Title: In re Disqualification of OÂ’Donnell

State: ohio

Issuer: Ohio Supreme Court

Document:

[Cite as In re Disqualification of O’Donnell, ___ Ohio St.3d ___, 2013-Ohio-5762.] 
 
 
IN RE DISQUALIFICATION OF O’DONNELL. 
THIMMES v. TANEFF. 
[Cite as In re Disqualification of O’Donnell, ___ Ohio St.3d ___,  
2013-Ohio-5762.] 
Judges—Affidavits of disqualification—R.C. 2701.03—Disqualification not 
warranted solely because a local attorney is a party in the action—
Affidavit denied. 
(No. 13-AP-110—Decided November 22, 2013.) 
ON AFFIDAVIT OF DISQUALIFICATION in Franklin County Court of Common Pleas 
Case No. 13-CV-007921. 
____________________ 
O’CONNOR, C.J. 
{¶ 1} Plaintiff Karen G. Thimmes has filed an affidavit with the clerk of 
this court under R.C. 2701.03 seeking to disqualify Judge Colleen O’Donnell and 
all other Franklin County judges from presiding over any further proceedings in 
case No. 13-CV-007921, a legal-malpractice action pending in the Court of 
Common Pleas of Franklin County. 
{¶ 2} Thimmes claims that defendant Thomas Taneff is an attorney who 
is “personally known” by Judge O’Donnell and other Franklin County judges and 
therefore that disqualification is necessary to avoid any appearance of 
impropriety.  Judge O’Donnell has responded in writing to Thimmes’s affidavit, 
stating that she has no personal knowledge of any party in the case and affirming 
that she can fairly and impartially preside over the matter. 
{¶ 3} Contrary to Thimmes’s contention, the fact that a local attorney is 
a party in an action does not create an appearance of impropriety mandating the 
sitting judge’s removal, unless the judge’s relationship with that particular lawyer 
SUPREME COURT OF OHIO 
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justifies disqualification.  See In re Disqualification of Panagis, 74 Ohio St.3d 
1213, 657 N.E.2d 1328 (1989).  Here, Judge O’Donnell denies having any 
personal knowledge of Taneff, and Thimmes has not offered any evidence 
establishing a connection between Judge O’Donnell and Taneff. 
{¶ 4} Accordingly, the affidavit of disqualification is denied.  The case 
may proceed before Judge O’Donnell. 
________________________