Andes v. Ohio Atty. Gen.'s Office , 2017 Ohio 4251 ( 2017 )


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  • [Cite as Andes v. Ohio Atty. Gen.'s Office, 2017-Ohio-4251.]
    JODI ANDES                                              Case No. 2017-00144-PQ
    Requester                                       Special Master Jeffery W. Clark
    v.                                              REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
    OHIO ATTORNEY
    GENERAL’S OFFICE
    Respondent
    {¶1} R.C.149.43(C) provides that a person allegedly aggrieved by a violation of
    division (B) of that section may either commence a mandamus action, or file a complaint
    under R.C. 2743.75.            In mandamus actions alleging violations of R.C. 149.43(B),
    a relator must establish by “clear and convincing evidence” that they are entitled to
    relief. State ex rel. Miller v. Ohio State Hwy. Patrol, 
    136 Ohio St. 3d 350
    , 2013-Ohio-
    3720, ¶ 14. As for actions under R.C. 2743.75 alleging violations of R.C. 149.43(B),
    neither party has suggested that another standard should apply, nor is another standard
    prescribed by statute. R.C. 2743.75(F)(1) states that such claims are to be determined
    through “the ordinary application of statutory law and case law * * *.” Accordingly, the
    merits of this claim shall be determined under a standard of clear and convincing
    evidence, i.e., “that measure or degree of proof which is more than a mere
    ‘preponderance of the evidence,’ but not to the extent of such certainty as is required
    ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ in criminal cases, and which will produce in the mind of the
    trier of facts a firm belief or conviction as to the facts sought to be established.” Cross v.
    Ledford, 
    161 Ohio St. 469
    (1954), paragraph three of the syllabus.
    {¶2} On July 22, 2016, requester Jodi Andes sent an email to respondent
    Ohio Attorney General’s Office (AGO) stating that she “would like to make a public
    records request with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office for information on the case of
    Bobby Thompson/John Donald Cody. * * * I am happy to the [sic] public records I am
    Case No. 2017-00144-PQ                             -2-       REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
    seeking now, if it is able to be considered, or I can wait if there is an appeal
    pending. * * *. Can either of you check to see if information from the case file is able to
    be released yet?” (Requestor Exhibits p. 11.) Andes added later the same day that “I
    can give specifics on my request, just thought I would check first. No since [sic] in
    itemizing if there is still a court case pending.”1 (Id. p. 10.) On July 27, 2016, the AGO
    responded, “I checked on this for you and there is a pending appeal in the 8th District, so
    therefore our records would not yet be public.” (Id.) Later the same day Andes sent an
    email stating she believed “the issue is now closed in the Eighth District Court of
    Appeals. * * *. If it is closed I will get you my formal request for records.” (Id. p. 8.) The
    AGO replied the same day that the court of appeals had not yet ruled on a motion by
    the defendant to reopen his direct appeal under App. R. 26. (Id.) Over the next four
    months, no further correspondence was exchanged.
    {¶3} On December 2, 2016, Andes sent an email to the AGO stating,
    a. “I would like to go ahead and make a formal Open Record Request for
    copies of Bobby Thompson’s computer files that were found on his
    computer and shared with Ohio investigators by Florida investigators as
    well as a digital copy of the computer files/hard drive files/flash drive files
    found on Mr. Cody or his property after his arrest. These were all admitted
    into evidence as part of his trial in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas
    Court. These materials are not germane to his appeal and were part of the
    evidence used to earn a conviction.”
    (Id.)   The AGO acknowledged receipt of the request the same day. (Id. p. 7.)
    On January 3, 2017, Andes requested an update, and the AGO responded on
    January 5, 2017 that there had been a new filing in the 8th appellate district. (Id. p. 6.)
    On January 17, 2017, Andes again requested an update (Id.), and on January 19, 2017
    the AGO responded:
    1 Andes’ pleadings, and email of March 24, 2017 (Respondent’s Exhibit C) also refer to several
    contacts with the AGO by telephone. Since the contents of the alleged telephone communications are
    neither supported by affidavit, nor admitted by the AGO, assertions based on these contacts will not be
    considered as evidence.
