History of the Court
Sovereign Immunity
Sovereign Immunity is the legal principle that government is immune from lawsuits or other legal actions except where the government consents to them. Prior to 1912, the state of Ohio and its employees were protected by sovereign Immunity and could not be held liable for negligent acts nor be sued for money Damages.
Ohio Constitution
In 1912, by approval of the Ohio voters, an amendment was added to the Ohio Constitution that “Suits may be brought against the state, in such courts and in such manner as may be provided by law.” (Article I, § 16 of the Ohio Constitution)
With the new amendment, a person who claimed to have been damaged by the state of Ohio could seek money but was required to do so from the legislative branch in the form of a special bill. These bills – like all other bills – were contingent upon legislative and executive approval or disapproval. In other words, claims against the state were not immune from the political process.
These special bills were rare, and it was even rarer that they passed. If it did pass, the bill would typically do one of the following:
- Order the state treasurer to pay the claimed amount;
- Empower an agency or agencies with special funds to investigate the claim and pay any amount found due; or
- Allow the wronged person to sue the state in a court of law.
However, in 1917 the Ohio Supreme Court determined in Raudabaugh v. State that the constitutional amendment was not self-executing – meaning that legislation or law was required. Thus, the state was still protected by sovereign Immunity until such time as the legislature enacted a statute expressly granting consent to sue.
That same year the General Assembly responded to Raudabaugh by creating the Sundry Claims Board and empowering it to hear and approve claims against the state.
The Sundry Claims Board
The Sundry Claims Board consisted of five members:
- the state auditor
- the attorney general
- the chairman of the House finance committee
- the chairman of the Senate finance committee, and
- the director of the state office of budget and management.
The only requirements for submitting a claim to the Board were that the claim be submitted on the designated form and that the claim be specific enough for the Board to determine what the alleged wrong was and which state agency or agencies were implicated. The Board held hearings, and each Party was given the opportunity to argue their case, call witnesses and cross-examine the opposing Party’s witnesses. Claimants were not required to, and most often did not have, an attorney; but the state was always represented by the Attorney General.
The Board had the authority to approve or disapprove the payment of claims. Claims for $1,000 or less would be paid by the auditor of state. Claims in excess of $1,000 became part of the annual Sundry Claims appropriation bill. The bill included a brief summary of each claim and was presented to the legislature for approval. Hearings would then be held in both houses and claimants often had to testify in support of their claim. The legislative committees had the power to make changes in the amount of the awards, increasing some, decreasing or totally eliminating others.
There were inherent conflicts of interest and limitations with the Sundry Claims Board system. All of the Board members were in some respect political: They were elected officials. Four of the five members were charged with protecting the state treasury. And the Attorney General, whose office represented the state’s interest before the Sundry Claims Board, simultaneously served on the Sundry Claims Board. Being an administrative body, the state lacked equal protection before the Board in the sense that it could not make counter-claims or cross-claims against claimants and third parties who might otherwise be liable.
Realizing these and other defects in the Sundry Claims process, the legislature put forth the Court of Claims Act.
The Court of Claims Act
In 1975 with the passage of the Court of Claims Act by the General Assembly, Ohio consented to be sued and have its liability determined in the newly established Court of Claims. Under the Act and with a few exceptions, the same rules of law apply in suits against the state as in suits between private parties.
In 1976, the General Assembly enacted the Crime Victims Compensation Act and its administration was assigned to the Court of Claims. Through the Crime Victims Compensation Program, individuals suffering personal injury as the result of criminal conduct were eligible to apply for compensation from the state.
From 1976 until July 1, 2000, the Court of Claims handled all claims for compensation for the Victims of Crime Compensation Program. The Ohio Attorney General would investigate the claim and File a finding of fact and recommendation to the Court. The Court would then render a Decision. If a claimant disagreed with that initial Decision, the claimant could Appeal first to a panel of commissioners and, finally, to a judge of the Court of Claims.
After July 1, 2000, the Victims of Crime Compensation Program underwent a transformation with the passage of Am. Sub. S.B. 153 of the 123rd General Assembly. Pursuant to that legislation, the responsibility for administering the Victims of Crime Compensation Program was transferred from the Court of Claims to the Ohio Attorney General. The transfer significantly changed the role that the Court plays in these cases. Whereas before, the Court rendered the initial decisions on compensation cases and was responsible for disbursing reparation awards, these responsibilities were transferred to the Ohio Attorney General. The Court, however, still maintains Jurisdiction over the appellate process.
Beginning in 2016, the Court of Claims serves as an alternative forum for the resolution of disputes regarding access to public records.
Additional Information
Ohio Court of Claims The Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center 65 South Front Street, Third Floor Columbus, Ohio 43215
- The state agency has 60 days after you File a claim to File its written investigation report.
- You then have 21 days to File a written Response.
- The Clerk will make a Decision after that.
- It’s possible that your claim will take 12 to 24 months to decide, depending on the circumstances.
- Click here for a detailed explanation of our Court’s differentiated case management system.
Forms
We accept hard copies of these forms via regular mail, hand delivery, and e-File.
Claims v. The State
Administrative Determinations (claims for $10,000 or less)
Instructions for Certificate of Service
Application to File Claim Without Payment of Fee
Poverty Statement (Incarcerated Persons)
Cashier Statement (Incarcerated Persons)
Claimant’s Response to Agency Investigation Report
Instructions for Responding to an Investigation Report
Online Appeal of Clerk’s Decision on a Claim
Appeal of Clerk’s Decision on a Claim
Judicial Cases (claims in excess of $10,000)
Online Claim Form (self-represented filers only)
Application to File Claim Without Payment of Fee
Poverty Statement (Incarcerated Persons)
Cashier Statement (Incarcerated Persons)
Online Statement of the Existence of Connected Action
Statement of the Existence of Connected Action
Request for Clerk to Issue Subpoena
For the Legal Community
Instructions for Service of Subpoena
Crime Victims Compensation
Online Notice of Appeal from the Attorney General’s Final Decision
Notice of Appeal from the Attorney General’s Final Decision
Fees & Costs
The law requires that you pay a $25 Filing Fee when filing a Complaint. You can pay by credit card if filing online. You must enclose a check or money order if filing by mail, or you may pay cash if filing in person.
