Teacher's Rare Reaction to Mold Not a Compensable Disease

WILMINGTON, Del. - A physical education instructor's apparent rare reaction to a common mold is not sufficient proof of a compensable, work-related illness, a Delaware court has affirmed. Walker v. State of Delaware, No. 08A-08-016 PLA (Del. Super. Ct., New Castle Cty.).

New Castle County (Del.) Superior Court Judge Peggy L. Ableman said in a May 18 opinion that substantial evidence supported the Delaware Industrial Accident Board's denial of benefits for high school teacher Harry Walker.

Walker sought benefits after suffering pneumonia and a serious lung ailment, including lung surgery, which he attributed to exposure to Curvularia mold spores at …