McGown & Markling represents political subdivisions and public officials throughout the State of Ohio and, frankly, we have been blessed to have clients who are dedicated to fully complying with the Ohio Sunshine Laws: The Ohio Public Records Act and The Ohio Open Meetings Act. Open and transparent government is the cornerstone of our […]
School districts derive substantial revenue from property taxes. As a result, McGown & Markling recommends that all school districts actively take steps to protect their property valuation – especially when property owners are seeking to reduce property values. McGown & Markling has experience representing school districts in a variety of property tax valuation disputes, and […]
In the case of CR Hill, L.L.C. v. Westlake, 2022-Ohio-693, the Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals held that a city was immune from liability for tort claims arising from the city’s review of development plans. Here, a private developer argued that the city violated the applicable zoning codes in denying the private developer’s plans. […]
In the case of State ex rel. Baker v. Fox, 2022-Ohio-667, the Ohio Fifth District Court of Appeals held that a private citizen lacked standing in a “quo warranto action” to challenge the appointment of a public official – who already held an at-large council position – to a ward council position. The purpose of […]
On March 4, 2022, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost joined thirteen other state attorneys general in suing the Biden Administration for failing to respond to Freedom of Information Act requests seeking communications leading up to a controversial October 4, 2021 United States Attorney General memorandum calling for the surveillance of parents who allegedly threatened, intimidated, […]
In the case of Spirit Master Funding IX, L.L.C. v. Cuyahoga Cty. Bd. of Revision, 2022-Ohio-610, the Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals held that the Board of Tax Appeals (“BTA”) must consider appraisal evidence along with the sale price when valuing encumbered property. Here, the BTA rejected an appraiser’s assertions that a lease (which […]