State ex rel. Dispatch Printing Co. v. Wells

It is well-settled law in this state that a writ of mandamus is the appropriate remedy to enforce the public’s right to gain access to public records under R.C. 149.43. See State, ex rel. Plain Dealer Publishing Co., v. Lesak (1984), 9 Ohio St. 3d 1; State, ex rel. Public Employees Retirees, v. PERS (1979), 60 Ohio St. 2d 93 [14 O.O.3d 331]; State, ex rel. Plain Dealer Pub. Co., v. Krouse (1977), 51 Ohio St. 2d 1 [5 O.O.3d 1]. The issue presently before this court is whether the personnel files of Detective Thompson are subject to inspection as a public record under R.C. 149.43.

A “public…