Ohio Case Commentaries

Camara v. Gill Dairy: Post-Trial Review of Summary-Judgment Fact Disputes Must Use the Trial Record; R.C. 2745.01(C) Presumption Requires Only Evidence of “Deliberate Removal”

Date: Aug 13, 2026

Camara v. Gill Dairy: Post-Trial Review of Summary-Judgment Fact Disputes Must Use the Trial Record; R.C. 2745.01(C) Presumption Requires Only Evidence of “Deliberate Removal” 1. Introduction In...

App.R. 26(B) Reopening Requires a “Genuine Issue” of Ineffective Appellate Counsel; Court Will Not Revisit Aggregate-Consecutive-Sentence Proportionality After Polizzi

Date: Aug 12, 2026

App.R. 26(B) Reopening Requires a “Genuine Issue” of Ineffective Appellate Counsel; Court Will Not Revisit Aggregate-Consecutive-Sentence Proportionality After Polizzi 1. Introduction In 08/11/2026...

Ohio Mandamus: Municipal Fiscal Officers Must Certify Referendum Petitions Unless an Emergency Clause States Specific Reasons—and They Cannot Decide “Administrative vs. Legislative”

Date: Aug 9, 2026

Ohio Mandamus: Municipal Fiscal Officers Must Certify Referendum Petitions Unless an Emergency Clause States Specific Reasons—and They Cannot Decide “Administrative vs. Legislative” I. Introduction...

Ohio Supreme Court: Civ.R. 9(B) Requires Element-Level Particularity to Plead “Manifest Mistake” to Set Aside a Binding Insurance Appraisal; “Hidden Damages” Allegation Alone Is Insufficient

Date: Jul 25, 2026

Ohio Supreme Court: Civ.R. 9(B) Requires Element-Level Particularity to Plead “Manifest Mistake” to Set Aside a Binding Insurance Appraisal; “Hidden Damages” Allegation Alone Is Insufficient 1....

Colt’s Neck: “Any Order” in Joint-County Ditch Proceedings Is Immediately Appealable; R.C. 6133.10(A) Requires a Multi-County Panel; Jurisdictional-Priority Errors Are Voidable and Forfeitable

Date: Jul 24, 2026

Colt’s Neck: “Any Order” in Joint-County Ditch Proceedings Is Immediately Appealable; R.C. 6133.10(A) Requires a Multi-County Panel; Jurisdictional-Priority Errors Are Voidable and Forfeitable...

State v. Barnes (2026-Ohio-2750): Marsy’s Law Victims Must Follow App.R. 4(A) and Cannot Use App.R. 5(A) Delayed Appeals Reserved to Defendants

Date: Jul 24, 2026

State v. Barnes (2026-Ohio-2750): Marsy’s Law Victims Must Follow App.R. 4(A) and Cannot Use App.R. 5(A) Delayed Appeals Reserved to Defendants I. Introduction State v. Barnes, Slip Opinion No....

R.C. 2953.73(D) “Reasons” Requirement Satisfied by Stating a Statutory Ground for Accepting or Rejecting Postconviction DNA Testing

Date: Jul 22, 2026

R.C. 2953.73(D) “Reasons” Requirement Satisfied by Stating a Statutory Ground for Accepting or Rejecting Postconviction DNA Testing 1. Introduction In State v. Lash, Slip Opinion No. 2026-Ohio-2746,...

July 21, 2026 Supreme Court of Ohio Case Announcements: Procedural Dispositions, Sua Sponte Dismissals, and Record-Completion Enforcement

Date: Jul 22, 2026

July 21, 2026 Supreme Court of Ohio Case Announcements: Procedural Dispositions, Sua Sponte Dismissals, and Record-Completion Enforcement 1. Introduction The Supreme Court of Ohio’s July 21, 2026...

State v. Reillo (2026-Ohio-2701): Deference to the Fact-Finder’s Credibility Determinations in Manifest-Weight Review

Date: Jul 21, 2026

State v. Reillo (2026-Ohio-2701): Deference to the Fact-Finder’s Credibility Determinations in Manifest-Weight Review I. Introduction In State v. Reillo, Slip Opinion No. 2026-Ohio-2701 (decided July...

