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Widow of NY firefighter finally receives workers’ comp death benefits

Posted on Aug 21, 2009

The widow of a New York firefighter who died shortly after leading a training exercise was finally awarded workers’ compensation benefits after initially being denied. The firefighter, George Davidson, was a deputy fire coordinator who died in April 2007 after suffering a heart attack a few hours after the exercise.

When his widow, Claudia Davidson, applied for the workers’ compensation benefits that should be available to volunteer firefighters who die in the line of duty, she was denied.

The Sullivan County insurer told Mrs. Davidson that she took too long to file the claim and could not offer proof that her husband’s heart attack was caused by the training exercise. However, in a closed hearing a workers’ comp judge decided that she was in fact entitled to benefits.

Davidson claims she was late in requesting benefits because she initially applied for federal benefits, unaware that she was eligible for state workers’ comp benefits.

In addition, the federal government recognized that her husband died as a result of stress and exertion while training when Davidson was told she was entitled to a Bureau of Justice Assistance Grant through the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

According to Davidson’s attorney, she is entitled to a one-time payment of $56,000 and $887 per week for life. She may also receive up to $6,700 to cover funeral expenses.