In the case Ebersole v. City of Powell, 2019-Ohio-3073, an Ohio appellate court held that producing checks with redacted banking account information satisfies the requirements of the Ohio Public Records Act.
In this case, the City of Powell produced copies of checks paid as part of a litigation settlement pursuant to a public records request. While the account numbers, routing numbers, and payee signature blocks were redacted by the city, the public records requestor objected to the redactions and initiated litigation against the city to obtain the non-redacted records. In response, the city argued that the redacted checks produced enough information to comply with public records request laws.
An Ohio appellate court agreed with the city and held that the redacted checks fully complied with the public records request.
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 like the 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.