News Releases

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Senior U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson of the Northern District of Florida today ruled in favor of Ohio and 25 other states that challenged the constitutionality of the federal health care law. The judge found the law’s “individual insurance mandate” unconstitutional and declared the entire act void.

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Former patients of Richland Hospital who would like to obtain a copy of their medical records should contact the Office of Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine on or before March 1, 2011.

Richland Hospital has been closed since October 2000, and patient records have been transferred to the care of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. Former patients may take possession of their own patient records by properly completing a written request on a release form, together with any required attachments,  and submitting them to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office on or before March 1, 2011 and taking possession of such records on or before March 15, 2011.

“Protecting personal information is an important part of keeping Ohio families safe from financial fraud,” said Attorney General Mike DeWine. “As consumers share more data online, taking the time to consider using strong privacy and security settings can help Ohioans better protect their most personal information.”

(TROY, Ohio) – At a press conference at the Miami County Courthouse today, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced that former Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey M. Welbaum has been named Criminal Justice Section chief in the Attorney General’s Office, where he will oversee Capital Crimes, Non-Capital Habeas Corpus, Special Prosecutions and Corrections Litigation.

"Sandy Lynskey has the right combination of experience and knowledge that are essential in fighting for the rights of Ohio consumers," said Attorney General DeWine. "I am pleased that she has agreed to take this important position spearheading the legal efforts of the state on behalf of the rights of Ohio consumers."

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) - Senior United States District Judge Roger Vinson today granted the motion adding Ohio and five more additional states as party plaintiffs in the lawsuit pending in the federal court for the Northern District of Florida challenging the constitutionality of the recently enacted healthcare law. The Judge's ruling states that he will not require the federal defendants to file new answers to the complaint, so the addition of the new parties will not delay the case in any way.

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced today that he has been notified that the plaintiffs challenging the constitutionality of the recently enacted healthcare law in federal court in Florida today filed a motion for leave to amend the complaint to add Ohio as a party plaintiff in that case. DeWine gave authority for that challenge last Monday, on his first day in office.

The motion seeks to add Ohio to the states involved in State of Florida, et al., v. United States Department of Heath and Human Services, et. al. In addition to Ohio, the motion seeks to add Kansas, Wyoming, Wisconsin, Maine, and Iowa to the growing number of states challenging the law, potentially bringing the total number of states in the case to 26. In a separate challenge, by the Commonwealth of Virginia, a federal judge already held part of the act unconstitutional.

"Our Constitution provides for a federal government of significant, but defined and limited powers," DeWine said.  "By ignoring the constitutional limits on federal power, the healthcare law tramples on the rights of Ohio's citizens.  We need to defend the checks and balances that our Constitution creates through its divisions of power and protect the people of Ohio from this huge federal overreach."

Watch the swearing-in ceremony of Mike DeWine to become the new Ohio Attorney General.

COLUMBUS – Mike DeWine, surrounded by family and friends in front of the Lincoln at Vicksburg Memorial in the historic Ohio Statehouse Rotunda, took the oath of office as Ohio's Attorney General. His eldest son Pat, a Judge of the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas, administered the oath, as his wife, Fran, held the Bible. Thomas M. Rose, Judge for the United States District Court of Southern Ohio, and DeWine's former law partner, also presided.