Posted on February 14, 2009 by Teri Rasmussen

Exploring the Ohio Blawgosphere Neighborhood

Now that I'm well into YEAR TWO of this legal blogging thing, I thought it might be fun to take stock of the neighbors.  So today I am presenting what I think is a relatively comprehensive list of Ohio-based legal blogs, together with the date they started publishing and a few comments of my own.  My apologies in advance for leaving anyone out or getting start dates wrong. 

My criteria was basically legal blogs focused on Ohio law or authored by Ohio based attorneys.  I took a little stab at this several months ago in my My Favorite Ohio-Based Legal Blogs post, but this time I really looked around to be as inclusive as possible..

The oldest blog still going that I could find isn't even five years old, although there were a few blogs that I couldn't quite tell when they first began.   With the others, I relied upon whatever the earliest post in the archives seemed to be.  What's even more interesting, however, is the explosion in the number of Ohio-based legal blogs which started publishing last year. 

When it comes to law firms embracing blogs, Frost Brown Todd is the clear leader with four separate blogs.  Unfortunately, since all of the blogs are located on a subpage of Frost Brown Todd's website, casual access to the blogs and their content via search engines and otherwise is not as easy as it should be given the quality of the posts which all of the blogs boast.

BEST OHIO-BASED LEGAL BLOGS.  Some blogs just catch your fancy more than others.  For me, it's a combination of quality writing, interesting and helpful content, unique/intriguing perspectives, and generous links to other resources if I want to know more about the subject.  Some of the blogs listed below were fairly hard to find so I'm not intimately familiar with all the blogs on the list; however, I did at least try to get some sort of feel for each of these blogs once I found them. 

I don't pretend that I went through any scientific process to determine this, but  from my perspective as a semi-established Ohio law blogger, here are my picks (excluding myself, of course) for the 

BEST THREE OHIO-BASED LEGAL BLOGS 

Honorable Mention goes to:

AND NOW THE ROSTER >>>>

Since this is, after all, the Ohio Practical BUSINESS Law blog, let's start with blogs focused on business/corporate law:

 

BUSINESS/CORPORATE

  • The D & O Diary - Kevin LaCroix, Oakbridge Insurance Services -May 2006 >>> Bills itself as "a periodic journal containing items of interest from the world of directors and officers liability, with occasional commentary".  Very detailed and well written posts from the perspective of someone interested in minimizing management liability.
  • Corporate Governance Blog - Bricker & Eckler - NA >>> Offers "counsel for Boards and Executives" in generally short nonbylined to-the-point posts on timely issues.
  • Business Law Prof Blog - Dan Oesterle, editor, The Ohio State University - May 2005 >>> "A member of the Law Professor Blogs network".  Frequent posts on business news items
  • Banking L@w Blog  - Frost Brown Todd - NA >>> Provides the "latest information on banking litigation and dispute resolution",
  •  Ohio.Merger.Blawg - Jim Rench, Stark & Knoll - November 2006 >>> Describes itself as "a blog on recent and topical developments in corporate transactions law."  Features commentary on news and events in business.
  • Global Law - Frost Brown Todd - NA  >>> "Resource for business leaders within the international commerce industry". 
  • Small Business Trends  - Anita Campbell - October 2003 >>>  This one really isn't technically a legal blog at all, but it does frequently cover business law topics and is edited by Ohio-based lawyer so I'm including it anyway.  Always informative posts on a variety of issues facing smaller privately held businesses. 
  • Ohio Practical Business Law - Teri Rasmussen, Plunkett Cooney - October 2007 >>> Offers "practical guidance for making legaly informed business decisions".

