THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR 

THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO 

EASTERN DIVISION

BRIAN GARRETT, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY,

Defendant.

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)

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Case No. 2:18-cv-00692 

Judge Michael H. Watson

Chief Magistrate Judge Elizabeth P. 

Deavers

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STEVE SNYDER-HILL, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY,

Defendant.

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 )

Case No. 2:18-cv-00736 

Judge Michael H. Watson

Chief Magistrate Judge Elizabeth P. 

Deavers

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MOTION FOR STATUS CONFERENCE 

Plaintiffs in the above-referenced cases of Snyder-Hill, et al. v. The Ohio State University, 

number 2:18-cv-00736, and Garrett, et al. v. The Ohio State University, number 2:18-cv-00692, 

hereby request that the Court schedule a telephonic status conference at the earliest practical 

time. The purpose of the requested conference is to discuss the timeline and procedure for 

release of the Perkins Coie investigative report in light of the pending motion regarding records 

from the State Medical Board of Ohio, the mediation scheduled for July 10-11, 2019, and the 

pre-mediation submissions due June 20, 2019.

1. Plaintiffs have long awaited the report from Perkins Coie, the firm retained by Ohio 

State University’s special counsel (Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP) to 

investigate allegations of sexual misconduct against Dr. Richard Strauss.

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2. In November 2018, Defendant announced that Perkins Coie’s investigation was 

“nearing the end.”1 In early March 2019, OSU’s President expected the investigation 

to end in “six to eight weeks,” i.e., by May 1, 2019.

2

 As of today’s date, it is unclear 

whether Perkins Coie has completed the report.

3. On May 1, 2019, OSU moved for an Order permitting the public release of portions

of the Perkins Coie report, including “information retrieved from files obtained from 

the State Medical Board of Ohio.” That motion is sub judice.

4. Plaintiffs do not know whether Perkins Coie has completed its report, whether OSU’s 

attorneys at Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP and/or Carpenter Lipps and Leland 

have seen the report, or what the timeline and process will be for dissemination of the 

report to the public and the parties in the above-captioned actions.

5. Yesterday, Judge Michael Barrett scheduled a mediation for July 10-11, 2019 and 

requested ex parte pre-mediation submissions by June 20, 2019. 

6. Given the upcoming mediation deadlines and the potential relevance of the report to 

the mediation process, Plaintiffs respectfully request a telephonic court conference to 

discuss the timeline and process for release of the Perkins Coie report.

7. Plaintiffs have conferred with Defendant. Defendant stated it does not join in the 

request but has not stated whether or not it opposes the request.

 1 See https://news.osu.edu/perkins-coie-team-updates-trustees-on-strauss-investigation/ 2 See https://www.thelantern.com/2019/03/drake-expects-strauss-investigation-to-conclude-in-six-to-eight-weeks/.

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DATED: May 9, 2019 EMERY CELLI BRINCKERHOFF

 & ABADY LLP

By: /s/ Ilann M. Maazel 

Ilann M. Maazel (admitted pro hac vice)

Debra L. Greenberger (admitted pro hac vice)

600 Fifth Avenue

New York, New York 10020

Phone: (212) 763-5000

Fax: (212) 763-5001

E-Mail: imaazel@ecbalaw.com

E-Mail: dgreenberger@ecbalaw.com

SCOTT ELLIOTT SMITH, LPA

Scott E. Smith (0003749)

Brian R. Noethlich (0086933)

5003 Horizons Drive, Suite 100

Columbus, Ohio 43220

Phone: (614) 846-1700

Fax: (614) 486-4987

E-Mail:ses@sestraillaw.com

E-Mail: brn@sestriallaw.com

Adele P. Kimmel (admitted pro hac vice)

PUBLIC JUSTICE, P.C. 

1620 L Street, NW, Suite

630 Washington, DC 20036 

Phone: (202) 797-8600

Fax: (202) 232-7203 

E-mail: akimmel@publicjustice.net

2:18-cv-00736 

/s/ Simina Vourlis

by /s/ Ilann Maazel 

per email authorization (5/9/19)

Simina Vourlis (0046689) (Trial Attorney)

The Law Office of Simina Vourlis

856 Pullman Way

Columbus, OH 43212

(614) 487-5900

(614) 487-5901 fax

svourlis@vourlislaw.com

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Rex A. Sharp (admitted pro hac vice)

Ryan C. Hudson (admitted pro hac vice)

Scott B. Goodger (admitted pro hac vice)

Larkin Walsh (admitted pro hac vice)

Sarah T. Bradshaw (admitted pro hac vice)

REX. A. SHARP, P.A.

5301 W. 75th Street

Prairie Village, KS 66208

(913) 901-0505

(913) 901-0419 fax

rsharp@midwest-law.com

rhudson@midwest-law.com

sgoodger@midwest-law.com

lwalsh@midwest-law.com

sbradshaw@midwest-law.com

2:18-cv-00692 

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

A copy of this document was served by the Court’s ECF System on all counsel of record

on May 9, 2019, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(b)(2)(E).

 /s/ Ilann M. Maazel____

Ilann M. Maazel

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