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    b. “Your records request is still undergoing a legal review. Your request asks
    for ‘computer files that were found on his computer and shared with Ohio
    investigators by Florida investigators as well as a digital copy of the
    computer files/hard drive files/flash drive files found on Mr. Cody or his
    property after his arrest.’
    c. As I mentioned on the phone, if the records you are in fact seeking were
    the small portion of the above computer documents actually admitted into
    evidence, you should be able to easily get them from the courts. The
    exhibits used in court would be in the custody of the Cuyahoga County
    Clerk of Courts, as the Clerk of Courts for the 8th Dist. Court of Appeals.”
    (Id. p. 5.)
    {¶4} On February 10, 2017, Andes filed a complaint under R.C. 2743.75 alleging
    unreasonable delay in responding to her request and denial of access to public records
    in violation of R.C. 149.43(B). The case proceeded to mediation, and on April 17, 2017,
    the court was notified that the case was not resolved and that mediation was
    terminated.      On May 1, 2017, the AGO filed a combined response and motion to
    dismiss pursuant to R.C. 2743.75(E)(2).
    {¶5} For the reasons stated below, the special master concludes that subsequent
    to the filing of the complaint, the AGO has provided Andes with copies of all public
    records responsive to her request of December 2, 2016. However, because the AGO
    failed to provide the responsive records within a reasonable period of time, Andes is
    entitled to recover her filing fee and other costs incurred.
    Motion to Dismiss
    {¶6} The AGO asserts that Andes’ complaint is deficient on its face for failure to
    comply with R.C. 2743.75(D)(1), which states that a requester “shall attach to the
    complaint copies of the original records request and any written response or other
    communications relating to the request from the public office * * *.” The AGO argues
    that Andes’ failure to attach the original records request constitutes a failure to “make a
    short and plain statement of the claim showing that the party is entitled to relief” as
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    required by Civ.R. 8(A), and further constitutes “failure to state a claim upon which relief
    may be granted.” Civ.R. 12(B)(6).
    {¶7} Andes submitted the missing copies of the original request and related
    correspondence as “Requestor Exhibits” on March 13, 2017. While the AGO correctly
    notes that the submission was not in the form of an amended complaint, the Rules of
    Civil Procedure, to the extent that they would by their nature be clearly inapplicable, do
    not apply to procedure in special statutory proceedings. Civ.R. 1(C)(6). R.C. 2743.75 is
    a special statutory proceeding providing, at (E)(2), that other than the complaint and
    response, “[n]o further motions or pleadings shall be accepted by the clerk of the court
    of claims or by the special master * * * unless the special master directs in writing that a
    further motion or pleading be filed.” Subsequent to the AGO’s filing of its response, the
    special master directed that Andes’ Exhibits be accepted for filing. (Order, May 3, 2017.)
    Andes’ initial failure to submit required documents pursuant to R.C. 2743.75(D)(1) has
    been rectified, and it is therefore recommended that the motion to dismiss be
    OVERRULED.
    Suggestion of Mootness
    {¶8} In an action to enforce R.C. 149.43(B), a public office may produce the
    requested records prior to the court’s decision, and thereby render the claim for
    production of records moot. State ex rel. Striker v. Smith, 
    129 Ohio St. 3d 168
    , 2011-
    Ohio-2878, ¶ 18-22. A court considering a claim of mootness must first determine what
    records were requested, and then whether all responsive records were provided.
