Ohio Supreme Court rules against Cafaro in public-records case

YOUNGSTOWN — The Ohio Supreme Court has removed from evidence the deposition of a paralegal in a public records dispute related to the Oakhill Renaissance Place criminal conspiracy case.

Last week’s 4-3 vote in Columbus granted a request by Mahoning County Prosecutor Paul J. Gains that a deposition by Diane Stokes, a paralegal in his office, be suppressed.

The ruling also denied a request by a lawyer for business interests of Anthony M. Cafaro Sr. to compel a court reporter and videographer to release to that lawyer a transcript and DVD of Stokes’ deposition.

The lawyer filing the request to compel was John McCaffrey, who filed the public-records complaint at the top court.

The top court majority consisted of Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor and Justices Yvette McGee Brown, Judith Ann Lanzinger, and Evelyn Lundberg Stratton.

The minority — Justices Paul E. Pfeiffer, Terrence O’Donnell, and Robert R. Cupp — would have deferred ruling on the Gains’ and McCaffrey requests and ordered the deposition filed for the justices to examine as a document sealed from public view.

The majority and dissenting justices offered no explanation for their opinions.

For the complete story, read Tuesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com