State ex rel. Patton v. Rhodes

Facts

{¶ 1} This is an appeal from a judgment denying a request by appellant, Michael Earl Patton, for attorney fees and statutory damages in a mandamus action. In that underlying action, Patton sought a writ directing Dusty Rhodes, Hamilton County Auditor, to provide him with access to the county’s financial reports for 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2008 pursuant to R.C. 149.43, Ohio’s Public Records Act. The court of appeals dismissed Patton’s mandamus action as moot, in that Patton received the access he sought by virtue of the posting of the requested records on the county auditor’s website. The…