THE STATE EX REL. YANT v. CONRAD, ADMR.
No. 95-1593
SUPREME COURT OF OHIO
March 1, 1996
74 Ohio St.3d 681 | 1996-Ohio-234
Submitted January 9, 1996
Mandamus to compel access to investigative file on Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Director of Rehabilitation concerning alleged authorization of state services to ineligible persons—Writ granted—Mandamus to compel access to investigative file on Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Director of Rehabilitation concerning use of state vehicle to attend a baseball game—Writ granted with redaction of portions of file that disclose identity of bureau employees who were promised confidentiality and may have been sexually harassed—Attorney fees for pro se relator denied.
IN MANDAMUS.
{¶ 1} In 1994, N. Eugene Brundige, then-Statewide Labor Relations Officer for the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (“bureau”), was assigned to investigate alleged misuse of a state automobile, misuse of state time, and sexual harassment committed by bureau employees in connection with a Cleveland Indians baseball game. As part of the investigation, Brundige interviewed several bureau employees, including persons who might have been sexual harassment victims. Before each interview, Brundige informed each employee that their conversation “would be considered confidential to the extent that the law would permit.”
{¶ 2} During these interviews, Brundige made notes of the employees’ responses. Brundige also obtained written statements from four of the interviewees. After the interviews were concluded, John Finch, the bureau’s Director of
{¶ 3} In April 1995, relator, Martin D. Yant, requested personnel files of certain bureau employees and files of the bureau’s two internal investigations concerning Finch, including the investigation of Finch’s alleged trip to Cleveland in a state car to see an Indians game. According to Yant, the other internal bureau investigation involved Finch’s “alleged involvement in the special and/or individually authorized provision of rehabilitation services at state expense to a person or persons not legally entitled to such services ***.”
{¶ 4} After the bureau denied Yant’s requests insofar as they related to the investigative files, he instituted this action for a writ of mandamus to compel respondent, the administrator of the bureau, to make available to him for inspection and copying all of the requested records. We issued an alternative writ.
{¶ 5} This cause is now before the court upon the submitted evidence and briefs.
Martin D. Yant, pro se.
Betty D. Montgomery, Attorney General, Yolanda V. Vorys and David J. Kovach, Assistant Attorneys General, for respondent.
Per Curiam.
{¶ 6} For the reasons that follow, we find that except for the identities of bureau employees who were reasonably promised confidentiality, the requested investigative files are public records which are not exempt from disclosure.
{¶ 7} Yant asserts that he is entitled to a writ of mandamus under
{¶ 8} Initially, as to the investigative file relating to Finch’s alleged authorization of state services to ineligible persons, the bureau denied Yant’s request on the basis that its internal investigation into that matter had been reopened. Respondent has submitted no evidence or argument that this investigative file is exempt from release under
{¶ 9} However,
{¶ 10} As to the other investigative file, which pertains to Finch’s alleged use of a state automobile to attend a baseball game, respondent now concedes that under State ex rel. Police Officers for Equal Rights v. Lashutka (1995), 72 Ohio St.3d 185, 648 N.E.2d 808, the file should be released to Yant. However, respondent further claims that the identities of bureau employees who may have been victims of sexual harassment should be redacted under
{¶ 11} Confidential law enforcement investigatory records are exempt from disclosure under
“‘Confidential law enforcement investigatory record’ means any record that pertains to a law enforcement matter of a criminal, quasi-criminal, civil or administrative nature, but only to the extent that the release of the record would create a high probability of disclosure of any of the following:
“(a) The identity *** of an information source or witness to whom confidentiality has been reasonably promised;
“(b) Information provided by an information source or witness to whom confidentiality has been reasonably promised, which information would reasonably tend to disclose his identity[.]”
{¶ 12} Exempting records from release under
{¶ 13} As to the first question, we have held that an investigation of a Bureau of Workers’ Compensation employee by the bureau was a confidential law enforcement matter since it pertained to a law enforcement matter of a criminal, quasi-criminal, civil or administrative nature. State ex rel. Polovischak v. Mayfield (1990), 50 Ohio St.3d 51, 552 N.E.2d 635. As in Polovischak, 50 Ohio St.3d at 53, 552 N.E.2d at 637, “[t]he investigation herein was of specific alleged
{¶ 14} Concerning the second inquiry, the evidence establishes that Brundige promised confidentiality to each witness, including those who might have been the victims of sexual harassment. We find that the identities of bureau employees who may have been sexual harassment victims were reasonably promised confidentiality and are excepted from disclosure under
{¶ 15} Accordingly, we grant Yant a writ of mandamus compelling respondent to provide access to the two investigative files concerning John Finch. However, as to the file involving Finch’s alleged use of a state vehicle to attend a baseball game, respondent shall redact those portions which disclose the identities of bureau employees who were promised confidentiality and may have been sexually harassed. We further deny Yant’s request for an award of attorney fees because he is a pro se litigant. State ex rel. Thomas v. Ohio State Univ. (1994), 71 Ohio St.3d 245, 251, 643 N.E.2d 126, 131.
Writ granted in part and denied in part.
MOYER, C.J., WRIGHT, RESNICK, F.E. SWEENEY and COOK, JJ., concur.
DOUGLAS, J., concurs in judgment only.
PFEIFER, J., dissents and would grant the full relief requested.