Florida appeals court rules firefighter's AFib counts as heart disease under workers' comp presumption
Key points
- On November 4, 2026, Florida's First District Court of Appeal set aside a judge's denial of an AFib workers' comp claim.
- The dispute turns on the heart-disease presumption in section 112.18 of Florida law.
- The original ruling relied on the 2023 North Collier case, limiting heart disease to structural heart damage.
Florida's First District Court of Appeal on November 4, 2026 set aside a compensation judge's denial of a firefighter's workers' compensation claim for atrial fibrillation (AFib). The firefighter has worked for the St. Johns County Fire Rescue since 2007 and claimed under the heart-disease presumption in section 112.18 of Florida law. The original ruling relied on the 2023 North Collier case to limit "heart disease" to conditions involving structural damage to the heart.
What employers should do
- Public fire employers may review how this ruling affects claims under the section 112.18 presumption.
Policy details
- Jurisdiction
- Florida
- Status
- Court ruling
- Effective date
- —
- Employers covered
- Florida public employers of firefighters (section 112.18)
- Official source
- View official source ↗
Original report: Human Resources Director ↗Edited with AI assistance. Facts are based on official sources and original reports. For information only; not legal, immigration or insurance advice.