 

LAW LIBRARY BLOGS

  • Cleveland Law Library Weblog - Sue Altmeyer (?) - March 2005 >>> "Our goal is to inform local attorneys of major legal developments important to their practice".  Very short -- but extremely informative -- posts, often concerning topics of interest and importance to the practice of law in Ohio.  Very newsy.  I frequently visit just to catch up on developments which may have otherwise slipped under my radar or to get ideas for posts.  GREAT links to other sources with more information about the topic being discussed.
  • Cincinnati Law Library Blog - Chuck Kallendorf - July 2004 >>> Similar to the Cleveland Law Library Weblog, but less frequent posting.
  • Moritz Legal Information Blog - Matt Steinke - January 2006 >>> Providing " "legal information and research resources brought to you by the Michael E. Moritz law Library at The Ohio State University".  Very short posts with limited frrequency

 

LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT

  • Ohio Employer's Law Blog - Jon Hyman, Kohrman, Jackson & Kranitz - May 2007 >>> Promises "practical employment law information for business in ohio and beyond"  and delivers.  Generally short pithy posts on practical matters employers definitely need to know.  Its WIRTW (aka What I'm Reading this Week" segment is a useful round-up of other blog posts in the area of labor and employment.
  • Employer's Law Report - Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur - December 2007 >>> Presents posts "reporting on recent legal developments and trends affecting employers."  Personally  i like the "Employment Outtakes"category which feature sometimes humorous situations which would probably have gone better had an employment lawyer been consulted. 
  • HR Source Legal Source - Tod Morrow, Hans Nilges, and Susan Chae, Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLP - NA >>> Featuring posts regarding "labor and employment law for hyman resources professionals".  
  • The Ohio Labor Lawyers - Matthew Austin, Mason Law Firm - December 2008 >>> Promises that "we change the way you deal with unions" and posts from the perspective of management.   Features "What If Wednesdays" weekly posts about what to do "if certain things in the world of labor happen to you." 
  • The Ohio Employment Lawyers - Aaron Tulecik, Mason Law Firm - December 2008  >>> Promises that "we solve your workplace issues"  Posts on employment  law news from perspective of management.
  • Employer Notes - Frost Brown Todd -- NA  >>> Provides the "latest information regarding employers".

 

REAL ESTATE

  •  Ohio Real Estate Blog - Kohrman, Jackson & Kranitz - April 2008 >>> Useful posts by various firm attorneys on a wide variety of real estate law topics
  •  Real Estate Advisor Law Blog - Brian Kaplan, Ulmer & Berne - December 2008 >>>  Describes its purpose as "disseminat[ing] pertinent information in a timely manner relating to real estate, construction, financing, environmental and related matters... [and designed] to identify trends and opportunities that our clients and contacts deem important for their businesses." 

 

CONSTRUCTION

  • Construction Law News - Frost Brown Todd - NA >>> Bills itself as "a resource for construction industry professionals".
  • Build on This - Rana Gorzeck, Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs - (March 2005 - August 2008, now apparently defunct) >>> Presenting "current news, information and events affecting the real estate construction and land use industry and its professsionalism"

 

ESTATE PLANNING

  • The Ohio Trust & Estate Blog,- Michael D. Bonesera, Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP - NA >>> Helpful, relatively short posts concerniing trusts and estate planning issues 
  • Ohio Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law - Bradley Wrightsel, Wrightsel & Wrightsel - 2008 >> Describes itself as "a law blog (BLAWG) for professionals and the general public in ohio regarding estate plannig, trust, and probate law."

 

  CRIMINAL LAW

  • The Briefcase - Russ Bensing - May 2006 >>> Describes itself as "commentary and analysis of Ohio law".  This remains one of my favorite blogs to look in on periodically even though the subject matter isn't one with much relvance to my practice areas.  I enjoy Russ's wit and storytelling ability as he posts about various adventures as a criminal lawyer.  And his Ohio appellate case summaries are useful too.  
  • Sixth Circuit Blog - Federal Defenders of the Sixth Circuit - April 2005  >>> Providing "case summaries and commentary by federal defenders of the Sixth Circuit"   

 

