State ex rel. Mun. Constr. Equip. Operators' Labor Council v. Cleveland

[Cite as State ex rel. Mun. Constr. Equip. Operators' Labor Council v. Cleveland, 2019-Ohio-1889.]
COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
STATE EX REL. MUNICIPAL
CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT
OPERATORS’ LABOR COUNCIL, :
Relator, :
No. 107585
v. :
CITY OF CLEVELAND, ET AL., :
Respondents. :
_______________________________________
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
JUDGMENT: DENIED
DATED: May 10, 2019
Writ of Mandamus
Motion No. 520481
Order No. 527374
Appearances:
Climaco Wilcox Peca Tarantino & Garfield, and Roll D.
Stewart, for relator.
Barbara A. Langhenry, Director of Law, and Mark V.
Webber, Assistant Director of Law, for respondent.
EILEEN T. GALLAGHER, P.J.:
{¶ 1} On August 23, 2018, the relator, the Municipal Construction Equipment
Operators’ Labor Council (“the Union”), commenced this public records mandamus action
against the respondents, the city of Cleveland and its Civil Service Commission (“Cleveland”), to
compel them to produce the application files of, and test reports for, 16 specified individuals for
a noted position. The Union had made this request through email on August 1, 2018, and had
asked that the records be sent by email.
{¶ 2} The court referred this case to its mediation office, which appeared to mediate a
successful resolution of the matter including the release of the requested records. In order to
establish on the record what had been resolved, the court ordered the parties to certify the status
of the case by stating for each record request what records have been released and when and how
they were released. Additionally, the respondents were to state what, if any, redactions had been
made with supporting legal authority for the redactions. If the Union believed that its requests
had not been satisfied, it was to support that belief with substantiation.
{¶ 3} Cleveland certified that, by August 20, 2018, it had provided requested records
through emails with a link to the requested records. Furthermore, Cleveland certified that in
August and September 2018, it had reprovided the link to the records. Additionally, in an
exhibit accompanying the certification, Cleveland attached approximately 200 pages of records,
including 16 pages explaining redactions.
{¶ 4} The Union certified that there were deficiencies in the released records. First, it
was the Union’s understanding that the tests were scored twice; the first scoring showed only
four or five applicants passing the test. This first score had not been produced. Second, there
were no answers to the supplemental questions on the application about education, certifications,
and experience. Third, Cleveland did not provide its investigation of the applicants’ resumes
and work history. Finally, the Union complained that Cleveland had not complied with the
requests, because it had provided a link to the records that was hard to open and had not
transmitted the records directly. The Union did not contest any redaction.
{¶ 5} In a February 26, 2019 journal entry, the court noted that it had examined the
released records and that they appeared to be complete and consistent. Moreover, most of the
Union’s objections were not well-founded. The court’s examination of the records showed that
the 16 individuals had answered the supplemental questions. The difference between
transmitting the records and providing a link to the records was de minimis. Next, the court
ruled that the failure to release records of the respondents’ investigation of the applicants or of an
independent analysis of the applicants’ work history was beyond the scope of the original
request. Furthermore, the court declined to expand the original request, especially because there
was no evidence that the respondents had made such investigations.
{¶ 6} Finally, the court examined the last objection that the tests were scored twice.
Because of the careful wording of the objections, the court noted that it is easy to speculate that it
is based on hearsay, rather than the substantiation sought by the court. Thus, the court directed
the Union to show cause with evidentiary-quality material why the case should not be considered
moot and why it believes that there are outstanding records that come within the scope of its
initial request.
{¶ 7} On March 4, 2018, the Union replied that there were no records that reflected an
Experience Evaluation for any applicant. The court finds this unpersuasive. Pages 127 through
155 of Cleveland’s December 6, 2018 response, exhibit No. 3, Part 2, contains “Experience
and/or Academic Training Evaluation.” This score sheet awards points for meeting minimum
qualifications and additional points for directly and indirectly related work experience.
{¶ 8} The other objection was that the Equipment/Practical Test results state that the
tests were administered July 10-13, 2018, but the final list says an examination date of July 20,
2018. The Union states that there are no records explaining the inconsistency. As with all
writs, a relator in a public records mandamus action must establish the right to the writ by clear
and convincing evidence. State ex rel. Pressley v. Indus. Comm. of Ohio, 11 Ohio St.2d 141,
228 N.E.2d 631 (1967), and State ex rel. Pietrangelo v. Avon Lake, 149 Ohio St.3d 273,
2016-Ohio-5725, 74 N.E.2d 419. Pointing out different dates in mid-July on two government
records does not establish by clear and convincing evidence that there are additional records.
{¶ 9} Accordingly, the court finds that this public records mandamus action is moot
because the records have been produced. The court denies the application for a writ of
mandamus. Each side to bear its costs. The court rules that there is no just reason for delay
pursuant to Civ.R. 54(B). This court directs the clerk of courts to serve all parties notice of this
judgment and its date of entry upon the journal as required by Civ.R. 58(B).
{¶ 10} Writ denied.
_________________________________
EILEEN T. GALLAGHER, PRESIDING JUDGE
EILEEN A. GALLAGHER, J., and
RAYMOND C. HEADEN, J., CONCUR