N.C. Court Affirms Denial of Workers’ Comp Benefits in Esophageal Cancer Asbestos Case

RALEIGH, N.C. –– A North Carolina appellate court has affirmed the denial of workers’ compensation benefits in the case of a decedent who allegedly developed esophageal cancer as a result of asbestos exposure.

In the Dec. 3 decision, the North Carolina Court of Appeals opined that the state’s Industrial Commission did not err when it concluded that the plaintiff had failed to establish a causal link between the asbestos exposure and the esophageal cancer.

A former employee of Alcoa Inc., Harvey Smith asserted the claims, contending that he was exposed to asbestos while working for the company. Smith says …