The National Insurance Institute initially rejected the plaintiff’s claim, citing his pre-existing heart problems and lack of medical treatment during his travels to the US, Germany, and Israel. However, Judge Ariela Gilzer-Katz of the Tel Aviv Labor Court determined that the number of connecting flights and duration of the flight constituted an unusual event and ordered a medical expert to examine the causal connection between the heart attack and the flight.
The expert confirmed the connection and recognized the heart attack as a work accident. The medical committee initially rejected the plaintiff’s claim, attributing his medical condition to his previous illness and stating that the surgical scar was not related to the work accident. After filing an appeal, however, the medical committee for appeals accepted the claims, determining a disability allowance of 32% for the plaintiff without reduction for his previous illness. He was entitled to a retroactive payment and a future monthly allowance.
Despite initial objections from