    {¶9} As summarized above, Andes’ July 2016 correspondence with the AGO
    expressed her intent to make a public records request, at some future date that she
    conditioned on the conclusion of a particular appellate case.           I find that Andes’
    correspondence with the AGO prior to December 2, 2016 constituted, at most,
    preliminary inquiries as to whether the time was ripe for her to make a detailed “formal”
    public records request. The correspondence nowhere submitted an actual request for
    Case No. 2017-00144-PQ                      -5-     REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
    specified records. Over four months later, on December 2, 2016, Andes wrote to the
    AGO:
    d. “I would also like to go ahead and make a formal Open Record Request
    for copies of Bobby Thompson’s computer files that were found on his
    computer and shared with Ohio investigators by Florida investigators as
    well as a digital copy of the computer files/hard drive files/flash drive files
    found on Mr. Cody or his property after his arrest. These were all admitted
    into evidence as part of his trial in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas
    Court. These materials are not germane to his appeal and were part of
    the evidence used to earn a conviction.”
    (Requestor Exhibits p. 8.)    Thus, the only public records request presented is for
    computer files located on particular storage devices, expressly described as and limited
    to the files “admitted into evidence as part of [Thompson’s] trial in Cuyahoga County
    Common Pleas Court.”
    {¶10} The AGO acknowledged this request on December 2, 2016 (Id. p. 7), but
    did not provide any responsive records prior to the filing of this action. On March 15,
    2017, after the referral of this case to mediation and the filing of Andes’ Requestor
    Exhibits, the AGO sent Andes a letter enclosing its first production of records.
    (Respondent’s Ex. A.) The letter enclosed a copy of the State’s Exhibit List from the
    Thompson trial, with an invitation to Andes to prioritize production of the exhibits if
    desired. The AGO advised that it would not be charging for these records. On March
    22, 2017, the AGO sent a letter with an enclosure continuing the production of records.
    (Respondent’s Ex. B.) On March 24, 2017, Andes sent an email in response to the
    AGO letter of March 15, 2017 in which she agreed that the records provided by “Florida”
    were actually records shared by the IRS and are those labeled as State’s Exhibits
    110-112 in the Thompson case. (Respondent’s Ex. C.) She also utilized the master
    exhibit list to provide the AGO with the remaining “list of records I believe would satisfy
    my records request.” (Id. p. 2.) The AGO sent a letter on April 13, 2017, in which it
    acknowledged Andes’ March 24, 2017 correspondence, made a final production of
    Case No. 2017-00144-PQ                      -6-     REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
    documents, and stated that it believed “we have now satisfied your public records
    request.”    (Respondent’s Ex. D.)    On April 28, 2017, the AGO sent a final letter
    correcting a misstatement in its letter of April 13, 2017 regarding files contained in one
    of the exhibits. (Respondent’s Ex. E.) The author of the AGO letters avers that as of
    May 1, 2017, Andes had not contacted him since he sent the April 13, 2017 letter.
    (Response, Donahue Aff. ¶ 9.)
    AGO Required to Provide Only Items Responsive to the Request and that
    are “Public Records”
    {¶11} The policy underlying the Public Records Act is that “open government
    serves the public interest and our democratic system.” State ex rel. Dann v. Taft, 
    109 Ohio St. 3d 364
    , 2006-Ohio-1825, ¶ 20. Therefore, R.C. 149.43 must be construed
    “liberally in favor of broad access, and any doubt is resolved in favor of disclosure of
    public records.” State ex rel. Cincinnati Enquirer v. Hamilton Cty., 
    75 Ohio St. 3d 374
    ,
    376, 
    662 N.E.2d 334
    (1996).
    {¶12} However, a public office is only required to produce records that are
    responsive to the specific terms of the request. “R.C. 149.43(C) requires a prior request
    as a prerequisite to a mandamus action.” State ex rel. Lanham v. Smith, 112 Ohio
    St.3d 527, 2007-Ohio-609, ¶ 14. “There can be no ‘failure’ of a public office to make a
    public record available ‘in accordance with division (B),’ without a request for the record
    under division (B).” State ex rel. Bardwell v. Ohio Atty. Gen., 
    181 Ohio App. 3d 661
    ,
    2009-Ohio-1265, ¶ 5 (10th Dist.). Andes’ request was for the “computer files” that were
    “admitted into evidence” in the Thompson trial, and the AGO attests that all responsive
    records to this request have been provided. The lead prosecutor in the Thompson
    case, Senior Assistant Attorney General Brad Tammaro, verifies that,
    e. “Any files on the electronic storage devices seized from Mr. Cody
    [Thompson] that were actually used were admitted into evidence in Mr.
