Leah Broker Law

It was a privilege to represent Jeff in his WC claim for occupational cancer. Sadly he passed only a few months after diagnosis. The City of Asheville denied the claim, but my colleague Annemarie Pantazis and I reached a WC settlement for his widow with the City and then filed his line of duty death claim on her behalf. This was an important award as his cancer was not one of the 6 presumptive LODD cancers. RIP.

The NC Industrial Commission has ruled that Safety and Training Officer Jeff Lyon’s death from cancer was in the line of duty. This significant decision honors Jeff’s dedication and acknowledges the tremendous risks firefighters face every day. Jeff joined the AFD on September 30, 1996, and ended his courageous battle with cancer on November 16, 2022.

In his memory, we will request that the NC Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation honor Jeff at the State Memorial in Raleigh and the National Memorial in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

Learning so much at the International Firefighter Cancer Symposium and meeting some amazing folks! Vincent Reynolds was toxicologist for our Morris v City of Asheville case!

Was honored to be interviewed with my former client and hero Ben Brickhouse this morning! Many thanks to Mark for having us on to discuss firefighter cancer as an occupational disease under Worker's Compensation. Thank you. For amazing safety and educational information - please follow North Carolina Firefighter Cancer Alliance!!!!

Firefighters Fight For Cancer Coverage - Leah Broker - First News On 570 Asheville Lawyer Leah Broker joins First News on 570, in studio, along with former firefighter Ben Brickhouse. January is Fire Fighter Cancer Awareness Month. Many are fighting for medical benefits to treat cancers tied to their service.

https://cvent.me/nVkVg2?sms=7&cn=7iOBcjgQRg-woiiVIeZl2w

Just registered for the 2024 International Firefighter Cancer Symposium at U of Miami. Looking forward to hearing from experts from around the world on firefighter cancer!

2023 International Firefighter Cancer Symposium

Fun way to support our local firefighter association and their Honor Guard. Hope to see folks there!

All Asheville Fire members and families are invited to come join your Asheville Fire Honor Guard and Local 332 members for a family evening of music, food and socializing. The Funkatorium has offered us their indoor private event space as well as their outside covered seating area. They’ve offered us the first few beers on the house AND booked us a band, too. Goldie and the Screamers will be playing music from 4-7pm. Cultura will have food available for purchase as well as Bear’s BBQ next door and plenty of other food options on the South Slope. Wicked W**d Brewing will be donating a portion of proceeds from all beer and wine pours for the entire evening. Family Night proceeds from Wicked W**d will go to the AFHG Training and Travel Fund / AFFA Foundation. Hope to see you there.

During June's Cancer Survivors Month, we stand together to honor the incredible resilience and strength of our members who have conquered cancer and those bravely battling it. As your Union, we stand united in our commitment to eliminate cancer from the fire service. Let's take this moment to pay tribute to the warriors who fought valiantly against this disease and offer our unwavering support to one another as we carry on this crucial mission.

Learned so much at the NOSSCR conference and made more friends! It’s always great gaining new tools to help my Social Security disability clients!!

Happy to be in DC attending and presenting at this year’s conference!!

https://www.abccm-vsc.org/events/buncombe-standdown?fbclid=IwAR3bR2fVb2Ubz_KfbVG-lexOYYlnYD8Xpi9QulJAAkV001MYeMWaDm0Dt08

Share this information! I am privileged to participate for the 2d year in a row at the Buncombe County Stand Down offering assistance to Veterans seeking Social Security disability and/or SSI benefits.

Buncombe County Veteran Stand Down — Veterans Services of the Carolinas 2023 Buncombe County Veteran Stand Down April 28, 2023: 9AM - 3PM at The Acts Building at ABCCM’s Veterans Restoration Quarters, 1401 Tunnel Road, Asheville, NC 28805 AVAILABLE RESOURCES Health Screenings, Dental Assistance, Mental Health Services, Employment Assistance, Housing/Shelter Assist

Come out and support Mikey Riley and bring attention and funding to Firefighter cancer! I plan to cheer him on!

*24 Hour Firefighter Run*
When- April 22, 2023 at 0900 rain or shine
Where - Carrier Park
What - Mikey Riley is going to run 24 hours to raise money and awareness for the Blue Ridge Firefighter Health and Wellness Grant which will offset costs of cancer screenings for small fire departments across NC. There will be T Shirts available and ways to donate. More information coming soon.

