Opinion

Kara v. Ohio Dept. of Taxation

  • 2013 Ohio 5944
Court
Ohio Court of Claims
Filed
Aug 26, 2013
Status
Published
On the bench
McGrath
Cited by
0 cases
Authority
More cited than 32.2%

The opinion

[Cite as Kara v. Ohio Dept. of Taxation, 2013-Ohio-5944.]

Court of Claims of Ohio

The Ohio Judicial Center

65 South Front Street, Third Floor

Columbus, OH 43215

614.387.9800 or 1.800.824.8263

www.cco.state.oh.us

JAMES KARA

Plaintiff

v.

OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION

Defendant

Case No. 2012-03794

Judge Patrick M. McGrath

Magistrate Holly True Shaver

DECISION

{¶ 1} On June 21, 2013, defendant filed a motion for summary judgment pursuant

to Civ.R. 56(B). On July 17, 2013, plaintiff filed his response. The motion is now before

the court for a non-oral hearing pursuant to L.C.C.R. 4(D).

{¶ 2} Civ.R. 56(C) states, in part, as follows:

{¶ 3} “Summary judgment shall be rendered forthwith if the pleadings,

depositions, answers to interrogatories, written admissions, affidavits, transcripts of

evidence, and written stipulations of fact, if any, timely filed in the action, show that

there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to

judgment as a matter of law. No evidence or stipulation may be considered except as

stated in this rule. A summary judgment shall not be rendered unless it appears from

the evidence or stipulation, and only from the evidence or stipulation, that reasonable

minds can come to but one conclusion and that conclusion is adverse to the party

against whom the motion for summary judgment is made, that party being entitled to

have the evidence or stipulation construed most strongly in the party’s favor.” See also

Case No. 2012-03794 -2- DECISION

Gilbert v. Summit Cty., 104 Ohio St.3d 660, 2004-Ohio-7108, citing Temple v. Wean

United, Inc., 50 Ohio St.2d 317 (1977).

{¶ 4} In January 2010, plaintiff began his employment with defendant as a Tax

Auditor Agent in defendant’s Cleveland office. This position was within the Classified

Civil Service and plaintiff was required to serve a 180-day probationary period. His

direct supervisor was Beth Lowe, who was based in the Akron office, but he was also

assigned a mentor in the Cleveland office, James Goldyn, Tax Auditor Agent 4. Plaintiff

alleges that throughout his employment he witnessed another employee, Ron Myeress,

being verbally harassed by a manager, Patrick Mancuso, which resulted in Myeress

filing a grievance through the union. Plaintiff alleges Lowe conducted his mid-

probationary review in April 2010 and that Lowe told him that he “met or was above” the

performance target. However, shortly after conducting the review, Lowe asked plaintiff

if he had witnessed any of the alleged harassment involving Myeress. When plaintiff

responded that he had witnessed it but that he did not want to be involved with the

grievance, Lowe told plaintiff that she could terminate his employment for any reason

and that by not speaking on behalf of the management, he was not helping his chances

of continued employment. Plaintiff alleges that he told Lowe that he would think about

testifying. Plaintiff ultimately decided not to become involved in Myeress’ grievance.

{¶ 5} On July 13, 2010, plaintiff met with Lowe and Paula Finnin for his final

probationary review, at which time plaintiff was informed that he was being discharged.

Plaintiff claims that Lowe concocted examples of unsatisfactory performance to justify

the decision to terminate his employment with defendant; that the true reason defendant

terminated his employment was his refusal to lie on behalf of management regarding

Myeress’ grievance. Plaintiff asserts claims for wrongful discharge in violation in public

policy and libel.

{¶ 6} In its motion for summary judgment, defendant argues that plaintiff cannot

establish claims for discharge in violation of public policy and libel.

Case No. 2012-03794 -3- DECISION

I. WRONGFUL DISCHARGE IN VIOLATION OF PUBLIC POLICY

{¶ 7} Defendant argues that plaintiff cannot establish a claim for discharge in

violation of public policy inasmuch as he was hired within the Classified Civil Service

pursuant to R.C. Chapter 124 and as such, he is not an at-will employee. Plaintiff

asserts that he was a probationary employee and an at-will employee. “As a

probationary civil service employee, [plaintiff] had no property interest in continued

employment sufficient to warrant procedural due process protection because [his]

appointment was not final until he satisfactorily completed [his] probationary period.”