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Consumer Rights Law Blog - Ron Burdge - 2005 >>> Addresses "motor vehicle lemon law, consumer protection law, auto industry news, notes, issues and updates".   Very attractive layout featuring  posts of interest to consumers.
  • Ohio Family Law Blog - Robert Mues, Holzfaster, Cecil, McKnight & Mues, LPA - December 2007 >>> Offering "family law and divorce information for Ohio families seeking solutions".  Frequent guest contributors.  Helpful, very accessible, posts focusing on important issues in this area.   
  • Tsibouris & Associates Law Blog - Dino Tsibouris and Mehmet Munur, Tsibouris & Associates - January 2005 >>>  interesting posts on a variety of subjects, but with special emphasis on technology law, privacy and security law and issues involving financial services.
  •  The Alternative Fee Lawyer - Michael Grodhaus, Waite, Schneider, Bayless & Chesley - January 2008 >>> Featuring "an Ohio business lawyer's reflections on alternatives to the billable hour in setting legal fees for business clients".  Insightful, if somewhat sporadic, posts on an extremely timely and important  topic . This is a blog that I would really like to hear more from.
  • Ohio Environmental Law Blog - Joseph Koncelik, Frantz Ward, LLP - June 2008 >>> Presenting "insight and commentary for the business and legal community" regarding environmental law. 
  • Juvan's Health Law Update - Jayne Juvan, Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff, LLP - September 2006 >>> Presents posts "at the intersection of health care and private equity".
  • Ohio Law Blog - Morrison & Nicholson, LLC - December 2007 (very sporadic posting, primarily in December and January)
  • Sixth Circuit Blog - Eric Zagrams - last post in November 2008, rather sporadic before then  >>> Says that it is "devoted to appellate law and practice within the Sixth Circuit and constituent States." 
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Posted on June 11, 2008 by Teri Rasmussen

My Favorite Ohio-Based Law Blogs

Now that I've been doing this law blog thing for about eight months, I've had a chance to get acquainted with my neighbors in the blogosphere.  There are of course my subject matter compatriots all across the country that I've enjoyed coming to know through their blogs (Chris Moander of the relatively new Wisconsin Business Law and Litigation blog and Rush Nigut of Rush on Business from Iowa (the home in my youth) especially come to mind).  But today I wanted to focus on my geographically proximate neighbors practicing law in Ohio while writing their blogs.  

Like anyone else I have my favorites.  I don't claim to be any arbiter of quality or worth so the following is really nothing more than what I've found I've liked the most so far. 

Perhaps my own personal favorite Ohio-based blog is The Briefcase which has been published by solo practitioner Russ Bensing for quite a while.   It promises to provide "commentary and analysis of Ohio law" and it certainly delivers.  Russ gives brief summaries and case updates of Ohio civil and criminal cases decided by the various Court of Appeals and the Ohio Supreme Court with a bit more criminal than civil cases.  While this is of course useful, his regular "Friday Roundup" feature focusing on the more entertaining legal cases out there is a must-read for me every week.  In addition, even the case updates and summaries are given with a definite bit of "attitude" that makes them much more interesting than the usual dry case summary.  And his "About" section is particularly well done.  Russ's stuff is not often the sort of thing I tend to link to (which may say more about me than him), but I certainly appreciate his contributions.

My other "substantive" favorite  Ohio-based blog is the Ohio Employer's Law Blog published by Jon Hyman of Kohrman, Jackson & Krantz  for more than a year.  Its tagline is  "Practical employment law information for businesses in Ohio and beyond."  What I like about this blog is Jon's well written, informative, and useful (even "practical") posts about important issues in the labor and employment law areas.  I also think Jon's analysis of the legal issues he covers is clear and seems right on point.  In addition, I like his regular "What I'm Rreading" series which features several quick links to other interesting posts around the blogosphere.  I don't practice in this area so I appreciate having such excellent resource available to keep me up to date about pertinent legal developments. 

Ohio Employer's Law Blog is one of two Ohio-based blogs focusing on employment and labor issues.  The other is Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur's Employer Law Report which says it will be "Reporting on recent legal developments and trends affecting employers".  It has been published sporadically over the last couple of years, but now seems to be adding new worthwhile posts more frequently. 

