Widow of Former Toledo Mayor Sues for Workers’ Comp Benefits

The widow of a former Toledo, Ohio, mayor has filed a workers’ compensation suit saying he suffered an injury while working.

Former Mayor D. Michael Collins suffered cardiac arrest while driving home from a press conference in February during a snow emergency. The 70-year-old Collins died five days later.

Sandy Collins filed the lawsuit against the city of Toledo and a state agency that oversees workers’ compensation.

She says she was initially denied workers’ compensation benefits, but the Industrial Commission of Ohio allowed the claim in June. Then the state appealed the decision and the Commission reversed their position in September. The suit states it then denied further hearings.

The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation says details about the claim are not a public record.