Court Opinion

ID: 9352719
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-01-09 16:09:16.54807+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:58:02.542307
License: Public Domain

[Cite as Haynes v. Bexley Police Dept., 2022-Ohio-4828.]

                              IN THE COURT OF CLAIMS OF OHIO

 RICHARD R. HAYNES                                         Case No. 2022-00572PQ

         Requester                                         Judge Patrick E. Sheeran

         v.                                                JUDGMENT ENTRY

 BEXLEY POLICE DEPARTMENT

         Respondent

        {¶1} On December 13, 2022, a Special Master issued a Report and
Recommendation (R&R) in this public-records case. The Special Master recommends
denial of a motion to dismiss filed by Respondent. (R&R, 2.) The Special Master states:
                 Upon consideration of the pleadings and attachments the Special
        Master recommends the court find that requester’s claim for production of
        records is moot. The Special Master further recommends the court find that
        respondent failed to produce the records within a reasonable period of time.
        It is recommended requester be entitled to recover from respondent the
        amount of the filing fee of twenty-five dollars and any other costs associated
        with the action that were incurred by requester, and that court costs be
        assessed to respondent.
(R&R, 6.)
        {¶2} Neither party has timely objected to the Report and Recommendation, as
permitted by R.C. 2743.75(F)(2). Pursuant to R.C. 2743.75(F)(2), if neither party timely
objects to a special master’s report and recommendation, then this Court is required to
“promptly issue a final order adopting the report and recommendation, unless it
determines that there is an error of law or other defect evident on the face of the report
and recommendation.”
Case No. 2022-00572PQ                         -2-                      JUDGMENT ENTRY

         {¶3} Upon review, the Court determines that there is no error of law or other defect
evident on the face of the Report and Recommendation. The Court adopts the Report
and Recommendation.            In accordance with the Special Master’s Report and
Recommendation, the Court denies Respondent’s motion to dismiss; the Court finds that
Requester’s claim for production of records is moot; and the Court finds that Respondent
failed to produce records within a reasonable period of time. Because Respondent
denied Requester access to public records in violation of R.C. 149.43(B), Requester is
entitled to recover from Respondent the amount of the filing fee of twenty-five dollars and
any other costs associated with the action that are incurred by the Requester, excepting
attorney fees. Court costs are assessed to Respondent. The Clerk shall serve upon all
parties notice of this judgment and its date of entry upon the journal.

                                            PATRICK E. SHEERAN
                                            Judge

Filed December 29, 2022
Sent to S.C. Reporter 1/9/23