Source: https://suealtmeyer.typepad.com/cleveland_law_library_web/2006/07/index.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 01:49:30+00:00

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The City of Cleveland added .50 caliber rifles to the definition of assault weapon contained in Cleveland Codified Ordinance 628.02. See Ordinance No. 105-05, City Record, July 19, 2006, pages 1333 and 1353, pages 43 and 63 of the pdf document. According to C.C.O. 628.03, it is a criminal offense to possess, sell or acquire an assault weapon.
The City of Cleveland recently amended Cleveland Codified Ordinance 676.01 to expand the definition of "regulated items" for junk yards. Regulated items now include residential copper and plumbing and electrical wire, aluminum gutters and downspouts, stained glass, household fixtures and fixtures or property from places of worship. Special records must be maintained for regulated items if the items are not obtained from an exempt entity. If the police give notice that stolen material has been found among the regulated items, the items must be retained intact for police inspection. See CCO Chapter 676. The new ordinance also amended CCO 676.15 to provide that a business in violation of CCO Chapter 676 or any other applicable statute, rule or ordinance, shall be ordered closed. See Ordinance No. 1132-04, City Record, July 19, 2006, pages 1333 and 1352, pages 43 and 62 of the pdf document.
The budget bill, H.B. 66 , Ohio Revised Code Section 120.36, permitted counties to charge fees to indigents for using public defender services. The counties were motivated to do so, because the state has decreased its funding of public defender offices. It is anticipated that the fee will be waived in most cases. Changes were made by the budget corrections bill, H.B. 530. In order to get a waiver, a person must aver his income is not more than 125% of the federal poverty level. Judges can not issue blanket waivers, and must report to the state on fees collected and waivers granted. See Ohio Enacts $25 Fee for Defendants Who Get Assigned Lawyers by Reginald Fields, The Plain Dealer, July 30, 2006.
The SEC issued new rules on reporting executive compensation, effective Dec. 15, 2006. Companies must now disclose the date of granting stock options to executives. The new rules also require companies to have one consolidated table in annual filings showing total annual compensation for chief executive officers, chief financial officers and the next three highest paid executives. Compensation must be explained in detail on a new statement called the "Compensation Discussion and Analysis," or CD&A. The explanations in proxy and information statements must be in plain english. Executive Rewards: Please Itemize by Marcy Gordon, Associated Press, The Plain Dealer, July 27, 2006; SEC Orders More, Clearer Exec Pay Disclosure by Rueters, posted at businessinsurance.com, July 26, 2006; SEC Votes to Adopt Changes to Disclosure Requirements Concerning Executive Compensation and Related Matters, SEC Press Release 2006-123, July 26, 2006. The SEC press release contains a form for the Summary Compensation Table.
For articles discussing the impact of the Ohio Supreme Court's decision in Norwood v. Horney (July 26, 2006), 2006-Ohio-3799, on local eminent domain cases see Court Limits Eminent Domain by Ted Wendling, The Plain Dealer, July 27, 2006 and Ruling Pleases Lawyers in Local Eminent Domain Cases by Sarah Hollander, The Plain Dealer, July 27, 2006. These cases include the Wolstein flats development project and South Euclid's eminent domain case to redevelop Cedar shopping center.
See our prior posts: Ohio Supreme Court Says No Eminent Domain Solely for Economic Development , July 26, 2006; Port Authority Sues to Obtain Flats by Eminent Domain, May 24, 2006; Task Force Issues Preliminary Recommendations on Eminent Domain, April 4., 2006; Does the Ohio Constitution Permit Eminent Domain Takings for Economic Development?, Jan. 12, 2006.
The Cleveland Browns prematurely terminated its contract with Channel 19 for the televising of Browns games. Channel 19 is suing the Browns for breach of contract. According to a Plain Dealer article, "The contract reads that the deal may be terminated by either side for 'cause,' such as 'conduct by one party, its employees or representatives which substantially alters the aggrieved party's ability to benefit from this agreement.' "
In a letter terminating the contract, the Browns said the termination was because of "repeated instances where WOIO news staff stepped well outside any legitimate boundary of responsible journalism." Also, the letter "accused the station's reporters of 'sensationalized, overtly negative reporting on the organization and its players.' ". Recently, Channel 19 broadcasted 911 tapes of a Lerner family member reporting the drowning death of her child. The termination letter called this broadcast, "shocking and insensitive".
