In the case of Mitchell v. Ohio Ethics Comm’n, 2020-Ohio-5590, the Ohio Court of Claims held that the denial of access to redacted portions of confidential documents during a public records request was proper and that the Court should deny any additional information requested.
In this case, the requestor argued that the redacted documents should have been produced and that such records do not fall within any exception to public records requests.
The Ohio Ethics Commission alleged that the requestor’s public records request was overly broad and that the redacted documents were exempt from disclosure in accordance with R.C. 102.02(B) and 102.07. The Court of Claims agreed in part.
The Court agreed with the Ohio Ethics Commission that the redacted documents were exempt from disclosure, because of the confidentiality of the records. However, the Court disagreed with their contention that the request was overly broad.
To read this case, click here.
Authors: Matthew John Markling and the McGown & Markling Team.
Note: This blog entry does not constitute – nor does it contain – legal advice. Legal jurisprudence is like the always-changing Midwestern weather. As a result, this single blog entry cannot substitute for consultation with a McGown & Markling attorney. If legal advice is needed with respect to a specific factual situation, please feel free to contact a McGown & Markling attorney.