Skip to main content

Hicks v. Union Twp., Clermont Cty., Trustees

OHIOCTCLApril 21, 2022No. 2022-00024PQ
Facing something similar at work?Check your rights — free, private, no sign-up

Case Details

Judge(s)
Clark
Status — whether other courts must follow this ruling
Published
Procedural Posture — the stage the case had reached
Special master decision on public records request under Ohio R.C. 2743.75

Related Laws

No specific laws identified for this ruling.

Outcome

Special master found that Union Twp. Trustees improperly redacted public records, determining that most redacted emails did not qualify for attorney-client privilege and that disclosure to third parties waived privilege for one email string. Additionally, redactions from an employee bio sheet exceeded the statutory exemption limits.

Excerpt

public record R.C. 149.43 court of claims R.C. 2743.75 attorney-client privilege waiver R.C. 149.43(A)(1)(p) R.C. 149.43(A)(7) R.C. 149.43(A)(8) personal privacy. Requester sought all documents from a meeting of respondent trustees. Respondent redacted portions of the records as alleged confidential attorney-client communications or confidential personal information. The special master found that most of the emails consisted of cover letters, pleasantries, scheduling, and other non-legal information. With few exceptions, the special master found respondent failed to show that redacted email content fell squarely within the common-law attorney-client privilege. The special master further found that one email string had been disclosed to third parties, waiving the attorney-client privilege. The special master further found that redacted information from an employee bio sheet went beyond the four names that were the only items falling squarely within the "designated public service worker residential and familial information" exemption defined in R.C. 149.43(A)(8).

What This Ruling Means

**What Happened** A person requested public records from Union Township trustees in Clermont County, Ohio, asking for all documents from a trustee meeting. The township provided the records but blacked out (redacted) large portions, claiming the hidden information was either confidential attorney-client communications or private personal information that couldn't be disclosed under Ohio's public records law. **What the Court Decided** A special master (a court-appointed expert) ruled in favor of the person requesting the records. The court found that the township improperly redacted most of the documents. Many of the blacked-out emails were simply cover letters, casual conversation, and scheduling information—not actual legal advice that would be protected. The township also lost attorney-client privilege protection for one email chain because they had shared it with outside parties. Additionally, the township redacted too much information from an employee's biographical sheet, going beyond what the law allows. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling strengthens workers' rights to access government records about their workplace. When public employees want to see what their employers are discussing or deciding, government agencies can't simply black out information by incorrectly claiming it's legally privileged. This transparency helps workers stay informed about decisions affecting their jobs and ensures government employers follow proper disclosure rules.

This summary was generated to explain the ruling in plain English and is not legal advice.

Similar Rulings

Burson v. Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
OHIOCTCLMay 2026
Defendant Win
Abdullah
OHIOCTCLDec 2025

Civ.R. 56, hostile work environment, constructive discharge. Plaintiff failed to produce a genuine issue as to any material fact that he was subjected to a hostile work environment based on his race or national origin, or that he was constructively discharged. The alleged hostile actions and commentary made by other employees were not racially based and did not materially disrupt plaintiff's work. As plaintiff's experiences amounted to no more than ordinary tribulations of the workplace, plaintiff's hostile work environment claims failed. For the same reasons, plaintiff failed to sustain his constructive discharge claim. Summary judgment was granted in favor of defendant pursuant to Civ.R. 56.

Defendant Win
Mohler
OHIOCTCLJan 2025

Civ.R. 56; motion for summary judgment; University of Toledo Athletic Department; athletics; negligent misrepresentation; promissory estoppel; negligence; discretionary immunity. In an action where plaintiff was removed from University of Toledo's women's soccer team, the court found that defendant was entitled to discretionary immunity for the decision to remove plaintiff from the team. Defendant was entitled to summary judgment on plaintiff's claim for negligent misrepresentation because plaintiff failed to demonstrate that defendant supplied false information to plaintiff that the document plaintiff signed was a National Letter of Intent, and therefore, plaintiff failed to satisfy all the elements of the claim. Defendant was also entitled to summary judgment on plaintiff's claim for promissory estoppel because the court found that plaintiff's relationship with University of Toledo was contractual in nature, and therefore, the claim failed as a matter of law. Defendant was further entitled to summary judgment on plaintiff's claim for negligence as the court concluded that plaintiff failed to state a prima facie case for the claim since plaintiff pointed to no facts or supportive law that would allow the court to conclude that a duty of care existed to provide a safe team environment free from abuse, harassment, ridicule, embarrassment, and hostility. Judgment for defendant.

Defendant Win
Jones
OHIOCTCLJan 2025

Motion for Summary Judgment, Employment, Age Discrimination, Sex Discrimination. No genuine issues as to any material fact existed regarding plaintiff's claims for age or sex discrimination. Defendant presented legitimate, non-discriminatory reasons for plaintiff's termination. Plaintiff failed to establish a prima facie case by presenting facts which demonstrated that defendant's reasoning for termination of plaintiff's employment was pretextual. Defendant's motion for summary judgment was granted.

Defendant Win
Datto
OHIOCTCLSep 2022

Summary Judgment Civ.R 56 Breach of Contract Disability Discrimination Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Reasonable Accommodation Retaliation Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress Unjust Enrichment. Plaintiff was denied admission to defendant's college of medicine because he had previously matriculated at another medical school, not because of a disability or his legal action against his prior medical school. Moreover, plaintiff did not request a reasonable accommodation for admission to make himself otherwise qualified under the ADA. As such, plaintiff was never an enrolled student at defendant's college of medicine and thus no binding contract existed between them. Additionally, defendant's retention of the application fee was not unjust enrichment because the decision to decline admission was exercised with professional judgment. Lastly, declined admission is not actual, or fear of, physical peril as required for negligent infliction of emotional distress. Therefore, the court issued summary judgment in favor of defendant on all claims.

Defendant Win

Browse Related

Facing something similar at work?

Court rulings like this one are useful, but every situation is different. Take 2 minutes to see which laws may protect you — it's free, private, and no account is required to start.

This ruling information is sourced from public court records via CourtListener.com. Case outcomes, claim types, and summaries are extracted using AI analysis and may be incomplete or inaccurate. It is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

See something wrong, or named in this ruling and want it corrected or redacted? Request a correction.