    Cody’s criminal trial as Exhibit 26, 26-1 and 124. Redacted versions of
    these exhibits were produced to the Requester after legal review.”
    Case No. 2017-00144-PQ                      -7-     REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
    (Tammaro Aff. ¶ 8.) The terms of this assertion of completion mirror Andes’ request for
    all computer files “admitted into evidence” in Thompson’s trial.
    {¶13} The AGO provides additional, detailed explanation regarding those trial
    exhibits that were not responsive to the request. Tammaro testifies that certain exhibits
    (35, 36, 101, and 104-112) were introduced only as data storage devices to establish
    the chain of custody of the evidentiary information they contained. Any evidentiary data
    or “files” contained in these exhibits that were used as evidence in the trial were
    introduced separately in Exhibits 26, 26-1, and 124. (Tammaro Aff. ¶16.) A container
    of record information is not itself a “record” as defined at R.C. 149.011(G):
    f. “(G) ‘Records’ includes any document, device, or item, regardless of
    physical form or characteristic, including an electronic record as defined in
    section 1306.01 of the Revised Code, created or received by or coming
    under the jurisdiction of any public office of the state or its political
    subdivisions, which serves to document the organization, functions,
    policies, decisions, procedures, operations, or other activities of the
    office.”
    Physical storage media such as hard drives, compact disks, or flash drives do not,
    separate from the information they contain, serve to document the activities of a public
    office under the facts and circumstances of this case. This is most apparent when
    electronic storage media are unused and blank. It is equally true of a piece of physical
    evidence thought to contain information, but from which no information was extracted by
    the office. 2007 Ohio Op. Atty. Gen. No. 2007-034 (untested cigarette butt taken from a
    crime scene is not a “record”). Any computer files contained in the state exhibit storage
    devices, but that were not separately used as evidence by the State, are thus
    non-responsive to Andes’ request for computer files that were admitted into evidence.
    {¶14} Such files also do not qualify as “records” to which the Public Records Act
    applies. Information that a public office happens to be storing, but which does not serve
    to document any aspect of the office’s activities, does not meet the statutory definition of
    a “record.” State ex rel. McCleary v. Roberts, 
    88 Ohio St. 3d 365
    , 367-368, 725 N.E.2d
    Case No. 2017-00144-PQ                       -8-     REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
    1144 (2000) (children’s identity and address information contained in files of summer
    pool programs did nothing to document any aspect of the Recreation and Parks
    Department). The AGO has submitted evidence that, other than the files entered into
    evidence in the criminal trial, the contents of the storage devices were either not
    relevant to its investigation, or were not used in the criminal prosecution. (Tammaro Aff.
    ¶ 5-8.) R.C. 149.011(G) requires more than mere receipt and possession of an item in
    order for it to be a record for purposes of R.C. 149.43. State ex rel. Beacon Journal
    Publ'g Co. v. Whitmore, 
    83 Ohio St. 3d 61
    , 64, 
    697 N.E.2d 640
    (1998). This has
    especially significant practical consequences for criminal investigations, where seized
    computer or other storage devices may contain voluminous extraneous content that is
    personal, business, or otherwise unrelated to the criminal investigation. If such contents
    were considered “records” merely by receipt and possession, the public office would be
    obliged to respond fully to requests for them, including analysis of potentially applicable
    exceptions for intellectual property, personal information, medical records – any of
    myriad public records exceptions, many of which could only be asserted or supported
    by the person from whom the storage device was seized. No such absurd result is
    required by the language of R.C. 149.011(G). 
