The Observation Deck

Today, the Ohio Appeals Court made several rulings in the case involving Public Records requests and the city of Lakewood.

The court is again ordering the City of Lakewood, and Records Custodian Kevin Butler, to comply with Ohio Law and provide requested documents.

Citizens of Lakewood should rejoice that the justices are upholding Ohio laws and insuring that we, as citizens, have access to the information that belongs to us.

The docket is available in links on this thread: http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=23882

They upheld the earlier ruling ordering Kevin Butler and the city to turn over records-

By May 1, 2017, Lakewood shall comply with Essi's requests by preparing and releasing an "Index of Records Supplied, Supplied with Redactions, or Withheld" along with the appropriate records to Essi and filing a copy of the index with the court. The Index shall specify by record request each and all records released, released with redactions, or withheld.

Lakewood shall also certify the steps it undertook to locate the requested records and that they have either released or submitted under seal all records it could find coming within Essi's request.

Looks like some people at City Hall will be pretty busy!

You can only stonewall for so long.

Thank you. I checked earlier today, and it must have been only a few hours before the rulings were posted.

I admit that some of this is tough for me to follow, but the court does seem to be applying the spurs at any rate.

mjkuhns wrote:Thank you. I checked earlier today, and it must have been only a few hours before the rulings were posted.

I admit that some of this is tough for me to follow, but the court does seem to be applying the spurs at any rate.

They also denied the city's motions for summary judgement and a stay of discovery.

That means discovery can proceed. Deposition time!

Good going, Brian!!

We may not be able to save the remaining $85 million in cash and investments but we can find the truth.

Assuming the City does't decide ignore the court order.

Just to clarify, the city made a motion for a judgement on the pleadings, not a motion for summary judgement. A motion for judgement on the pleadings is made after all answers are filed.

It was denied.

Bridget Conant wrote:Just to clarify, the city made a motion for a judgement on the pleadings, not a motion for summary judgement. A motion for judgement on the pleadings is made after all answers are filed.

Helpful!

The city cannot ignore a court order.

They can continue to obfuscate, delay, and try vainly to stop the process, but in the end, they will have to turn over public records - it's the law.

How much more time and public money will they spend trying to keep the public from the records that document their actions?

Why are they fighting so hard to keep them from public view?

Who does Kevin Butler work for - the citizens or private entities?

Have no fear.....Summers and Butler have hired an "information specialist" that will insure all records of the Hospital transaction are properly dealt with.

As I said months ago, more like...















Rent it tonight on NetFlix!

.

I think these judges are smart and are not going to take any insubordination.

For example, when the Records Custodian, and man of many hats, Kevin Butler claimed that some documents were not able to be released because they were "protected" documents, the judges basically said, "PROVE IT!"

They must submit copies of these these records for the judges to view in camera. That means the judges will view these records privately and keep them under seal until they decide if they are, in fact, documents that should be protected.

Basically, they are not taking the city's word on it - they will look themselves and determine if they qualify as protected.

Bravo to them!

Folks,

I heard that City Hall recently made two purchases, for these items:







In all seriousness, this is indeed a major blow for Butler, Summers, & Council. I suspect that the release of these records (assuming they haven't been destroyed) will be a big hole put in the ship, and that the U.S.S. Summers will begin to sink. People will most likely start "jumping", more than have done so already.

Good news!

JOB said:

Rent it tonight on NetFlix!

More good news: no need to rent Bad Day at Blackrock when the Library just got it on DVD! Cool movie.

Michael Deneen wrote:Have no fear.....Summers and Butler have hired an "information specialist" that will insure all records of the Hospital transaction are properly dealt with.

But can they afford to buy him a stapler?

Dan Alaimo wrote:

Michael Deneen wrote:Have no fear.....Summers and Butler have hired an "information specialist" that will insure all records of the Hospital transaction are properly dealt with.

But can they afford to buy him a stapler?

Well they've got a little extra this year after hitting up college students. Probably enough to buy a stapler.