Claim of Thomas v. Bethlehem Steel Corp.

OPINION OF THE COURT

Kaye, J.

Among recent amendments to the Workers’ Compensation Law relating to occupational hearing losses is a provision that employees whose disablement and knowledge of disablement occurred prior to October 1, 1980 would have six months from such date to file their claims (L 1980, ch 324). The question presented is whether this provision should have retroactive application. We conclude that the provision applies only to claims which were viable on October 1, 1980, and not to all claims where disablement and knowledge existed prior to October 1, 1980, and we therefore…