    Id. The testimony
    in this case is that the
    AGO never used the contents of these devices to perform its public function, other than
    as the contents were separately introduced into evidence and have been fully copied to
    Andes. I conclude that the unused contents of storage devices seized in the criminal
    investigation of Thompson were not “records” of the AGO, and the AGO had no
    obligation to produce such contents in response to Andes’ public records request.
    {¶15} The AGO also argues that an item temporarily outside of a public office’s
    possession and control is not subject to production by the public office until it is returned
    to its possession. State ex rel. Striker v. Smith, 
    129 Ohio St. 3d 168
    , 2011-Ohio-2878,
    ¶¶ 2, 16, 28.     The AGO submitted evidence that Exhibits 35 and 36 are in the
    possession of the Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts, having been physically admitted
    Case No. 2017-00144-PQ                     -9-     REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
    into evidence at trial. (Tammaro Aff. ¶ 11.) I conclude that these exhibits have been
    unavailable for response to Andes’ requests.
    {¶16} Finally, the AGO states that it redacted excepted information from within
    evidentiary documents that it provided to Andes.         In asserting exceptions to an
    otherwise proper public records request, a public office bears the burden of proof:
    g. “Exceptions to disclosure under the Public Records Act, R.C. 149.43,
    are strictly construed against the public-records custodian, and the
    custodian has the burden to establish the applicability of an exception. * *
    * A custodian does not meet this burden if it has not proven that the
    requested records fall squarely within the exception.”
    State ex rel. Cincinnati Enquirer v. Jones-Kelley, 
    118 Ohio St. 3d 81
    , 2008-Ohio-1770,
    
    886 N.E.2d 206
    , ¶ 10.
    {¶17} Social Security Numbers may be redacted from most records. State ex rel.
    Office of Montgomery County Pub. Defender v. Siroki, 
    108 Ohio St. 3d 207
    , 2006-Ohio-
    662, ¶ 17-18; R.C. 149.43(A)(1)(dd). Bank and credit card account numbers may also
    be redacted. R.C. 149.43(A)(1)(dd). Although these redactions were not performed
    until after Andes had filed her pleadings in this action, her correspondence of
    March 24, 2017 does not reflect any concern for the redactions
    {¶18} Based on the above principles, the table below summarizes the responses
    made by the AGO regarding each trial exhibit that has been referenced by the parties:
    Exhibit             AGO Response                             Support/Authority
    26, and 26-1        March 15, 2017 – copies (348 pgs.)       Donahue Aff. ¶ 4; Siroki;
    (files introduced   provided. SSNs and banking Nos.          R.C. 149.43(A)(1)(dd)
    as evidence)        redacted
    35 (computer        April 13, 2017 – introduced as a         Tammaro Aff. ¶¶ 9, 11, 16:
    disk)               container, not in AGO possession         Striker v. Smith
    [Cite as Andes v. Ohio Atty. Gen.'s Office, 2017-Ohio-4251.]
    36 (Portable hard April 13 and April 28, 2017 –                Tammaro Aff. ¶¶ 10-11, 16;
    drive)            introduced as a container, not in AGO        Moore Aff. ¶ 5-9: Striker v.
