Finally, workers'' compensation benefits for a first responder to the devastating tornado in Joplin, MO.

Today’s post comes to us from our friend, attorney Jon Gelman of New Jersey.

In a dramatic turn of events based upon pubic outrage, an insurance company has reversed its decision and now decided to provide workers’ compensation benefits to a first responder who was injured while providing assistance to tornado victims in Joplin, Missouri.

Mark Lindquist saved 3 developmentally disabled adults in Joplin following the tornado that devastated that community. Caught in the 200 mile an hour tornado, Lindquist lost all of his teeth, was in a coma for several months and ran up medical bills amounting to $2.5 Million. The insurance company initially had denied the claim and recent news reports and public outrage resulted in a reversal by the insurance company on the issue of compensability.

The same outrage against Corporate America and an imbalance in the socio-economic system is now being reflected in the Occupy Wall Street movement. Recently Amy Goodman, the host of Democracy Now!, commented about the growing recognition of injustice on the Charlie Rose show. As Goodman eloquently puts it:

“If you look at the polls now, most americans actually support these Occupy Wall Street movements all over the country… There is a sense of injustice… It’s about the sense of inequality.”

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTvQv8-SdBM]

For over 3 decades the Law Offices of Jon L. Gelman in New Jersey have been representing injured workers’ and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses. Jon is a prolific author, public speaker and educator on the topic of workers’ compensation law.