Manzo v. Great Northern Paper Co.

WATHEN, Chief Justice.

This appeal by the employer requires consideration of the interaction between the Occupational Disease Law and the Workers’ Compensation Act with respect to a nonincapacitating illness. Specifically, we must determine whether Eugene Man-zo, diagnosed as having an occupational disease not yet incapacitating, has suffered a personal injury under the Workers’ Compensation Act for the purpose of awarding a protective decree pursuant to 39 M.R.S.A. § 94 and fixing medical expenses pursuant to 39 M.R.S.A. § 52.

Manzo was diagnosed in 1983 as having asbestosis caused by frequent…