| Case Caption | Case No. | Topics and Issues | Author | Citation / County | Decided | Posted | WebCite |
|
State v. Thompson
| 2025-A-0015 | CRIMINAL LAW - Pandering Sexually-Oriented Matter Involving a Minor; Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor; ineffective assistance of counsel; timing of motion to dismiss; speedy trial; R.C. 2945.71, 2945.72, 2945.73; trial tactics; no deficient performance; no prejudice; indictment was constitutionally sufficient; due process; double jeopardy; failure to adequately distinguish multiple counts; plain error; nonbinding legal authority; factually distinguishable; sufficiency of the evidence; four separate counts. | Eklund | Ashtabula |
2/9/2026
|
2/9/2026
| 2026-Ohio-399 |
|
State v. Thompson
| 2024-P-0074 | CRIMINAL LAW – motion to suppress; mixed questions of law and fact; traffic stop; probable cause to stop the vehicle; traffic violation; failure to use turn signal; consent to search vehicle; K-9 sniff; narcotics found inside vehicle; additional drugs found on defendant; traffic stop was not unreasonably prolonged, officer was still conducting initial investigation when defendant gave consent to search the vehicle; sufficiency of evidence; possession of drugs; trafficking of drugs; R.C. 2925.11; R.C. 2925.03; R.C. 2925.01; constructive possession; receipt of proceeds; R.C. 2927.21; hidden compartment; R.C. 2923.241; insufficient evidence to support conviction of designing or operating a vehicle with a hidden compartment used to transport a controlled substance. | Patton | Portage |
2/9/2026
|
2/9/2026
| 2026-Ohio-398 |
|
In re Court Authorization to Retain Possession of Sealed Documents in Pending Matters
| 2025-T-0061 | APPELLATE REVIEW - appellate jurisdiction; judgments and final orders; R.C. 2505.02; administrative order; no trial court proceedings. | Eklund | Trumbull |
2/9/2026
|
2/9/2026
| 2026-Ohio-400 |
|
880 West Liberty, L.L.C. v. Hubbard Food Store, L.L.C.
| 2025-T-0065 | APPELLATE REVIEW – R.C. 2505.02(B); Civ.R. 53(D)(4)(a); magistrate's decision has not been adopted by the trial court and remains interlocutory; no final order exists until all claims are resolved. | Lucci | Trumbull |
2/9/2026
|
2/9/2026
| 2026-Ohio-401 |
|
State v. Butler
| 2025-T-0035 | CRIMINAL LAW - plea agreement; joint sentencing recommendation; not binding on the court; imposition of harsher sentence; Crim.R. 11 advisements; maximum penalty; knowingly, intelligently, voluntarily. | M. Lynch | Trumbull |
2/2/2026
|
2/2/2026
| 2026-Ohio-318 |
|
State v. Day
| 2025-P-0063 | APPELLATE REVIEW - App.R. 5(A); delayed appeal; fails to set forth valid reason for delay; reasons do not justify delay of over one year to initiate appeal; appellant not diligent in protecting her own rights. | M. Lynch | Portage |
2/2/2026
|
2/2/2026
| 2026-Ohio-316 |
|
State v. Day
| 2025-P-0064 | APPELLATE REVIEW - App.R. 5(A); delayed appeal; fails to set forth valid reason for delay; reasons do not justify delay of over one year to initiate appeal; appellant not diligent in protecting her own rights. | M. Lynch | Portage |
2/2/2026
|
2/2/2026
| 2026-Ohio-317 |
|
Grinder v. Schaaf
| 2024-P-0081 | CIVIL - contract; summary judgment; mechanic's lien; 1311.06(A); affidavit; jurat; notarial certificate; R.C. 147.011(C) and (D); R.C. 147.542(D); Home Solicitation Sales Act (HSSA); R.C. 1345.21; failure to cancel and/or rescind; objections to magistrate's decision; Civ.R. 53(D) | S. Lynch | Portage |
2/2/2026
|
2/2/2026
| 2026-Ohio-312 |
|
State v. Thompson
| 2025-G-0023 | CRIMINAL LAW - Robbery; Misdemeanor Theft; manifest weight of the evidence; in-court identifications; credibility and persuasiveness; Repeat Violent Offender; R.C. 2929.14(B); not clearly and convincingly contrary to law; merger of allied offenses; plain error; separate and identifiable harm; separate victims. | Eklund | Geauga |
2/2/2026
|
2/2/2026
| 2026-Ohio-313 |