State ex rel. Rose v. Ohio Dept. of Rehab. & Corr., 91 Ohio St.3d 453, 458 (2001); see

also Wissler v. Ohio Dept. of Job & Family Servs., 10th Dist. No. 09AP-569, 2010-Ohio-

3432, Browning v. Ohio State Hwy. Patrol, 151 Ohio App.3d 798, 2003-Ohio-1108 (10th

Dist.). Therefore, the court finds that plaintiff, as a probationary employee, is not

subject to the provisions of R.C. Chapter 124, and that he was an at-will employee.

{¶ 8} As a general rule, the common law doctrine of employment-at-will governs

employment relationships in Ohio. Wiles v. Medina Auto Parts, 96 Ohio St.3d 240,

2002-Ohio-3994. In an at-will employment relationship, either an employer or an

employee may legally terminate the employment relationship at any time and for any

reason. Mers v. Dispatch Printing Co., 19 Ohio St.3d 100, 103 (1985). A public policy

exception to the employment-at-will doctrine was first recognized by the Supreme Court

of Ohio in Greeley v. Miami Valley Maintenance Contrs., Inc., 49 Ohio St.3d 228 (1990).

In Greeley, the court held that “public policy warrants an exception to the employment-

at-will doctrine when an employee is discharged or disciplined for a reason which is

prohibited by statute.” Id. at 234. The public policy exception to the employment-at-will

doctrine “is not limited to public policy expressed by the General Assembly in the form

of statutory enactments” but “may [also] be discerned by the Ohio judiciary based on

sources such as the Constitutions of Ohio and the United States, legislation,

Case No. 2012-03794 -4- DECISION

administrative rules and regulations, and the common law.” Painter v. Graley, 70 Ohio

St.3d 377, 383-384 (1994).

{¶ 9} In order to establish a claim for wrongful termination in violation of public

policy, plaintiff must prove: 1) a clear public policy manifested in a statute, regulation, or

the common law (the clarity element); 2) that discharging an employee under

circumstances like those involved would jeopardize the policy (the jeopardy element); 3)

that the discharge at issue was motivated by conduct related to the policy (the causation

element); and 4) that there was no overriding business justification for the discharge

(the overriding justification element). Kulch v. Structural Fibers, Inc., 78 Ohio St.3d 134,

151 (1997). The clarity and jeopardy elements are questions of law, while causation

and overriding justification elements are questions of fact. Collins v. Rizkana, 73 Ohio

St.3d 65, 70 (1995).

A. The Clarity Element

{¶ 10} As to the issue of clarity, the question is whether there is a clear public

policy to protect a specific public interest sufficient to justify an exception to the at-will

employment doctrine. Id. Here, plaintiff relies upon statutes criminalizing the

subornation of perjury in support of his claim. For example, 18 U.S.C. 1622 states:

“Whoever procures another to commit any perjury is guilty of subornation of perjury, and

shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.” See

Dohme v. Eurand Am., Inc., 130 Ohio St.3d 168, 2011-Ohio-4609, ¶ 21 (“public policy

[must be] drawn from the federal or state constitution, federal or state statutes,

administrative rules and regulations, or common law.” Emphasis added.).

{¶ 11} Further, plaintiff asserts that Ohio’s statute criminalizing coercion states a

clear public policy. R.C. 2905.12(A) states, in part: “No person, with purpose to coerce

another into taking or refraining from action concerning which the other person has a

legal freedom of choice, shall do any of the following: * * * (5) Take, withhold, or

Case No. 2012-03794 -5- DECISION

threaten to take or withhold official action, or cause or threaten to cause official action to

be taken or withheld.”

{¶ 12} “‘It would be obnoxious to the interests of the state and contrary to public

policy and sound morality to allow an employer to discharge any employee, whether the

employment be for a designated or unspecified duration, on the ground that the

employee declined to commit perjury, an act specifically enjoined by statute.’” Collins,

supra, at 68, quoting Petermann v. Internatl. Bhd. of Teamsters, Chauffeurs,

Warehousemen & Helpers of Am., Local 396, 174 Cal. App.2d 184, 188-189 (1959).1

“Although there may have been no actual crime committed, there is nevertheless a

violation of public policy to compel an employee to forgo his or her legal protections or

to do an act ordinarily proscribed by law.” Collins, supra, at 71. Accordingly, the court

finds that plaintiff has met his requisite burden to articulate, by citation to its source, a

clear public policy.

