Mataraza v. City of Euclid

Mary Eileen Kilbane, Judge.

{¶ 1} Plaintiff-appellant, Kim Mataraza, appeals from the order of the trial court that awarded summary judgment to the city of Euclid, thereby reversing her award of workers’ compensation surviving-spouse death benefits. For the reasons set forth below, we reverse the judgment and remand the cause for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

{¶ 2} Mataraza’s late husband, James Mataraza (referred to herein as “James” or “the decedent”), began working as a firefighter for the city of Euclid in 1991. On January 19, 2005, James, who was then 41 years old,…