Ohio Supreme Court disserves the public in yet another records ruling -- editorial
April 29, 2009: "The Ohio Supreme Court has shoved the state farther down that slippery slope of keeping secrets from the public.
The court ruled unanimously last week that a report from a public agency investigating corruption allegations against that agency's boss is not a public record. It stressed that the documents used to compile the report are public records, but decided that the report itself is protected by attorney-client privilege." Read the full editorial here.
Court: Ohio governor largely followed records law
April 24, 2009: "Gov. Ted Strickland largely followed public records law in responding to a Republican lawmaker's request for internal documents, but must continue reviewing additional records for possible release, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled today.
The court, in an unanimous opinion, said that Strickland responded to Rep. Seth Morgan's request for e-mails and other documents related to the governor's school-funding plan in a reasonable fashion. Strickland, a Democrat, erred by not acknowledging receipt of Morgan's initial request March 12 and providing a timeline for their release, the court said." Read the full article here.
Ohio Supreme Court ruling strikes a blow against open records
April 23, 2009: "An investigatory report from a public agency probing corruption charges against its leader is not a public record, a unanimous Ohio Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.
The court acknowledged that the records and documents used to complete the final report are public but said the final product could be viewed as protected by attorney-client privilege, striking a blow against Ohio's open records codes." Read the full article here.
Mayoral recall group sues to get public records
April 21, 2009: "Change Akron Now, the group seeking to recall Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic, filed another lawsuit today, seeking to force the city to release several public documents.
The lawsuit, filed in Summit County Common Pleas Court, claims the city has failed to provide Change Akron Now with receipts of Plusquellic's travel to Tampa in 2008; financial statements for city-issued credit cards for Plusquellic, his Cabinet and City Council members; and unredacted billing records for legal fees paid to a law firm for more than $1 million." Read the full article here.
Strickland releases school-funding records
April 7, 2009: "Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland has released thousands of public records to a lawmaker who sued for more information on the development of the governor's school-funding plan.
Strickland on Tuesday provided hundreds of pages of notes and correspondence about the creation of his plan, along with thousands of comments gathered during public forums." Read the full article here.
Akron swamped with public record requests
April 7, 2009: "Akron's law department is working overtime to respond to more than a hundred requests for public records since the beginning of the year — many from those working on an effort to recall Mayor Don Plusquellic.
Law Director Max Rothal estimated the city has spent about $200,000 in staff hours — including overtime and comp time — fulfilling record requests in the past 12 months." Read the full article here.
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