{¶ 13} Plaintiff also cites R.C. 124.56 as a clear public policy. This statute

mandates that the State Personnel Board of Review conduct an investigation when it

has reason to believe that a “person having the power of * On June 21, 2013, defendant

filed a motion for summary judgment pursuant to Civ.R. 56(B). On July 17, 2013,

plaintiff filed his response. The motion is now before the court for a non-oral hearing

pursuant to L.C.C.R. 4(D).

{¶ 14} Civ.R. 56(C) states, in part, as follows:

{¶ 15} “Summary judgment shall be rendered forthwith if the pleadings,

depositions, answers to interrogatories, written admissions, affidavits, transcripts of

evidence, and written stipulations of fact, if any, timely filed in the action, show that

there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to

1

“[E]mployees discharged for ‘refusal to participate in activities which arguably violate’ criminal laws state

a claim for wrongful discharge in violation of public policy.” Anders v. Specialty Chem. Resources, Inc.,

121 Ohio App.3d 348, 355 (8th Dist.1997), quoting Collins, supra, at 71.

Case No. 2012-03794 -6- DECISION

judgment as a matter of law. No evidence or stipulation may be considered except as

stated in this rule. A summary judgment shall not be rendered unless it appears from

the evidence or stipulation, and only from the evidence or stipulation, that reasonable

minds can come to but one conclusion and that conclusion is adverse to the party

against whom the motion for summary judgment is made, that party being entitled to

have the evidence or stipulation construed most strongly in the party’s favor.” See also

Gilbert v. Summit Cty., 104 Ohio St.3d 660, 2004-Ohio-7108, citing Temple v. Wean

United, Inc., 50 Ohio St.2d 317 (1977).

{¶ 16} In January 2010, plaintiff began his employment with defendant as a Tax

Auditor Agent in defendant’s Cleveland office. This position was within the Classified

Civil Service and plaintiff was required to serve a 180-day probationary period. His

direct supervisor was Beth Lowe, who was based in the Akron office, but he was also

assigned a mentor in the Cleveland office, James Goldyn, Tax Auditor Agent 4. Plaintiff

alleges that throughout his employment he witnessed another employee, Ron Myeress,

being verbally harassed by a manager, Patrick Mancuso, which resulted in Myeress

filing a grievance through the union. Plaintiff alleges Lowe conducted his mid-

probationary review in April 2010 and that Lowe told him that he “met or was above” the

performance target. However, shortly after conducting the review, Lowe asked plaintiff

if he had witnessed any of the alleged harassment involving Myeress. When plaintiff

responded that he had witnessed it but that he did not want to be involved with the

grievance, Lowe told plaintiff that she could terminate his employment for any reason

and that by not speaking on behalf of the management, he was not helping his chances

of continued employment. Plaintiff alleges that he told Lowe that he would think about

testifying. Plaintiff ultimately decided not to become involved in Myeress’ grievance.

{¶ 17} On July 13, 2010, plaintiff met with Lowe and Paula Finnin for his final

probationary review, at which time plaintiff was informed that he was being discharged.

Plaintiff claims that Lowe concocted examples of unsatisfactory performance to justify

Case No. 2012-03794 -7- DECISION

the decision to terminate his employment with defendant; that the true reason defendant

terminated his employment was his refusal to lie on behalf of management regarding

Myeress’ grievance. Plaintiff asserts claims for wrongful discharge in violation in public

policy and libel.

{¶ 18} In its motion for summary judgment, defendant argues that plaintiff cannot

establish claims for discharge in violation of public policy and libel.

{¶ 19} Defendant argues that plaintiff cannot establish a claim for discharge in

violation of public policy inasmuch as he was hired within the Classified Civil Service

pursuant to R.C. Chapter 124 and as such, he is not an at-will employee. Plaintiff

asserts that he was a probationary employee and an at-will employee. “As a

probationary civil service employee, [plaintiff] had no property interest in continued

employment sufficient to warrant procedural due process protection because [his]

appointment was not final until he satisfactorily completed [his] probationary period.”

