Cuyahoga Cty. Bd. of Elections v. Bardwell

Citations

• 2025 Ohio 4669

Syllabus

Declaratory judgment; public-records request; compliance; disposal; Board of Elections; jurisdiction; dismiss; Court of Claims; mandamus; R.C. 149.43; justiciable controversy; moot. - Trial court erred in failing to dismiss the Board of the Elections' complaint for declaratory judgment in total because the court lacked jurisdiction over the action. Once the court determined that the Board's first declaration concerned R.C. 149.43 and thus under the jurisdiction of either the Court of Claims or mandamus, the justiciable controversy between the Board and the defendant ceased. The second declaration request did not present any conflict or controversy with the defendant, but merely requested permission to dispose of public records.