Please refer to the following fee schedule for more information:
Claims vs the State
Crime Victims Compensation Appeals
Glossary of Terms
Reading about legal matters and Court processes can mean coming across unfamiliar words and abbreviations. The glossary below can help you look up and hopefully understand some of the terminology used in the Court of Claims.
In addition, Court News Ohio provides an interactive online glossary to help the public understand the legal terms that Ohio courts and lawyers frequently use.
Small claims (for $10,000 or less) that are decided by the Clerk of the Court and based on the documents, photos, affidavits, etc. that have been submitted for review.
A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the Party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
Settling a dispute without a full, formal trial. Methods include Mediation, conciliation, arbitration, and Settlement, among others.
The Defendant’s Response to the Plaintiff’s allegations as stated in a Complaint. An item-by-item, paragraph-by-paragraph Response to points made in a Complaint; part of the Pleadings.
A higher court’s review of a lower court or administrative agency Decision (for example, the Attorney General).
The principal attorney in a lawsuit, who signs all formal documents relating to the suit.
Trial without a jury in which a judge decides the facts.
A unique number assigned to a case by each court. In the Court of Claims, the Case Number is a nine digit number that begins with the year the case is filed. For example, 2014-00229.
A signed statement that indicates an exact copy of a document filed with the Court of Claims was provided to every other Party in the case. The statement must indicate the names and addresses of everyone who receives a copy, when they were given a copy and how the copy was given or sent to them (for example, by hand delivery or by first-class mail.) All documents offered for filing in the Court of Claims must contain a Certificate of Service.
A non-criminal case that seeks a particular legal remedy. A Civil Case usually involves money Damages.
The legal document that usually begins a civil lawsuit. It states the facts and identifies the action the court is asked to take.
The expenses of prosecuting or defending a lawsuit, other than the attorneys’ fees.
Money awarded by a court to a person injured by the unlawful act or Negligence of another person.
The date that is File-stamped on the judgment.
Judgment, decree or determination of findings of fact and/or of law by a judge, court or other judicial officer.
The person or organization being sued.
The list of all proceedings and filings in a case.
And others
A document or other item introduced as evidence during a trial or hearing.
To accelerate. The court can decide to accelerate the progress of a pending matter either on its own or in Response to a Motion to Expedite.
To place a paper in the official custody of the clerk of court to enter into the files or records of a case.
The date a document must be filed with the clerk’s office. In order to be filed, the document and all required copies must be in the clerk’s office and in full compliance with the applicable Rules by 5 p.m. on the Filing Deadline.
The sum of money that must be paid before a case can be filed with the Court of Claims.
Immunity refers to a protection from personal liability that may be provided to a state employee who is sued in his or her individual capacity.
The court’s written Decision in a case.
The authority of a court to review the official actions of other branches of government. For example, the Ohio Court of Claims has Judicial Review over decisions made by the Ohio Attorney General on claims for Crime Victims Compensation.
A court’s authority to decide a case or issue an order.
Judicial officer exercising some of the functions of a judge.
A form of Alternative Dispute Resolution in which the parties bring their dispute to a neutral third Party, who helps them agree on a Settlement.
Oral or written request made by a Party to an action before, during, or after a trial, upon which a court issues a ruling or order.
Failure to exercise the degree of care that a reasonable person would exercise under the same circumstances.
The laws enacted by the Ohio General Assembly. The Ohio Revised Code is organized by subject matter and divided into general provisions, titles, chapters, and sections.
A court’s written statement explaining its final Decision in a case.
The document from which a copy is a made; usually includes the Original signature of the person filing the document.
A person, business, or government agency actively involved in the prosecution or defense of a legal proceeding.
The transfer of a case from one court to another. In this sense, removal refers to a transfer of a case from a common pleas court to the Court of Claims because the state has been named a Defendant either by counterclaim or third Party claim. This is not discretionary, as the Court of Claims has exclusive Jurisdiction over all claims against the state.
The person who files the Complaint in a civil lawsuit.
The written statements of fact and law filed by the parties to a lawsuit.
A meeting between the judge and the parties involved in a lawsuit to narrow the issues of the suit, agree on what will be presented at trial, and make a final effort to settle the case without a trial.
From the Latin “Pro Bono publico,” meaning “for the public good.” Legal services performed Pro Bono are performed by a licensed attorney without any expectation of compensation.
Latin for “for one’s self.” A person appearing Pro Se or filing Pro Se in a court does so without the assistance of a licensed attorney.
All the documents and evidence plus transcripts of oral proceedings in a case.
The reply by a Party to charges raised in a pleading by the other Party.
The delivery of a legal document (such as a Complaint, Summons, subpoena) notifying the person or organization that a lawsuit has been filed against that person or organization.
An agreement between the parties disposing of a lawsuit.
The time within which a Plaintiff must bring a lawsuit.
An order suspending or postponing all or part of a judicial proceeding or the judgment from that proceeding.
A notice to a Defendant that he or she has been sued and is required to appear in court.
The evidence given by a Witness under oath. It does not include evidence from documents and other physical evidence.
A written, word-for-word Record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial or during some other conversation, such as an oral deposition.
A person who testifies to what he or she has seen, heard, or otherwise experienced.