State ex rel. Rose v. Ohio Dept. of Rehab. & Corr., 91 Ohio St.3d 453, 458 (2001); see

also Wissler v. Ohio Dept. of Job & Family Servs., 10th Dist. No. 09AP-569, 2010-Ohio-

3432, Browning v. Ohio State Hwy. Patrol, 151 Ohio App.3d 798, 2003-Ohio-1108 (10th

Dist.). Therefore, the court finds that plaintiff, as a probationary employee, is not

subject to the provisions of R.C. Chapter 124, and that he was an at-will employee.

{¶ 20} As a general rule, the common law doctrine of employment-at-will governs

employment relationships in Ohio. Wiles v. Medina Auto Parts, 96 Ohio St.3d 240,

2002-Ohio-3994. In an at-will employment relationship, either an employer or an

employee may legally terminate the employment relationship at any time and for any

reason. Mers v. Dispatch Printing Co., 19 Ohio St.3d 100, 103 (1985). A public policy

exception to the employment-at-will doctrine was first recognized by the Supreme Court

of Ohio in Greeley v. Miami Valley Maintenance Contrs., Inc., 49 Ohio St.3d 228 (1990).

In Greeley, the court held that “public policy warrants an exception to the employment-

at-will doctrine when an employee is discharged or disciplined for a reason which is

Case No. 2012-03794 -8- DECISION

prohibited by statute.” Id. at 234. The public policy exception to the employment-at-will

doctrine “is not limited to public policy expressed by the General Assembly in the form

of statutory enactments” but “may [also] be discerned by the Ohio judiciary based on

sources such as the Constitutions of Ohio and the United States, legislation,

administrative rules and regulations, and the common law.” Painter v. Graley, 70 Ohio

St.3d 377, 383-384 (1994).

{¶ 21} In order to establish a claim for wrongful termination in violation of public

policy, plaintiff must prove: 1) a clear public policy manifested in a statute, regulation, or

the common law (the clarity element); 2) that discharging an employee under

circumstances like those involved would jeopardize the policy (the jeopardy element); 3)

that the discharge at issue was motivated by conduct related to the policy (the causation

element); and 4) that there was no overriding business justification for the discharge

(the overriding justification element). Kulch v. Structural Fibers, Inc., 78 Ohio St.3d 134,

151 (1997). The clarity and jeopardy elements are questions of law, while causation

and overriding justification elements are questions of fact. Collins v. Rizkana, 73 Ohio

St.3d 65, 70 (1995).

{¶ 22} As to the issue of clarity, the question is whether there is a clear public

policy to protect a specific public interest sufficient to justify an exception to the at-will

employment doctrine. Id. Here, plaintiff relies upon statutes criminalizing the

subornation of perjury in support of his claim. For example, 18 U.S.C. 1622 states:

“Whoever procures another to commit any perjury is guilty of subornation of perjury, and

shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.” See

Dohme v. Eurand Am., Inc., 130 Ohio St.3d 168, 2011-Ohio-4609, ¶ 21 (“public policy

[must be] drawn from the federal or state constitution, federal or state statutes,

administrative rules and regulations, or common law.” Emphasis added.).

{¶ 23} Further, plaintiff asserts that Ohio’s statute criminalizing coercion states a

clear public policy. R.C. 2905.12(A) states, in part: “No person, with purpose to coerce

Case No. 2012-03794 -9- DECISION

another into taking or refraining from action concerning which the other person has a

legal freedom of choice, shall do any of the following: * * * (5) Take, withhold, or

threaten to take or withhold official action, or cause or threaten to cause official action to

be taken or withheld.”

{¶ 24} “‘It would be obnoxious to the interests of the state and contrary to public

policy and sound morality to allow an employer to discharge any employee, whether the

employment be for a designated or unspecified duration, on the ground that the

employee declined to commit perjury, an act specifically enjoined by statute.’” Collins,

supra, at 68, quoting Petermann v. Internatl. Bhd. of Teamsters, Chauffeurs,

Warehousemen & Helpers of Am., Local 396, 174 Cal. App.2d 184, 188-189 (1959).2

“Although there may have been no actual crime committed, there is nevertheless a

violation of public policy to compel an employee to forgo his or her legal protections or

to do an act ordinarily proscribed by law.” Collins, supra, at 71. Accordingly, the court

finds that plaintiff has met his requisite burden to articulate, by citation to its source, a

clear public policy.