The Fire Fighter Quarterly is online. In this issue: learn more about the IAFF's legal effort to eradicate PFAS in fire fighter gear, see Media Award winners and Behavioral health news update!
https://www.iaff.org/magazine/2023-winter/

https://wlos.com/news/local/second-asheville-firefighter-in-a-year-reaches-workers-comp-cancer-settlement-with-city

My cocounsel, Annemarie Pantazis, and I were happy to reach a settlement for our client’s widow.
The prior settlement referenced was also our client who survived prostate and throat cancers.

Second Asheville firefighter in a year reaches worker's comp cancer settlement with city For the second time in a year, the city of Asheville has reached a settlement with a firefighter over an occupational cancer worker's comp claim.

His widow is not my client, but each time a firefighter's death from cancer is found to have been a Line of Duty Death (LODD) it is another step forward toward our goal that all firefighter cancer get covered as an occupational disease by the NC Workers' Compensation law.

Write to your city councils, county commissioners, NC State House representative and your NC state Senator to demand that firefighter cancers NOT be denied workers' compensation benefits. WC is separate from LODD funds.

The North Carolina Industrial Commission has ruled Fire Investigator Dewayne Fender's death from cancer as a line of duty-death. Dewayne became a member of our department on January 31st, 1994, and took great pride in being an Asheville Firefighter. He died on January 8, 2022, after serving for 28 years with the Asheville Fire Department.

“Dewayne was an amazing person and friend who loved serving our community as a firefighter," states Fire Chief Scott Burnette. "This ruling honors him well and will help to continue to protect the firefighters that he cared for so dearly from the risks that they face every day.”

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article272651685.html =mainstage_lead

NC set to FINALLY expand Medicaid! 13 years late, with so many unnecessary deaths and suffering. This will cover an additional 600,000 low income North Carolinians!

Medicaid expansion deal reached between NC House and Senate After years of negotiations, the North Carolina House and Senate have finally agreed on expanding Medicaid.

Turn knowledge into action during Week 3 of Fire Fighter Cancer Awareness Month. This week - Prevention - addresses best practices to follow on the fire ground, at the station, and in your daily lives. Learn More: https://www.iaff.org/cancer-awareness-month/ -3-prevention

https://publichealthwatch.org/2023/01/18/toxic-firefighting-foam-persists-in-u-s-despite-calls-for-a-ban/

Fantastic article and reporting by Melba Newsome for Public Health Watch.

Proud to have represented Ben in his NC Workers' Compensation occupational disease claim along with Annemarie Pantazis. He now has a claim against the manufacturers of his PFAS laden protective gear.

Toxic Firefighting Foam Persists in U.S. Despite Calls for a Ban - Public Health Watch The evidence continues to mount that a widely used firefighting foam may be linked to high rates of cancer among U.S. firefighters. Why is the foam still in firehouses?

January is Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month!
I am proud to represent local firefighters in their workers' compensation claims for cancer as an occupational disease. Sadly, two of my clients are widows of career firefighters whose lives were cut short by cancer.
Know your rights!
Get screened frequently!
Much gratitude to NC Firefighter Cancer Alliance for their great work!

It's our month everyone! Time to get out the word about

This article gives a glimpse into the arcane world of Social Security disability law. The injustice is something I deal with every day.

SSA Using 40-Year-Old Job Listings to Deny Disability Claims ~ NOSSCR A recent article in the Washington Post brought much-needed light to the Social Security Administration’s practice of using an obsolete job listings publication to deny disability benefits to claimants. Social Security uses the Dictionary of Occupational Titles, containing thousands of entries tha...

I just went online and donated to 11 area non-profits in ONE easy checkout!! Please give too- every dollar counts!!

Products | Give!Local Guide Asheville's easiest path to year-end giving.

https://wlos.com/news/local/if-it-wasnt-for-the-testing-id-be-dead-nc-firefighters-struggle-with-workers-comp-asheville-fire-department-ben-brickhouse

I was interviewed by Jennifer Emert of WLOS as was my workers' compensation firefighter client Ben.

'If it wasn't for the testing, I'd be dead,' NC firefighters struggle with workers' comp For two decades North Carolina firefighters have been denied occupational cancer benefits. Essentially, they have to die before their families get financial he