The D&O Diary published by Kevin M. LaCroix of Oakbridge Insurance Services, an insurance intermediary focused exclusively on management liability issues, focuses on perhaps the most complex issues of any Ohio-based law blog.  It is intended to be "A Periodic Journal Containing Items of Interest from the World of Directors and Officers Liability, with Occasional Commentary".  I haven't had much chance to become fully acquainted with this blog yet, but hope to so in the near future.

When it comes to coverage of both substantive and professional developments of interest to Ohio lawyers, I like the Cleveland Law Library Weblog the best.  It explains that "our goal is to inform local attorneys of major legal developments important to their practice".    I often find ideas for posts by reading this blog and appreciate the links usually provided.  The Cincinnati Law Library Blog  and the Moritz Legal Information Blog which provides "Legal Information and Research Resources Brought to You by The Michael E. Moritz Law Library at The Ohio State University" also provide these sort of services.

One of the newest Ohio-based law blogs is the Ohio Real Estate Blog published by the attorneys of the Real Estate Practice Group of Kohrman, Jackson & Krantz which started up only a couple of months ago in April.  In same real estate practice area is the Build on This! blog published by the attorneys of the Real Estate and Construction Practice Group of Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLP which offers "Current news, information, and events affecting the real estate, construction and land use industry and its professionals".

Another recent addition to the blogosphere is the Reasonable Doubts blog published by Jeffrey Davis.  It started in March 2008 and, as its name would suggest, focuses on crminal law.  In addition, the Ohio Family Law Blog, published by Robert Mues of Holzfaster, Cecil, McKnight & Mues, LPA, began in December 2007 and tries to provide "Family Law and Divorce Information for Ohio Families Seeking Solutions".

Interestingly, there are TWO Ohio based law blogs called Sixth Circuit Blog.  One seems to focus on criminal law and offers "Case summaries and commentaries by federal defenders of the Sixth Circuit".  The other, published more sporadically by Eric Zagrans, focuses primarily on civil law and is "Devoted to Appellate Law and Practice Within the Sixth Circuit and Its Constituent States"

Rounding out the roster of Ohio-based law blogs (at least those I'm aware of) are the following with which I am less familar, in part because they relate to areas of law with which I have less experience in my day to day practice:

While there are several newer Ohio based law blogs, there are also many that have been published for two or three years or even longer.  There are also some earlier Ohio-based blogs that are no longer publishing.  In addition, there are several "business" blogs based in Ohio that touch on legal issues from time to time, but that's a subject for another day.

I hope I haven't forgotten anyone, but if I have, just add a comment with your URL and then we'll know about you too. 

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Posted on November 17, 2007 by Teri Rasmussen

Preventive Maintenance Against Sexual Harassment Claims

Jon Hyman over at Ohio Employer's Law Blog made a couple of interesting posts this week about the importance of having an efficacious sex harassment policy and the consequences of failing to do so.  One case involved a sixteen-year old part-time employeee at her general manager boss at a Milwuakee Burger King and the other involved South Dakota school district co-workers.  In the Burger King case, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals commented negatively about the complexity of the employee complaint process for bringing such a claim to the attention of management.  In the school district case, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals found the remedial process in place to be completely ineffective.  

 While neither of these cases involved Ohio law, they do illustrate the importance of having effective anti-harassment policies.  As Jon points out, there are several key components of having an effective policy and procedures for handling complaints.  Among them are that any procedure must be:

  1. Easy to understand.  The process for handling complaints must be realtively straightforward and easily understood by employees.

  2. Enforced.  Remedial action should be progressively more harsh and there must be follow-through on the sanctions employees are told to expect for inappropriate behavior.

  3. Employee-centered.  Because the improper behavior may include that of a supervisory employee towards a subordinate, there must be multiple avenues available to employees to express their concerns, including some that allow an employee to bypass their immediate supervisor.

 

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