{¶ 25} Plaintiff also cites R.C. 124.56 as a clear public policy. This statute

mandates that the State Personnel Board of Review conduct an investigation when it

has reason to believe that a “person having the power of * * * removal, has abused such

power by * * * removal of an employee under his or their jurisdiction in violation of this

chapter of the Revised Code * * *.” R.C. 124.56. Once the investigation is completed,

the findings are reported to the governor, who may remove the person who abused the

power. The Supreme Court of Ohio has determined that “second-half probationary

employees” may use R.C. 124.56 to redress the “[a]buse of the discretion granted to

those having the power of removal.” Walton v. Montgomery Cty. Welfare Dept., 69 Ohio

2

“[E]mployees discharged for ‘refusal to participate in activities which arguably violate’ criminal laws state

a claim for wrongful discharge in violation of public policy.” Anders v. Specialty Chem. Resources, Inc.,

121 Ohio App.3d 348, 355 (8th Dist.1997), quoting Collins, supra, at 71.

Case No. 2012-03794 - 10 - DECISION

St.2d 58, 64 (1982). Plaintiff has met his burden of articulating a clear public policy

against abuse of power.

B. The Jeopardy Element

{¶ 26} “When analyzing the jeopardy element, a court must inquire ‘into the

existence of any alternative means of promoting the particular public policy to be

vindicated by a common-law wrongful-discharge claim.’” White v. Sears, Roebuck &

Co., 163 Ohio App.3d 416, 2005-Ohio-5086, ¶ 24 (10th Dist.), quoting Wiles, supra, ¶

15. “If a statutory remedy that adequately protects society’s interests already exists,

then there is no need to recognize a claim for wrongful discharge in violation of public

policy.” Id. “In that situation, the public policy expressed in the statute would not be

jeopardized by the absence of a common-law wrongful-discharge action in tort because

an aggrieved employee has an alternate means of vindicating his or her statutory rights

and thereby discouraging an employer from engaging in the unlawful conduct.” Wiles,

supra. Thus, plaintiff must establish that the other means for promoting the public policy

are inadequate. See White, supra. The court finds that there is not an alternate means

for plaintiff to vindicate the public policy at issue. The criminal statutes plaintiff cites do

not provide a remedy for his discharge.

{¶ 27} Similarly, R.C. 124.56 “says nothing about an adjudication of individual

employee rights” and the State Personnel Board of Review cannot order reinstatement

of the removed employee pursuant to R.C. 124.56. State ex rel. Carver v. Hull, 70 Ohio

St.3d 570, 576 (1994). Accordingly, plaintiff has established the jeopardy element.

C. The Causation Element

{¶ 28} Turning to the causation element, construing the evidence most strongly in

plaintiff’s favor, there is a genuine issue of material fact as to whether plaintiff’s

discharge was motivated by conduct related to the public policy. In support of its motion

Case No. 2012-03794 - 11 - DECISION

for summary judgment, defendant filed the affidavit of Beth Lowe, plaintiff’s supervisor,

who avers that she never spoke to plaintiff about a grievance involving Myeress; that at

the time of plaintiff’s mid-probationary review, she was not aware of any grievance

involving Myeress; and that plaintiff’s performance evaluations were based solely upon

plaintiff’s performance.

{¶ 29} In response, plaintiff filed his own affidavit where he states that after his

mid-probationary review, which was conducted on April 15, 2010, Lowe approached him

to discuss whether he had witnessed the harassment that Myeress complained of; that

she told him he needed to speak on behalf of the management; and that Lowe informed

him that he was not helping his status as a probationary employee if he did not get

involved. Plaintiff further states that he did not become involved and that his

employment was terminated in July 2010. Accordingly, the court finds that there is a

genuine issue of material fact whether plaintiff’s alleged refusal to lie motivated

defendant’s decision to discharge plaintiff.

D. The Overriding Justification Element

{¶ 30} Finally, defendant argues that Lowe’s probationary removal of plaintiff was

solely based upon his unsatisfactory performance and thus, it had an overriding

business justification for terminating plaintiff. In her affidavit, Lowe states that plaintiff’s

work was not meeting her expectations at his mid-probationary review, especially in the

areas of quality of work and communications; and that throughout his probationary

period, she determined that plaintiff did not have the necessary skills for the job.