Channel 19 contends that the Browns do not have cause to break the contract and did not give the required 30 day notice.
Channel 19 Sues Browns in Contract Dispute by James F. McCarty, The Plain Dealer, July 26, 2006; see also Browns Opt to End Deal with Ch. 19 by Tony Grossi, The Plain Dealer, July 18, 2006. For the case docket, search for RAYCOM TV BROADCASTINGS INC. ETAL vs. CLEVELAND BROWNS FOOTBALL CO., LLC, Cuyahoga Count Common Pleas Case No. CV-06-597064 at the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas docket.
The Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation has finally agreed to pay $52 million in amounts the Bureau wrongfully reclaimed from workers. Between 1995 and 2001, the Bureau reclaimed payments from injured workers when money was paid to workers by third parties. Former ORC 4123.931 stated that the Bureau had subrogation rights to money paid by third parties for worker's injuries. For example, if an employee collected damages from an employer in an intentional tort case, the Bureau had subrogation rights.
A class action lawsuit was filed in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Angel L. Santos v. Administrator, Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation, Case No. 99-393694 (see docket). In 2001, the Ohio Supreme Court held that the statute establishing subrogation rights was unconstitutional. See Holeton v. Crouse Cartage Company (2001), 92 Ohio St.3d 115. In 2004, the Ohio Supreme Court held that the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas had subject matter jurisdiction and could collect the funds. Santos v. Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation (2004), 101 Ohio St.3d 74, 2004-Ohio-28. Over a year later, the funds are finally being released.
Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael Donnelly appointed attorney James McMonagle to administer the funds and make distributions. The Bureau must mail repayment checks within 45 days after receiving a proper application from an eligible worker or survivor.
In 2003, another subrogation statute was enacted that eliminated the constitutionality problems of the statute struck down by the Ohio Supreme Court in 2001. See ORC 4123.931.
BWC to Pay $52 Million Class-Action Judgment by James F. McCarty, The Plain Dealer, July 20, 2006; Ohio Agency to Return $52M Held from Injured Workers , Toledo Blade, July 20, 2006.
Land Use and Zoning attorney John P. Slagter summarizes the Ohio Supreme Court's holding in Norwood v. Horney as follows: "...that without an additional public benefit, a property cannot be appropriated through eminent domain powers merely to provide an economic benefit to the community. Furthermore, the Court held that courts shall apply heightened scrutiny when reviewing statutes about eminent-domain powers and that the term ‘deteriorating areas’ is unconstitutional as used as a standard for taking property because inherently incorporates the future of the property, as opposed to examining the property as it is at the time of the taking." Ohio Supreme Court Upholds Norwood v. Horney by John P. Slagter, Build on This Blog, July 26, 2006. Read the opinion at: Norwood v. Horney (July 26, 2006), 2006-Ohio-3799. Also see: Ohio Supreme Court Summaries.
City Council voted to amend Cleveland Codified Ordinance 675.09, to require background checks for peddlers of frozen desserts. C.C.O. 675.09(n) states that no person shall peddle frozen desserts in the city if the person is convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense involving a minor, a sexually oriented offense, assault (within the last 7 years), unlawful possession of weapons (within 5 years) or homicide. The ice cream vendor must post their permit in a conspicuous place. See Cleveland Ordinance No. 673-05, City Record, July 19, 2006, at page 1354, page 64 of the pdf document. See also Background Checks Will Be Required For Ice Cream Vendors, Newsnet 5, July 13, 2006.
Ohio SB 349 would prohibit employers from requiring employees to use radio frequency ID tags for tracking. The tags are inserted into a person's body. Newly Introduced Bill Would Protect Privacy by ACLU of Ohio, July 20, 2006. For a list of other states with proposed or enacted RFID legislation in various areas, such as consumer products, documents created by the state and requiring a person to insert a tag, see RFID and Privacy, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. See also Wikipedia, RFID.

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