Opinion ID: 4562184
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: {¶ 2} In February 2019, McDougald sent Greene a prison kite requesting the prison’s “most current [shift-assignment] duty rosters” for the first, second, third, and fourth shifts at the prison. A few weeks later, Greene responded that he would provide copies of the records if McDougald paid 40 cents for the copies. But, Greene warned, the records would be heavily redacted, leaving only the “page headings, dates, and shift supervisor signature lines.” Greene also wrote that “the legal basis for these redactions are ‘security record,’ per Ohio Revised Code (RC) 149.433 (A) and (B) and ‘plans    for disturbance control,’ per RC 5120.21(D)(2).”1 (Ellipsis sic.) McDougald paid the cost and received the documents, which were highly redacted, just as Greene had warned. McDougald then filed the present mandamus action, arguing that the redactions were improper, that he is entitled to unredacted copies of the records, and that he should be awarded costs and statutory damages. {¶ 3} We ordered Greene to submit unredacted copies of the shiftassignment duty rosters for in camera review. 156 Ohio St.3d 1469, 2019-Ohio2953, 126 N.E.3d 1184. Each roster is a two-page form. The first page divulges the identity of the captain and lieutenant on duty, the names of officers assigned to 1. The dissent accuses this opinion of ignoring Greene’s statutory obligation to explain the legal basis for the redaction of the requested records, see R.C. 149.43(B)(3). But this is an issue raised by the dissent, not McDougald. McDougald’s complaint contains no such claim. Tellingly, the only support the dissent cites for its assertion that McDougald raised the issue is an out-of-context passage from McDougald’s merit brief. On fair reading, however, that passage relates only to McDougald’s argument that Greene cannot meet his burden of proving that the security-records exemption applies. Because McDougald has not raised any claim about the adequacy of Greene’s explanation, we decline to address that issue. 2 January Term, 2020 various locations around the prison, and the names of officers assigned as “escorts.” The first page also lists names under categories such as “good days” and “other absences.” At the bottom of the page are handwritten notes, which include things like staff announcements, security reminders, or incident updates. The second page provides totals for the number of officers assigned to “permanent posts” and “additional posts.” It also provides tallies related to various reasons for absences and indicates officer shortages or overages. The document is then signed by the shift supervisor.