Ohio

Ohio Cities File Lawsuit Challenging State Law Stripping Local Tobacco Regulations

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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Filing a lawsuit on Wednesday, Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein is leading a legal challenge against a recently passed state law that aims to strip away the authority of cities in Ohio to regulate the sale of tobacco products at the local level. This lawsuit is supported by 13 other Ohio cities, including Bexley, Cincinnati, and Cleveland. The ban, which is scheduled to take effect on April 23, was approved after lawmakers overrode the governor’s veto of the legislation earlier this year. Under the newly enacted law, Ohio cities would no longer … Read more

Multiple State Authorities Nab Felon for Illegal Firearms Possession in Ohio County

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – A 29-year-old Ohio County man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for unlawfully possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Christopher Saunders was apprehended last December by deputies, who discovered that he had active warrants in Indiana, Florida, and Ohio. Department of Justice officials have revealed that Saunders was found to be in possession of multiple firearms, including a Taurus .40-caliber semiautomatic pistol, a Hermann Weihrauch .32-caliber revolver, and a Companhia Braziliera de Cartuchos .410-gauge single-shot break-action shotgun, along with ammunition. However, Saunders’ criminal history, which includes prior convictions for … Read more

Landowners Appeal Ohio Jury’s Decision in Long-Running Royalty Case Against Drillers

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Columbus, Ohio – A lengthy and contentious royalty case reached its conclusion in March, as an Ohio jury delivered its verdict after nearly four years of legal proceedings and countless filings from both sides. The case revolved around the absence of the words “Point Pleasant” in a lease agreement, resulting in drillers – including Ascent Resources, Gulfport Energy, and Rice Energy – gaining the upper hand over the rights owner, TERA II, LLC. Despite the lease not explicitly allowing drilling into the Point Pleasant formation, which lies on the border of the Utica shale formation, … Read more

Landmark Case: Ohio Supreme Court to Determine Governments’ Power to Challenge Temporary Orders on Laws

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COLUMBUS, Ohio—The Ohio Supreme Court agreed on Tuesday to decide whether governments have the right to challenge temporary orders that block the implementation of laws. This decision comes as the city of Columbus requested the court’s intervention regarding a preliminary injunction that was imposed by a Delaware County Common Pleas judge. The injunction, which is still in effect, halted the enforcement of two city ordinances related to firearms. One ordinance requires safe storage of guns, while the other prohibits the possession of certain high-capacity magazines. The Buckeye Institute, a conservative think tank, has filed a … Read more