    possession, contents introduced in           Smith
    Exhibits 110-112
    66-74             March 22, 2017 – copies (1,926 pgs.)         Donahue Aff. ¶ 5; Siroki
    80-92             provided. SSNs redacted
    95-98
    101               April 13, 2017 – introduced as               Tammaro Aff. ¶¶ 12, 16
    (flash drive)     container, all evid. contents
    introduced in Ex.s 26 and 26-1
    102-103           April 13, 2017 – introduced as               Tammaro Aff. ¶ 17
    (flash drives)    containers, but contain no files
    104-106           April 13, 2017 – introduced as               Tammaro Aff. ¶¶ 12, 16
    (flash drives)    containers, all evid. contents
    introduced in Ex.s 26 and 26-1
    107               April 13, 2017 – introduced as               Tammaro Aff. ¶¶ 13, 16
    (floppy diskette) container, all evid. contents
    introduced in Ex.s 26 and 26-1
    108               April 13, 2017 – introduced as               Tammaro Aff. ¶¶ 14, 16
    (Netbook hard     container, all evid. contents
    drive)            introduced in Ex.s 26 and 26-1
    109               April 13, 2017 – introduced as               Tammaro Aff. ¶¶ 15, 16
    (compact disk)    container, all evid. contents
    introduced in Ex.s 26 and 26-1
    110-112           April 13, 2017 – introduced as               Tammaro Aff. ¶¶ 15, 16
    (compact disks)   containers, all evid. contents
    introduced in Ex.s 26 and 26-1
    113-115           March 22, 2017 – copies (1,926 pgs.)         Donahue Aff. ¶ 5; Siroki
    117-123           provided. SSNs redacted
    124               April 13, 2017 – copies (14 pgs.)            Donahue Aff. ¶ 7; Siroki
    provided. SSNs redacted
    Timeliness of Response and Production of Records
    {¶19} The AGO has rendered Andes’ claim for production of records moot.
    However, unless the records were made available “within a reasonable period of time,”
    a claim for relief based on the untimeliness of the response is not mooted by the
    production of the records. In mandamus actions under R.C. 149.43(C) where post-
    complaint production has rendered the claim moot, “[s]tatutory damages may be
    Case No. 2017-00144-PQ                      -11-    REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
    awarded if the public record has not been provided promptly. R.C. 149.43(C)(1).” State
    ex rel. Cincinnati Enquirer v. Deters, Slip Opinion No. 2016-Ohio-8195, ¶ 22; State ex
    rel. DiFranco v. City of S. Euclid, 
    138 Ohio St. 3d 367
    , 2014-Ohio-538, ¶ 24. Similarly, if
    attorney fees are available, the Ohio Supreme Court has held:
    h. “In view of the absence of an express statutory prohibition and the
    proclivity of some custodians of public records to force the filing of a
    mandamus action by a citizen to gain access to records that are obviously
    public, we hold that a court may award attorney fees pursuant to R.C.
    149.43 where (1) a person makes a proper request for public records
    pursuant to R.C. 149.43, (2) the custodian of the public records fails to
    comply with the person's request, (3) the requesting person files a
    mandamus action pursuant to R.C. 149.43 to obtain copies of the records,
    and (4) the person receives the requested public records only after the
    mandamus action is filed, thereby rendering the claim for a writ of
    mandamus moot.”
    State ex rel. Pennington v. Gundler, 
    75 Ohio St. 3d 171
    , 174, 
    661 N.E.2d 1049
    (1996);
    State ex rel. Calvary v. City of Upper Arlington, 
    89 Ohio St. 3d 229
    , 232, 
    729 N.E.2d 1182
    (2000).
    {¶20} As with public records mandamus actions under R.C. 149.43(C)(2), actions
    under R.C. 2743.75 are also available to a person aggrieved by the failure of a public
    office to timely provide public records. R.C. 149.43(C)(1). R.C. 2743.75(F)(3) states:
    i.   (3) If the court of claims determines that the public office or person
    responsible for the public records denied the aggrieved person access to
    the public records in violation of division (B) of section 149.43 of the
    Revised Code and if no appeal from the court's final order is taken under
    division (G) of this section, both of the following apply:
    **
    j.   (b) The aggrieved person shall be entitled to recover from the public office
    or person responsible for the public records the amount of the filing fee of
    twenty-five dollars and any other costs associated with the action that are
    incurred by the aggrieved person, * * *.
