Fire chief's widow appeals Workers' Comp denial

YOUNGSTOWN — The widow of Canfield Fire Chief Robert J. Tieche Sr. has appealed the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation’s denial of death benefits to Mahoning County Common Pleas Court after the Ohio Industrial Commission refused to hear the case.

“As a result of responding to three fire emergencies, he suffered a cardiac arrest and died. Said death occurred while in the course and scope of his employment,” according to the lawsuit filed last week by Atty. Louis Schiavoni of Austintown on behalf of Debra Tieche of Canfield.

A BWC hearing officer cited Tieche’s death certificate, which said the fire chief died of cardiac arrest due to gastrointestinal bleeding due to the spreading of his kidney cancer.

“The applicant has provided insufficient evidence to establish by a preponderance that the decedent’s death resulted from an occupational disease,” the hearing officer wrote.

For the complete story, read Thursday's Vindicator and Vindy.com