Pro bono attorney wins payment for deceased firefighter’s family

An attorney working pro bono secured a federal benefits payment of more than $300,000 for the family of a firefighter killed in the line of duty.

Harold Hollingsworth, 47, an assistant fire chief for the Fort Osage Fire Protection District, died on April 7, 2013, while rushing to a house fire in eastern Jackson County. It was raining, and Hollingsworth’s vehicle went off the road and collided with a tree.

Under the federal Public Safety Officers Benefits Act, firefighters killed in the line of duty can receive benefits that, as of Oct. 1, 2012, stood at $328,612.73. Hollingsworth’s family, however, was initially denied because the program, which is administered by a bureau of the U.S. Department of Justice, said the firefighter had been driving too fast for conditions.

Hollingsworth had lived in Lexington, and Kent Emison, an attorney with Langdon & Emison, one of that city’s main law firms, represented Hollingsworth’s widow, Allison, and the couple’s two sons, Nathan and Matthew, in contesting the agency’s decision.

“We thought that it was extremely unfair to penalize his family when he was just trying to go and rescue people in a house fire,” Emison said.

Despite the initial denial, Emison said the agency moved quickly to resolve the situation. Hope D. Janke, the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Office, could not be reached immediately for comment.

$328,613 benefits payment

Wrongful death

Venue: Jackson County

Case Number/Date: Not filed/Feb. 11, 2014

Caption: Allison Hollingsworth v. Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Office

Plaintiff’s Attorney: Kent Emison, Langdon & Emison, Lexington

Defendants’ Attorney: None