State Ex Rel. Crabtree v. Bureau of Workers' Compensation

Relator argues that the bureau policy at issue lacks statutory authority and is unconstitutional. Relator presents a compelling argument that the bureau’s policy violates the Due Process Clause, Section 16, Article I, and the Equal Protection Clause, Section 2, Article I of the Ohio Constitution because it denies State Fund claimants the oral pre-termination hearing before a district hearing officer that employees of self-insured employers receive. However, when a case can be decided on other than a constitutional basis, we are bound to do so. State ex rel. Hofstetter v. Kronk (1969), 20 Ohio…