Ohio

Bar Guidelines for Ohio Jurors: Forget What You Saw on ‘Judge Judy’ and ‘CSI’

On Wednesday, the Ohio State Bar Association Jury Instructions Committee approved jury instructions that warn panel members about improperly getting information regarding a trial from outside sources—including Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. “Certain controls over the judicial process we once had are vanishing from the courts because of the stunning rise…

May 27, 2010 9:54 PM CDT

Suits Claim Pampers Dry Max Diapers Cause Rashes, Burns; P&G Disputes Claim

Two lawsuits filed in federal court in Ohio claim Pampers diapers made with Dry Max technology are causing rashes and even chemical burns in babies, a claim Procter & Gamble says is “completely false.” The suits, filed by Seattle law firm Keller Rohrback, seek class action status, KOMOnews.com reports. More…

May 14, 2010 12:15 PM CDT

Risk-Averse Lawyers Surf Net Into Stormy Ethical Seas

An Ohio lawyer is potentially poised to become one of the latest examples of lawyers taken to task for online misbehavior. Scott Pullins should be suspended indefinitely, an attorney disciplinary board has recommended, for abusing his position as a lawyer to pursue investigations against people who posted negative comments about…

May 13, 2010 10:50 PM CDT

Law Firms Shop for Deep Office Space Discounts, Possible Shark Tank, in Buyer’s Market

Two well-known law firms are reportedly shopping for bargain office space in a buyer’s market: In New York City, Proskauer Rose is expected to ink a deal this week for about 40 percent of an office tower being developed at 42nd Street and Eighth Avenue, reports the New York Times.…

May 10, 2010 10:46 PM CDT

Report: Ex-AG Who Quit After Sex Harass Scandal to Plead Guilty to Ethics Misdemeanors

A former Ohio attorney general who resigned in the midst of a sexual harassment scandal in 2008 is expected to plead guilty tomorrow to two misdemeanors that have not yet been formally filed. Marc Dann will plead guilty in Franklin County Municipal Court to ethics violations concerning improper staff payments…

May 6, 2010 11:01 PM CDT

Judge Who Ordered Rape-Victim Polygraphs May Be Reconsidering

An Ohio juvenile judge who ignited a firestorm of criticism by ordering young sexual assault victims to take lie-detector tests after she found their alleged attackers delinquent seems to be reconsidering whether the polygraphs were a good idea. Although Cuyahoga County Juvenile Judge Alison Floyd hasn’t commented publicly about her…

Apr 27, 2010 7:49 PM CDT

Judge Linked to ‘Lawmiss’ Web Comments Removed from Case

Updated: An Ohio judge who has refused to step down from a serial murder case after a local newspaper reported that she may have posted anonymous Internet comments about the defendant and his lawyer told the state’s top court that she did nothing wrong and should not be forced to…

Apr 22, 2010 9:32 PM CDT

Accused of Being ‘Self-Aggrandizing Media Hound,’ Casey Anthony Judge Steps Down

A Florida judge who has overseen the high-profile Casey Anthony murder case for almost two years has agreed to step down in response to a recusal motion filed late Friday that accused him of being too friendly with a blogger with a pro-prosecution bias. In response, Orange Circuit Judge Stan…

Apr 19, 2010 10:36 PM CDT

Lawyer Defending Mom Convicted in Microwave Murder Faints During Appellate Arguments

Television cameras were recording on Tuesday when an Ohio lawyer passed out during appellate arguments. Dayton lawyer Jon Paul Rion was unconscious for only a few seconds and said he wanted to continue, the Dayton Daily News reports. He was arguing on behalf of China Arnold, who was convicted of…

Apr 15, 2010 10:30 AM CDT

Judge Sues Newspaper for $50M, Claims Breach of Promised Anonymity re Web Comments

Under fire over anonymous comments reportedly made from her private e-mail account about defendants and at least one lawyer in cases she is overseeing, an Ohio judge has blasted back by filing suit against the Cleveland newspaper that broke the story. Cuyahoga Court of Common Pleas Judge Shirley Strickland Saffold…

Apr 7, 2010 10:19 PM CDT

Ohio Governor Suggests a Tribute for Chief Justice Who Died Friday

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland is recommending that the Ohio Supreme Court building be renamed in honor of Chief Justice Thomas Moyer, who died unexpectedly Friday afternoon. Moyer would have turned 71 this month, the Columbus Dispatch reports. He died a day after being admitted to the hospital for a gastrointestinal…

Apr 6, 2010 3:17 PM CDT

Judge Accused of Case-Related E-Mail Declines to Step Down, Blames Media

An Ohio judge accused of making anonymous comments about her cases online under the moniker “Lawmiss” has denied a motion to recuse herself by a lawyer representing a defendant in a serial murder case. Although Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Shirley Strickland Saffold said today that she hasn’t yet decided…

Apr 5, 2010 10:39 PM CDT

Who Let the Dogs In?

Non-visually impaired kids are bringing their aide dogs to class

Apr 1, 2010 7:30 AM CDT

2 Baker Hostetler Attorneys Accused of Supporting African Inheritance Scam

A lawsuit filed in Ohio this week accuses two Baker Hostetler attorneys of supporting a fraud in which a former legal secretary for the firm allegedly scammed “investors” out of hundreds of thousands of dollars she claimed to need to pay tax on a $14.5 million African inheritance. The Cuyahoga…

Mar 31, 2010 5:43 PM CDT

Lawyer Faces Employee Suit Alleging ‘Extreme and Outrageous Voyeur Activities’

An Ohio lawyer convicted of tampering with evidence in connection with a pinhole camera found in the women’s restroom of his law office now faces an invasion of privacy lawsuit by two former employees. The $2 million suit accuses Fostoria lawyer Donald Guernsey of “extreme and outrageous voyeur activities” and…

Mar 31, 2010 11:39 AM CDT