By Jacque Day
Paducah, Ky. – A Washington, D.C.-based attorney spoke Tuesday in Paducah on behalf of Gaseous Diffusion Plant workers who claim they've been denied compensation for work-related illnesses. Attorney David Nolan appeared for the workers in hearings before U. S. Department of Labor representatives. Nolan says that though Paducah led the charge in reform for the rights of nuclear workers, he sees a disproportionate level of stalling in processing claims for the Paducah workers.
"The stories are real. We had individuals that spoke from the heart over what they experienced themselves, the frustration of the process, the frustration of losing a spouse before a claim could be processed."
Nolan, a founder of the Federal Ethics Center, worked for 15 years with the U.S. Department of Energy. He appeared on behalf of Commonwealth Environmental Services, a Paducah-based sick workers advocacy group representing many workers in their claims for compensation.