A recent annual report shows the number of Ohio workers’ compensation claim hearings are down slightly from prior years, and that hearings are quickly scheduled. Ohio employers should be encouraged by this trend, but be reminded that claims must be quickly investigated to allow adequate time to prepare for contested hearings. The Industrial Commission of [...]
On December 14, 2017, in a contentious 4-3 decision, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that certain parts of autopsies/coroner’s reports involving ongoing investigations may be redacted under the Ohio Public Records Act. State ex rel. Cincinnati Enquirer v. Pike Cty. Coroner's Office, 2017-Ohio-8988 (2017). The Cincinnati Enquirer and the Columbus Dispatch requested the final autopsy [...]
On January 4, 2018, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) issued a Memorandum to announce that federal prosecutors may exercise judgment when deciding whether to prosecute marijuana-related crimes. The DOJ’s Memorandum may be found at: https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/4343688/AG-Marijuana-Enforcement-1-4-18.pdf. The DOJ rescinded the Obama administration’s hands-off policy which de-emphasized prosecution of federal marijuana laws in states that legalized marijuana, [...]