Puntasecca v. Violent Crimes Compensation Board

The opinion of the court was delivered by

LANDAU, J.S.C.

(temporarily assigned).

Claimant Eugene Puntasecca (Puntasecca), a Teaneck firefighter, appeals from a final determination of the Violent Crimes Compensation Board (Board) which denied his claim for compensation for certain lost earnings resulting from injuries he sustained while engaged in extinguishing an arson-caused fire.

The sole basis for rejection of his claim disclosed by the record was the Board’s determination that the “fireman’s rule” recognized in Berko v. Freda, 93 N.J. 81 (1983) precluded such *371award because Puntasecca’s…