Santos v. Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation

{¶ 1} We are asked to decide whether a suit seeking the return of funds wrongfully collected or held by the state may be properly heard in courts of common pleas, or whether, because that remedy includes the payment of money, the Court of Claims has exclusive jurisdiction. For the reasons stated below, we hold that courts of common pleas do have jurisdiction, and accordingly, we reverse the judgment of the court of appeals.

I

{¶ 2} Angel Santos was injured in the course of his employment. He received $121,941.03 in benefits and compensation from the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (“BWC”),…