ORLANDO, Fla. -- A former Orlando firefighter is getting his day in court on Friday. He was diagnosed with Hepatitis C after he left the department and says the city tried to cover it up.

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Former firefighter Bob Flamily has waited four years to testify in court that the city should have alerted him his blood tests were abnormal, but did not and, as a result, is now dying from Hepatitis C. Flamily is so sick that he cannot even attend the trial.

Friday, his lawyers argued that the city could and should have warned Flamily. He had those blood tests prior to his retirement and the diagnosis that he has Hepatitis, possibly contracted from dealing with thousands of bleeding patients over the years.

The city has contended there is no proof he was exposed while on the job and owes him nothing. Flamily's case is the first to go before a judge, but not the only one. Numerous firefighters and police officers, who now have the disease, are blaming the city for not notifying them of their blood test.

Flamily's attorney's are asking for a half-million dollars to cover disability and medical expenses, but if a judge finds the city liable that figure could go way up.

Because Flamily cannot testify in person, they have a videotape deposition they plan to play in court if the judge allows it.