Cleveland Law Library Weblog

Ohio AG Settles for $8.44 with Drug Companies

Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray has announced an $8.44 million settlement with drug companies who allegedly falsely reported their wholesale drug prices. According to the underlying suit, this data resulted in the Ohio Medicaid Program over-paying pharmacies dispensing drugs to recipients of Medicaid. The four companies involved are: Abbott Laboratories, Pharmacia Corp., Roxane Laboratories, Inc. and Warrick Phamaceuticals, Inc.

Ohio AG Voluntarily Dismisses Lead Paint Suit

According to a Press Release from Friday, the Ohio Attorney General has dismissed the lead paint lawsuit former AG Marc Dann filed in Franklin County CP Court in April of 2007. The Press Release indicates that instead of a lawsuit, the new AG intends to seek public/private partnerships to try and remedy problems created by lead paint exposure. Click here to read our prior post about a 2007 Ohio Supreme Court opinion declining to hear a case involving several paint manufacturers.

Kentucky Wants Its Rock Back

In a dispute over who owns a big rock dredged from the bottom of the Ohio River, Kentucky's Attorney General has sued the city of Portsmouth, Ohio and others to get the rock back from Ohio. This case originated in 2007 when an Ohio historian and his team removed this historic rock on the premise that its carvings would otherwise be lost or damaged. I have been following this squabble over the rock, which is no pet rock, for months. Now, after trying to work out a settlement, the Feb. 5th edition of the Daily Legal News reports that the case has gone to court. Although the rock currently resides in Ohio, Kentucky wants it back. Can't they share it to avoid a legal battle and all those legal fees?

Richard Cordray Will Take Over as Ohio AG on Jan. 8th

On January 8th, 2009, current Ohio Treasurer Richard Cordray will take over for OSU Law Dean Nancy Rogers as Ohio's newest Attorney General. Cordray will be the 3rd person to sit in the AG's seat in the last 12 months. Click here to read our prior post about Dean Rogers' 5-month appointment.

OSU Dean to Sub as New Ohio AG

Governer Strickland has appointed Ohio State University College of Law Dean Nancy Rodgers as the Ohio Attorney General for the next 5 months. To fill this temporary position until a new AG can be elected in November, Dean Rodgers has taken a leave of absence from her duties at the University. On the drive in today, I heard her state that she has no intention of running for office in the Fall after completing her interim duties as AG. Dean Rodgers is a highly respected attorney who serves as the Moritz Law School Chair in Alternative Dispute Resolution. She was recently honored and acknowledged at the Ohio State Bar Association convention in Columbus, Ohio. Click here to read an article from cleveland.com's blog.

Bill Mason on Short List for Ohio AG Job

In the wake of Marc Dann's resignation as Ohio Attorney General, a number of candidates' names are being suggested as Dann's replacement. One of those potentials is local Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason, who has been quoted as saying it would "be an honor" for Governor Strickland to consider him for the job. The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that other potential candicates include Lt. Governor Lee Fisher, Chancellor Eric Fingerhut, Treasurer Richard Cordray, and Kent Markus-Strickland's chief legal counsel.

Ohio AG Dann Likely Headed for Impeachment Proceedings

If the Democrats keep their promise, Ohio's Attorney General, Marc Dann, will soon be involved in impeachment proceedings. As of this weekend, they already stripped Dann of their party's 2006 endorsement of him for Attorney General, and the process is not going to stop there. Dann, who should be the State of Ohio's most ethical attorney, has admitted to having an extra-marital affair with a staffer in his office, where allegations of sexual harassment and other improper and allegedly illegal activities have been made. Although Dann has investigated at least some of this conduct, fired offending employees, and started implementing new policies regarding email and office decorum, (see the AG website) he refuses to step down voluntarily as others have done.  The AG website outlines all of the steps Dann has taken with regard to other employees, but because Dann has not addressed his own conduct, his fellow-party Democrats, including Ohio Governor Strickland, have asked him to resign. Failing that, which Dann has so far refused to do, the Democrats are planning to impeach him. Click here to read the Plain Dealer article, and click here to read an article from the Columbus Dispatch.

OPERS Sues Freddie Mac in Class Action For Securities Fraud In Mortgage Industry

On behalf of the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System, commonly known as OPERS, Attorney General Marc Dann has sued Freddie Mac in Youngstown federal court, for securities fraud in the mortgage industry. The docket in the case can be found on PACER under Case No.4:2008cv00160. The nickname of Freddie Mac belongs to the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. Specifically, the suit seeks to recover millions in losses to Ohio's pensions funds caused by allegedly secret and deceptive lending practices that lead to sub-prime lending and high foreclosure rates. Click here to read the Attorney General's Press Release. Click here to read an article from the Columbus Dispatch, and click here to read an article from the Washington Business Journal.

Tic Tac Fruit Temporarily Allowed

As of Friday, Tic Tac Fruit, and other games of chance that pay out over $10.00, have a reprieve in Ohio. On Friday, Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Michael Holbrook issued an order enjoining Attorney General Marc Dann from shutting down those games. According to the Plain Dealer, the Judge's order made clear that any change in the gaming laws has to come from the State Legislature in Columbus. Later that day, however, the AG successfully appealed, and the 10th District Court of Appeals converted the trial court's order into a temporary restraining order. Click here for an article on the two rulings.

Attorney General Sues Florida Fundraiser Under Ohio's Charitable Solicitations Act

On August 15, 2007, Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann sued a Florida company named Xentel Inc., alleging that it defrauded charities in violation of Ohio's Charitable Solicitation Act contained in ORC Chapter 1716. The case, which was filed in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, Case No. 07 CV 010900, was assigned to Judge Guy Reece. Among the entities Dann claims Xentel defrauded are the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police, the Ohio Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, the Ohio Vietnam Veterans Assistance Council and the Ohio Narcotics Officers' Association. Since the case was just filed, the docket only reflects deadlines for a status conference, disclosure of witnesses, other pre-trial assignments, and a preliminary trial date of 9/22/08. The Attorney General's office maintains a Charitable Organizations Section which enforces the Charitable Solicitation Act and has issued an Information Sheet on the provisions of the Act. Click here to read an article about the suit from the Plain Dealer online.