    Failure to provide copies within a reasonable period of time denies the aggrieved
    person access to the public records, from the time the reasonable period expired until
    Case No. 2017-00144-PQ                     -12-     REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
    the records are provided, in violation of R.C. 149.43(B). DiFranco, supra, ¶ 19-21;
    compare State ex rel. Bardwell v. Cuyahoga Cty. Bd. of Comm’rs, 
    127 Ohio St. 3d 202
    ,
    2010-Ohio-5073, ¶ 16 (claim for production rendered moot after complaint filed, but
    under the circumstances of the case, all responsive records were still promptly
    provided, i.e., no “lost use”). It is therefore appropriate to proceed to determine whether
    the AGO denied timely access to public records in violation of R.C. 149.43(B)(1) and
    whether Andes is entitled to recovery of the filing fee and any other costs incurred
    associated with the action.
    {¶21} The AGO promptly acknowledged the request of December 2, 2016 by
    return email.   On January 19, 2017, the AGO advised Andes that “[y]our records
    request is still undergoing a legal review.”      Timeliness of production of records is
    analyzed under the facts and circumstances of each case. State ex rel. Shaughnessy
    v. City of Cleveland, Slip Opinion at 2016-Ohio-8447, ¶ 8. Here, the requested records
    all related to a single litigation file, and all had been introduced as exhibits in a trial
    court. AGO trial counsel were thus familiar with the contents of the requested records,
    and would have already considered any bases for filing exhibits under seal or with
    redactions based on privilege.     While the records requested could be considered
    voluminous, the AGO does not show that the legal issues required three months for
    review, or that initial production of responsive records and explanations could not have
    begun shortly after the December 2, 2016 request.         The AGO’s first production of
    responsive records, or any explanation regarding unavailable, non-existent or excepted
    records, was March 15, 2017. The AGO response from that point forward accelerated
    and provided, on a rolling basis, a total of 2,288 pages of responsive records. The AGO
    invited Andes to advise how she would like the remaining production prioritized, and
    waived any charges for copying. Production of records was completed on April 13,
    2017.
    Case No. 2017-00144-PQ                     -13-     REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
    {¶22} I find that the one hundred and three-day delay between the date of the
    request, and the initial production of any records or explanation, exceeded the
    “reasonable period of time” required by R.C. 149.43(B)(1). See State ex rel. Warren
    Newspapers, Inc. v. Hutson, 
    70 Ohio St. 3d 619
    , 623, 
    640 N.E.2d 174
    (1994).
    Conclusion
    {¶23} Upon consideration of the pleadings and attachments, I find that Andes has
    established by clear and convincing evidence that the AGO violated division (B) of
    R.C. 149.43 in not providing copies of requested records within a reasonable period of
    time. I further find that subsequent to the filing of this action the AGO provided copies
    of all requested public records, and that the claim for production of records is therefore
    MOOT. Accordingly, I recommend that the court issue an order GRANTING IN PART
    Andes’ claim, and ORDERING that Andes is entitled to recover from the AGO the
    amount of the filing fee of twenty-five dollars and any other costs associated with the
    action that she incurred.
    {¶24} Pursuant to R.C. 2743.75(F)(2), either party may file a written objection
    with the clerk of the Court of Claims of Ohio within seven (7) business days after
    receiving this report and recommendation. Any objection shall be specific and state
    with particularity all grounds for the objection. A party shall not assign as error on
    appeal the court’s adoption of any factual findings or legal conclusions in this report and
    recommendation unless a timely objection was filed thereto. R.C. 2743.75(G)(1).
    JEFFERY W. CLARK
    Special Master
    Case No. 2017-00144-PQ          -14-    REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
    cc:
    Jodi Andes                        Halli Brownfield Watson
    9307 Harlequin Court              Assistant Attorney General
    Pickerington, Ohio 43147          Constitutional Offices Section
    30 East Broad Street, 16th Floor
    Columbus, Ohio 43215
    Matthew J. Donahue
    Assistant Attorney General
    150 East Gay Street, 16th Floor
    Columbus, Ohio 43215
    Filed May 10, 2017
    Sent to S.C. Reporter 6/13/17
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 2017-00144-PQ

Citation Numbers: 2017 Ohio 4251

Judges: Clark

Filed Date: 5/10/2017

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 6/13/2017