A Smyth County family’s battle to get workers’ compensation and Line of Duty Act benefits inspired a bill to expand coverage

A Smyth County family’s battle to get workers’ compensation and Line of Duty Act benefits inspired a bill to expand coverage

Angie Prater has fought with the state to receive Line of Duty Act benefits for her family for nearly two years since her husband, Smyth County Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Prater, died. The Prater family, from left: Scott, Angie, Madison and Jordan. Courtesy of Angie Prater. Deputy Prater began to have gastrointestinal issues a few years ago. His stomach became larger, and his hip began to hurt. His doctor ordered body scans to determine the cause a…