Slater v. Ohio Dep't of Rehab. & Corr.

{¶ 1} Intervenor-appellant, Grubb & Associates, LPA ("Grubb"), appeals a judgment of the Court of Claims of Ohio that awarded Grubb $3,000 in attorney fees. Plaintiff-appellee, James W. Slater, administrator for the estate of Michael Ferrara, Jr. ("the Estate"), cross appeals from the same judgment. For the following reasons, we reverse the trial court's judgment.

{¶ 2} While Michael Ferrara, Jr. was imprisoned at the Ross Correctional Institution, another inmate, Logan Murphy, attacked and killed him. Michael Ferrara, Jr.'s parents, Michael Ferrara, Sr. and Louise Ferrara, hired Grubb to open…