Trumbull coroner testifies in Columbus

COLUMBUS — Ohio taxpayers should not be subsidizing civil lawsuits between private parties, the Trumbull County coroner told state lawmakers Wednesday.

Humphrey Germaniuk, who has served in the Trumbull office since 1998, testified before the Ohio House’s judiciary committee, in support of legislation that would allow counties to charge fees when their coroners’ services are required as part of civil lawsuits.

Such services, including pre-trial preparation and in-court testimony, “is done by a county employee on county time without reimbursement to the county for our expertise and time spent in private civil litigation,” Germaniuk said. “This is the equivalent of allowing a county employee to plow your private driveway on county time using a county vehicle without proper reimbursement to the county.”

But not all lawmakers on the judiciary committee appeared supportive of the legislation.

Rep. Bill Coley, a Republican from the southwestern Ohio, questioned why citizens should have to pay fees to question their public officials.

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