State v. Khalif (2026-Ohio-2689) Commentary

Date: Jul 18, 2026

State v. Khalif: Noncompliant R.C. 2945.75(A)(2) Verdict Forms Remain Error, but Unobjected-to Errors Require Plain-Error Prejudice Beyond the Missing Degree/Element 1. Introduction In State v....

Foreclosure Appeals Not Moot After Sale-Proceeds Distribution: R.C. 2329.45 Restitution Available Without a Stay

Date: Jul 18, 2026

Foreclosure Appeals Not Moot After Sale-Proceeds Distribution: R.C. 2329.45 Restitution Available Without a Stay I. Introduction In Wells Fargo Bank, Natl. Assn. v. Doberdruk, Slip Opinion No....

Attorney Discipline for Retaliatory Civil Suits and Harassing “Debt-Collection” Communications in a Personal Dispute

Date: Jul 18, 2026

Attorney Discipline for Retaliatory Civil Suits and Harassing “Debt-Collection” Communications in a Personal Dispute I. Introduction In Dayton Bar Assn. v. Baker, Slip Opinion No. 2026-Ohio-2673...

State v. King (2026-Ohio-2656) Commentary

Date: Jul 16, 2026

Ohio Prosecutors May Seek Discretionary Appellate Review of Post-Verdict Crim.R. 29 Acquittals (Overruling State ex rel. Yates) I. Introduction In State v. King, Slip Opinion No. 2026-Ohio-2656 (July...

Quo Warranto Standing in Ohio: Only the State (AG/Prosecutor) or a Claimant to the Office May Seek Ouster

Date: Jul 16, 2026

Quo Warranto Standing in Ohio: Only the State (AG/Prosecutor) or a Claimant to the Office May Seek Ouster Case: State ex rel. Esrati v. Foley Citation: 2026-Ohio-2646 Court: Supreme Court of Ohio...

State v. Polizzi (2026-Ohio-2588) Commentary

Date: Jul 13, 2026

Consecutive-Sentencing Proportionality and Appellate Review: No Aggregate-Term Requirement Under R.C. 2929.14(C)(4) and R.C. 2953.08(G)(2) I. Introduction State v. Polizzi, Slip Opinion No....

Reasonable Reliance on “Duplicative Request” Case Law Can Justify Denial of Statutory Damages Under R.C. 149.43

Date: Jul 13, 2026

Reasonable Reliance on “Duplicative Request” Case Law Can Justify Denial of Statutory Damages Under R.C. 149.43 1) Introduction In State ex rel. Mobley v. Franklin Cty. Bd. of Commrs., Slip Opinion...

State v. Rodriguez (2026-Ohio-2573): “Discernible-Facts” Rule for Carbon-Copy Counts

Date: Jul 11, 2026

State v. Rodriguez (2026-Ohio-2573): The “Discernible-Facts” Rule for Carbon-Copy Counts of the Same Offense I. Introduction In State v. Rodriguez, Slip Opinion No. 2026-Ohio-2573 (decided July 9,...

No Affirmative Duty to Itemize Copying Costs When Requiring Prepayment Under Ohio Public Records Act; Crisis-Precaution Form Not Shown to Be an Exempt “Medical Record”

Date: Jul 9, 2026

No Affirmative Duty to Itemize Copying Costs When Requiring Prepayment Under Ohio Public Records Act; Crisis-Precaution Form Not Shown to Be an Exempt “Medical Record” 1. Introduction State ex rel....

Nondefective Equipment Placement Is Not a “Physical Defect” Under R.C. 2744.02(B)(4)

Date: Jul 9, 2026

Nondefective Equipment Placement Is Not a “Physical Defect” Under R.C. 2744.02(B)(4) 1. Introduction Steigerwald v. Berea, 2026-Ohio-2554 presented a recurring governmental-immunity question: when a...

Nonprecedential Case Announcements: Sua Sponte Dismissal and Procedural Disposition of Habeas, Tax, and Appellate Motions (Supreme Court of Ohio, July 7, 2026)

Date: Jul 9, 2026

Nonprecedential Case Announcements: Sua Sponte Dismissal and Procedural Disposition of Habeas, Tax, and Appellate Motions (Supreme Court of Ohio, July 7, 2026) 1. Introduction The Supreme Court of...