PHOENIX (KVOA) - The Arizona Supreme Court ruled that a 2017 law applies to firefighter Robert Vande Krol’s workers’ compensation claim, not a newer version passed in 2021. Vande Krol, diagnosed with brain cancer in 2020, filed his claim in January 2021.
The 2017 law helps firefighters with certain medical conditions obtain workers’ compensation benefits by presuming the job caused the condition with the right evidence. The 2021 version, which eases the proof requirements further, was enacted after Vande Krol's diagnosis and claim filing.
The Court decided the 2017 law applies, as the 2021 version was not in effect when Vande Krol filed, and lawmakers did not specify it should apply retroactively. This aligns with Arizona's rule that new laws do not apply to past events unless explicitly stated by lawmakers.
The case returns to the Court of Appeals to review Vande Krol’s claim under the 2017 law.
