Fiore v. Consolidated Freightways

The opinion of the Court was delivered by

POLLOCK, J.

We granted certification, 137 N.J. 165, 644 A.2d 613 (1994), to determine the standard of proof required to establish an occupational heart-disease claim under N.J.S.A. 34:15-1 to -128, the Workers’ Compensation Act (the Act). We conclude generally that an employee claiming an occupational heart disease must show that the disease is due in a material degree to causes or conditions that characterize the employee’s occupation and that substantially contribute to the development of the disease. That conclusion leads to a remand to the Division…