Mont. High Court Affirms Occupational Disease Benefits for Driver

HELENA, Mont. - The Montana Supreme Court has affirmed a workers' compensation award for a truck driver who claimed an occupational disease from chronic exposure to carbon monoxide. Russell v. Watkins & Shepard Trucking Co., No. 2009 MT 217 (Mont. Sup. Ct.).

The high court said in its June 24 ruling, however, that it would remand the case to the Montana Workers' Compensation Court for a decision on the timeframe in which benefits would be awarded.

Alan Russell sought benefits after being diagnosed with cognitive impairment, liver failure and jaundice, which he attributed to regular exposure to carbon monoxide while …