CARSON CITY, Nev. –
The Nevada National Guard met with staff at the Nevada Attorney for Injured Workers Office in Carson City last week to thank them for their role in representing the family of Sgt. Cameron Estes who was killed in 2023 while on state active duty.
W. Darrell Nedd, senior deputy, supervising attorney for the office and Army veteran, represented Estes’ family during their appeal for death benefits. The initial denial of workers’ compensation death benefits for Estes’ family eventually led to the passage of Assembly Bill 281, which revised benefits and compensation that a member of the state military and their dependents receive following injury or death — bringing state active-duty service in line with federal active-duty benefits.
“All their (Nevada Attorney for Injured Workers Office) legal research and their desire to understand Nevada’s militia law and how it relates to the National Guard was key in helping us clarify the law and fight for our Soldiers in the face of injury or death while on state active-duty status,” said Col. John Brownell, Nevada National Guard Human Resources Officer.
Nedd added: “The Nevada Attorney for Injured Workers was honored to represent Sgt. Estes’ family in the litigation, especially considering the tragic nature of their loss.”
Sgt. Cameron Estes, 72nd Military Police Company, Nevada Army National Guard, died Nov. 24, 2023, during a vehicle accident near Ely in White Pine County. Estes was driving to the Battle Born Youth Challenge Academy where he worked as a cadre Team Leader at the Nevada National Guard's advancement program serving high school youth in Carlin, Nevada.
Estes lived in Las Vegas with his wife and three daughters. He was 33 years old.