Pflughaupt v. State Accident Insurance Fund

The issue in this workmen’s compensation case is the legal effect of the statutory presumption regarding occupational diseases of firemen, ORS 656.802. Claimant, fire chief in Corvallis, suffered a myocardial infarction while at home in August 1973. His compensation claim was denied by the referee, the Workmen’s Compensation Board, and the circuit court. He appeals.

The relevant portions of ORS 656.802 provide as follows:

"(1) As used in ORS 656.802 to 656.824, 'occupational disease’ means:

''(b) Death, disability or impairment of health of firemen of any political division who have completed…