Title: In re Disqualification of McDonald

State: ohio

Issuer: Ohio Supreme Court

Document:

IN RE DISQUALIFICATION OF MCDONALD. 
TOLEDO FAIR HOUSING CENTER ET AL. v. NATIONWIDE  
MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY ET AL. 
[Cite as In re Disqualification of McDonald (1997), ___ Ohio St.3d ___.] 
Judges — Affidavit of disqualification — Underlying case is a class action in 
which the judge and his spouse may be class members — Case returned to 
administrative judge for reassignment to another judge who will rule on the 
limited issue of the judge and his spouse’s membership in the class — If 
judge and his spouse are not class members, case will be returned to Judge 
McDonald. 
(No. 97-AP-152 — Decided November 14, 1997.) 
ON AFFIDAVIT OF DISQUALIFICATION in Lucas County  
Court of Common Pleas case No. 93-1685. 
 
MOYER, C.J.  Jeffrey S. Goldman, counsel for the defendants, Nationwide 
Mutual Insurance Company and Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance Company, has 
filed an affidavit seeking the disqualification of Judge Frederick H. McDonald 
from the above-captioned class action lawsuit.  The plaintiffs allege violations of 
the Ohio Civil Rights Act arising from the sale of homeowners’ insurance by the 
defendants. 
 
Affiant contends that Judge McDonald should be disqualified from further 
proceedings in this action because the judge and judge’s wife are members of the 
plaintiff class.  This contention is disputed by the plaintiffs; however, Judge 
McDonald states that there are “good faith arguments” in support of each party’s 
position and believes that the issue of his membership in the plaintiff class should 
be referred to another judge for decision.  If he is determined to be a member of 
the plaintiff class, Judge McDonald indicates that he will recuse himself.  If he is 
not included as a member of the plaintiff class, Judge McDonald says he knows of 
no reason to recuse himself. 
 
I accept Judge McDonald’s response as an indication that he is recusing 
himself from the portion of the underlying case that involves a determination of 
whether he and his wife are members of the plaintiff class.  Accordingly, the 
affidavit of disqualification, as it relates to that issue, is moot.  The case is 
returned to the administrative judge of the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, 
General Division, for reassignment to another judge who will rule on the limited 
issue of the membership of Judge McDonald and his wife in the plaintiff class. 
 
If Judge McDonald and his wife are determined to be members of the 
plaintiff class, Judge McDonald indicates that he will recuse himself.  In that 
instance, the case may proceed before the judge to whom the case was reassigned 
or may be assigned to another judge by the administrative judge of the division.  If 
Judge McDonald and his wife are determined not to be members of the plaintiff 
class, the case shall be returned to Judge McDonald for further proceedings.