However, in response, plaintiff states in his affidavit that Lowe told him during his mid-

probationary review that his work met his “performance target.” Further, plaintiff

provided the affidavit of plaintiff’s mentor, James Goldyn. Goldyn stated that he found

plaintiff to be responsible, polite, and respectful to authority; that plaintiff possessed

good computer skills; and that plaintiff appeared to communicate well. Therefore, the

Case No. 2012-03794 - 12 - DECISION

court finds that there are genuine issues of material fact as to whether there was an

overriding business justification for plaintiff’s probationary removal. Accordingly,

defendant is not entitled to judgment as a matter of law on plaintiff’s claim for wrongful

discharge in violation of public policy.

II. DEFAMATION

{¶ 31} In his complaint, plaintiff alleges that defendant published negative

statements in his performance review that had no basis in fact and which caused harm

to his reputation. In its motion for summary judgment, defendant challenges plaintiff’s

ability to establish a prima facie case of libel. “Defamation is the unprivileged

publication of a false and defamatory matter about another. A defamatory statement is

one which tends to cause injury to a person’s reputation or exposes him to public

hatred, contempt, ridicule, shame, or disgrace or affects him adversely in his trade or

business.” McCartney v. Oblates of St. Francis deSales, 80 Ohio App.3d 345, 353 (6th

Dist.1992) (Internal citations omitted.) Defamation comes in two forms: “slander, which

is spoken; and libel, which is written.” Crase v. Shasta Beverages, Inc., 10th Dist. No.

11AP-519, 2012-Ohio-326, ¶ 46. “The elements of a defamation action, whether

slander or libel, are that: (1) the defendant made a false and defamatory statement

concerning another; (2) that the false statement was published; (3) that the plaintiff was

injured; and (4) that the defendant acted with the required degree of fault.” Id.

{¶ 32} In her affidavit, Lowe states:

{¶ 33} “16. To the best of my knowledge, no one has requested information

regarding [plaintiff’s] employment with the office. It is my understanding that when

references are requested, [defendant] provides basic information relative to dates of

service and rate of pay. I am not aware of any instance wherein [defendant] has

produced employee evaluations pursuant to a reference check.”

Case No. 2012-03794 - 13 - DECISION

{¶ 34} “When a motion for summary judgment is made and supported as

provided in this rule, an adverse party may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials

of the party’s pleadings, but the party’s response, by affidavit or as otherwise provided

in this rule, must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. If

the party does not so respond, summary judgment, if appropriate, shall be entered

against the party.” Civ.R. 56(E). Plaintiff’s response to defendant’s motion fails to set

forth specific facts showing that his performance evaluations were published to a third

party. Therefore, defendant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law on plaintiff’s claim

of defamation. However, defendant is not entitled to judgment as a matter of law on

plaintiff’s wrongful discharge in violation of public policy claim. Accordingly, defendant’s

motion for summary judgment shall be granted, in part, and denied, in part.

_____________________________________

PATRICK M. MCGRATH

Judge

Case No. 2012-03794 - 14 - DECISION

Court of Claims of Ohio

The Ohio Judicial Center

65 South Front Street, Third Floor

Columbus, OH 43215

614.387.9800 or 1.800.824.8263

www.cco.state.oh.us

JAMES KARA

Plaintiff

v.

OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION

Defendant

Case No. 2012-03794

Judge Patrick M. McGrath

Magistrate Holly True Shaver

JUDGMENT ENTRY

{¶ 35} A non-oral hearing was conducted in this case upon defendant’s motion for

summary judgment. For the reasons set forth in the decision filed concurrently

herewith, defendant’s motion for summary judgment is GRANTED, in part, as to Count

Two of plaintiff’s complaint but DENIED as to Count One.

_____________________________________

PATRICK M. MCGRATH

Judge

cc:

Case No. 2012-03794 - 15 - DECISION

David W. Neel Velda K. Hofacker

55 Public Square, Suite 1950 Assistant Attorney General

Cleveland, Ohio 44113 150 East Gay Street, 18th Floor

Columbus, Ohio 43215-3130

002

Filed August 26, 2013

Sent to S.C. Reporter April 30, 2014

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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