Claim of Falkouski v. City of Rensselaer Fire Department

Appeal from a decision of the Workers’ Compensation Board, filed June 19, 2008, which denied an award of death benefits pursuant to the provisions of the Volunteer Firefighters’ Benefit Law.

Decedent had a part-time paid position as an assistant fire chief and he was also a member of one of the several volunteer fire companies in the City of Rensselaer, Rensselaer County. He suffered a ruptured cerebral aneurysm while at a fire and died. His surviving spouse filed claims under both the Workers’ Compensation Law and the Volunteer Firefighters’ Benefit Law. A workers’ compensation law judge…