Retirement Board v. Contributory Retirement Appeal Board

Claire Cole (employee), an employee of the city of Salem for many years, suffered a permanently disabling heart attack at home within one hour after experiencing emotional distress on being told, while she was at work, that her employment position was going to be eliminated in the upcoming budget. A regional medical panel concluded that the heart attack was caused in part by the employee’s emotional stress connected to *287learning the news of her impending job loss. At issue here is whether in such circumstances, the employee has been disabled by a “personal injury sustained . . . as a result…