Couch v. City of Middletown

Walsh, Judge.

This is an appeal from a Butler County Court of Common Pleas jury verdict that found plaintiff-appellee, Gregory Couch, was entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.

Couch was hired in 1979 as a fire fighter for defendant-appellant, the city of Middletown. On June 13, 1983, Couch filed an occupational disease claim with defendant-appellant, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (“OBWC”), which alleged that he had contracted rhinitis and a tumor in his nose as a result of exposure to smoke, fumes and toxic chemicals while fighting fires. Rhinitis is a respiratory condition…