|
State v. Hopper
| 2025-L-093 | APPELLATE REVIEW – App.R. 5(A); delayed appeal; untimely; non-defendant; only a defendant may file a motion for delayed appeal. | Patton | Lake |
2/2/2026
|
2/2/2026
| 2026-Ohio-314 |
|
State v. Hopper
| 2025-L-094 | APPELLATE REVIEW – App.R. 5(A); delayed appeal; untimely; non-defendant; only a defendant may file a motion for delayed appeal. | Patton | Lake |
2/2/2026
|
2/2/2026
| 2026-Ohio-315 |
|
State v. Lucas
| 2025-L-079 | CRIMINAL - double jeopardy; allied offenses; R.C. 2941.25; plain error; Domestic Violence; Attempted Abduction; felony sentencing; sentence contrary to law; consecutive, maximum sentences | S. Lynch | Lake |
1/27/2026
|
1/27/2026
| 2026-Ohio-230 |
|
State v. Welk
| 2025-L-089 | CRIMINAL - felony sentencing; contrary to law; consideration of factors; remorse; criminal record; R.C. 2929.11 and .12; appellate court cannot independently weigh the evidence | S. Lynch | Lake |
1/27/2026
|
1/27/2026
| 2026-Ohio-231 |
|
Lamancusa v. Webb
| 2024-T-0080 | CIVIL - foreclosure; motion to vacate; default judgment; personal jurisdiction; service by publication; R.C. 2307.24; Civ.R. 4.4(A)(1); reasonable diligence; in rem proceeding; land bank program; constitutional taking | S. Lynch | Trumbull |
1/27/2026
|
1/27/2026
| 2026-Ohio-229 |
|
State ex rel. Ames v. Concord Twp. Bd. of Trustees
| 2025-L-088 | Original action; writ of mandamus; public records; R.C. 149.43(C)(1); pre-filing requirements for public records mandamus actions; Sub. H.B. 265, 2024 Ohio Laws 86; motion to strike; Loc.App.R. 101(A) and (B)(1); filing of dispositive motion before issuance of alternative writ permitted under local rules; service of post-complaint filings by regular mail under Civ.R. 5(B)(2)(c); motion to strike overruled; service of pre-filing complaint pursuant to Civ.R. 4 required by statute; Civ.R. 4.4(A)(2); Civ.R. 4.6(D); service on political subdivision; email not an authorized method of service under Civ.R. 4; actual notice does not cure defective service where statute expressly requires service pursuant to Civ.R. 4; mandatory pre-filing requirements; failure to satisfy statutory condition precedent; merits not reached; petition for writ of mandamus dismissed. | Dickey | Lake |
1/14/2026
|
1/14/2026
| 2026-Ohio-107 |
|
Widdowson v. Lake Cty.
| 2025-L-038 | CIVIL - wrongful death; negligence; summary judgment; statutory interpretation; political subdivision tort immunity; wanton or reckless conduct; R.C. 2744.03(A)(6); proximate cause; statutory immunity; R.C. 128.96; physical defects on or within government property; duty to protect; R.C. 737.11; operation of a 9-1-1 system; deprivation of rights under the Ohio Constitution; intentional infliction of emotional distress; loss of consortium | S. Lynch | Lake |
1/12/2026
|
1/12/2026
| 2026-Ohio-67 |
|
State v. Wilson
| 2024-P-0072 | CRIMINAL – Aggravated Murder; R.C. 2903.01; unlawful termination of pregnancy; Aggravated Burglary; R.C. 2911.11; hearsay; testimonial statements; Confrontation Clause; Evid.R. 901; Evid.R. 902; Evid.R. 803; Evid.R. 601; plain error; jury instructions; lesser included offense; R.C. 2945.74; prosecutorial misconduct; closing arguments; expression of personal belief or opinion; manifest weight of the evidence; cumulative error. | Eklund | Portage |
1/12/2026
|
1/12/2026
| 2026-Ohio-65 |
|
Willoughby Eastlake City Schools v. Am. Fireworks Co.
| 2025-L-030 | APPELLATE REVIEW - appellate courts have jurisdiction over judgments and final orders; R.C. 2505.03; final appealable order; R.C. 2505.02(B)(1); multiple claims at issue in a civil action; Civ.R. 54(B) language; "no just reason for delay"; oral directed verdict not reduced to writing; Civ.R. 50(E); court speaks only through journal entries; claims remain pending; lack of jurisdiction; appeal must be dismissed sua sponte. | M. Lynch | Lake |
1/8/2026
|
1/8/2026
| 2026-Ohio-40 |