Court decisions from across the country have implications right here in Ohio. Here is a selection of recent cases, and why they matter.
In the case of State ex rel. Louisville Edn. Assn., OEA/NEA v. Louisville City School Dist. Bd. of Edn., 2017-Ohio- 5564, an Ohio appellate court upheld the redaction of “all boxes which would have revealed deductions for tax sheltered accounts, charitable contributions, and the amount of taxes withheld” by a public school district in response […]
In the case of Wilson v. McCormack, 2017-Ohio-5510, an Ohio appellate court found that the hiring, retention, and supervision of a high school basketball coach is an inherent part of public education and, as a result, a governmental function for purposes of statutory immunity from liability under the Political Subdivision Tort Liability Act – i.e., […]
In the case of Jenkins v. Northeastern Local Bd. of Education, 2017-Ohio-5497, an Ohio appellate court overturned a trial court order directing a school board to reinstate a custodian because the custodian failed to properly perfect her appeal of the school board’s decision terminating her contract. The case has a lengthy and tortured procedural history […]
In the case of Gannett GP Media, Inc. v. Ohio Dept. of Pub. Safety, 2017-Ohio-4248, the court of claims made two findings regarding public records requests made by a media company that are instructive for public officials. After concluding that “[a]ny and all communication issued or received by any employee of the [public office], regarding” […]
In the case of Ruez v. Lake Cty. Educational Serv. Ctr., 2017-Ohio-4125, an Ohio appellate court found that a governing board did not breach its contract with a teacher when it implemented a reduction in force under R.C. 3319.17. The case involves an intervention specialist employed as a teacher by an educational service center (“ESC”). […]
In the case of Meminger v. Ohio State Univ., 2017-Ohio-5781, the court of claims dismissed a wrongful termination claim because the “plaintiff was a member of the classified civil service who was a member of a collective bargaining unit, and, as such, she was not an employee at will.” Meminger at ¶ 8. “As a […]
In the case of Jones v. Geauga Cty Republican Party Cent. Commt., 2017-Ohio-2930, an Ohio appellate court found that a central committee of a local political party is only a public body comprised of public officers for purposes of the Ohio Open Meetings Act when the committee is actually undertaking its limited governmental duties, such […]
In the case of State ex rel. Masiella v. Brimfield Twp. Bd. of Trustees, 2017-Ohio-2934, an Ohio appellate court, in rejecting an Open Meetings Act claim, clarified that, in order to demonstrate an Open Meetings Act violation, “it is not sufficient for a plaintiff to demonstrate that a meeting occurred, but rather [a plaintiff] must […]