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 Vasquez-Cromer v. Toledo, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-18-1266, 2019-Ohio-5149, an Ohio Appellate court held that a city does not create a foreseeable hazard for the purposes of removing a city’s statutory immunity when a city uses cold patch to repair potholes. In this case, a driver sued a city for negligence after […]
In the case of State ex rel. Ames v. Brimfield Twp. Bd. of Trs., 11th Dist. Portage No. 2019-P-0018, 2019-Ohio-5311, an Ohio appellate court held that conversations with a public body’s legal counsel do not alone constitute a sufficient reason for a public body to enter into executive session under Ohio’s Open Meetings Act (R.C.121.22). […]
In the case of Kroger Limited Partnership I Mid-Atlantic and United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 400., No. 05-CA-155160 (Dec. 13, 2019), the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) held that a private company does not lose the right to exclude non-employee union representatives from the private company’s property by allowing civic organizations onto the […]
In the case of Licking Heights Local Schs. Bd. of Educ. v. Franklin Cty. Bd. of Revision., 10th Dist. Franklin No. 18AP-345, 2019-Ohio-5082, an Ohio appellate court held that an administrative agency rejecting the testimony of a witness for ambiguous grounds is an abuse of discretion. In this case, a board of education appealed the […]
In the case of Hal v. State Dep’t of Educ., 10th Dist. Franklin No. 18AP-301, 2019-Ohio-5081, an Ohio appellate court held that a reviewing court may not modify a sanction that is authorized by statute if the administrative agency’s order is supported by reliable, probative, and substantial evidence. In this case, the Ohio Department of […]
In the case of Bode v. Concord Twp., 11th Dist. Lake No. 2018-L-116, 2019-Ohio-5062, an Ohio appellate court held that when a public body enters into executive session and the board minutes are deficient in identifying the purpose for entering into executive session, the public body technically violates Ohio’s Open Meetings Act (R.C. 121.22). In […]
In the case of Desmond v. Mahoning Cty. Pros. Office, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 2018 MA 0109, 2019-Ohio-4089, an Ohio appellate court held that whistleblower protection may apply to employees who are directed by supervisors to make reports of alleged misconduct and that reports of violations of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct are protected […]
In the case of State ex rel. Watkins v. Columbus City Schs, 10th Dist. No. 18AP-321, 2019-Ohio-4949, an Ohio appellate court held that a public records request requesting unfettered inspection of all a public entity’s personnel files was improper. In this case, a school terminated an employee after a hearing in front of a referee […]