TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The widows of two Melbourne firefighters who died from cancer contracted in the line of duty are still being denied benefits they are supposed to receive under Florida law.
According to the law, beneficiaries are guaranteed these benefits, but some municipalities have been denying them.
News 6 has been following this issue since the law took effect in 2019.
An attorney representing the families argues that the law needs to be amended to clarify language.
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He also states that if municipalities deny the benefit and it must be litigated, they should be responsible for paying the families’ attorney fees.
“The financial burden of cancer for three and a half years is unbelievable,” said Amy Wiles, whose husband, Andrew Eyster, was a Melbourne firefighter for 24 years.
Eyster was diagnosed with cancer in 2021 and died in May 2024.
“Andy’s life shouldn’t boil down to $75,000,” Wiles added, referring to the death benefit that the city has denied.
“I have zero fight left in me, and this is, it’s so unfair,” Wiles expressed, highlighting the emotional toll of the situation.
The city has not paid the benefit to Wiles or to Teresa Geld, whose husband, Jay, served as a firefighter for 40 years before dying from pancreatic and testicular cancer.
She has been fighting for the benefit for more than a year.
“I don’t even know 100% why I’m being denied these benefits. But it’s obscene. It’s just not OK,” Geld said.
A spokesperson for the city told News 6 in an email that they “are continuing to evaluate the cancer benefit claims but are not in a position to comment further at this time.”
Wiles’ attorney informed News 6 that the city is willing to pay Wiles the benefit but would require her to sign an agreement she is uncomfortable with.
In 2019, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law SB 426 for firefighters.
This law provides a one-time cash payment of $25,000 after an initial cancer diagnosis, and cancer treatment expenses are covered.
Wiles and Geld both reported that the city of Melbourne paid those benefits, but when their husbands died, they denied the $75,000 death benefit that is also supposed to be guaranteed under the law.
“If they’re not going to pay, you’ve got to take them to court,” said attorney Geoff Bichler, who represents Wiles and Geld.
He has prevailed in court in similar cases but acknowledges the financial burden it places on families.
Bichler supports adding language to the bill that would impose a penalty of 20% if benefits are not paid within 14 days of notice, along with entitlement to reasonable attorney fees.
“There should be a provision for payment of prevailing party attorney’s fees so that these firefighters and their families don’t have to come out of pocket to pay for attorneys,” he emphasized.
News 6 will continue to follow both cases.
