolutely I would, and I wouldn't stop."
The city issued the following statement:
"The city believes that the court of appeals decision misinterpreted Oregon workers compensation law, by requiring medical experts to have a level of certainty regarding the cause of some diseases that simply is not possible," the statement reads in part. "If the Court of Appeals decision stands, the City of Salem and other Oregon employers will pay higher workers compensation insurance premiums and pay more in claims for some illnesses or injuries that are unrelated to working conditions."
