News Releases

(CLEVELAND) – Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced a lawsuit against Christopher Sydlo, of Cleveland, and his business, Bear Transmission Inc. In the lawsuit, the Attorney General charges the Newburgh Heights business and its owner with failure to deliver and seeks restitution for consumers.

“It’s unacceptable for businesses to take consumers’ money and fail to deliver the goods or  to give refunds,” DeWine said. “By filing this lawsuit, our primary goal is to recover money for consumers harmed by this business. We also want to stop the owner from taking advantage of other Ohio consumers.”

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today praised the extension of tax relief to distressed homeowners who receive relief from the National Mortgage Settlement. The tax provisions, requested by DeWine and 38 other Attorneys General, were passed and signed into law on January 1st as part of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced that forensic scientists working at the Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) are now processing DNA cases in a record turnaround time of 20 days, despite a 34-percent increase in DNA submissions from law enforcement from December 2010 to today.

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) –Attorney General Mike DeWine today reminded consumers to read the fine print before joining a gym or a health club in the New Year.

"Many Ohioans will be resolving to lose weight or get healthy in 2013," DeWine said. "Those are great goals, but it's important not to get caught up in the hype and forget to read the fine print of a contract. You don't want to be surprised months later when you're paying more than expected for your membership or you can't cancel when you want."

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced that a Hamilton County man has been arrested for Compelling Prostitution involving a juvenile victim, as part of an ongoing investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s (BCI) Crimes Against Children Unit and the Harrison Police Department.

Attorney General DeWine asked law enforcement agencies to submit their cold case information to the online database in September. At the time, there were only 166 unsolved homicide cases on the site.

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) - Attorney General Mike DeWine today reminded Ohioans to be careful when donating funds to charities in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School murders.

"The tragedy in Connecticut that took so many lives and broke the hearts of the victims' families has also spread sorrow throughout our nation," said Attorney General DeWine. "We want to reach out and help however we can. But please remember that while legitimate funds and charities make good use of your donations, there are scammers who may use this horrific event to steal money for themselves."

(CLEVELAND, Ohio) – Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced a lawsuit against William J. Zele doing business as Above All Basement Waterproofing, Right Choice Roofing, and Zele Basement Waterproofing. The lawsuit charges Zele with multiple violations of Ohio’s Consumer Sales Practices Act.

“We will continue to go after businesses and individuals that take advantage of consumers,” DeWine said. “We also remind consumers to research businesses carefully before making any payments.”

Attorney General DeWine's office worked to add a synthetic drug provision to House Bill 334 that toughens previous laws banning synthetic drugs known as bath salts or herbal incense.  The new law closes a loophole used by clandestine chemists that gave them the ability to slightly alter the illegal synthetic drug's components into a new, legal substance.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced that his office would expand safety training for educators and expand his School Safety Task Force to make recommendations on school safety policy. DeWine made his announcement at a press briefing with Acting Superintendent of Public Instruction Michael Sawyers, which highlighted the efforts of the Attorney General and the Ohio Department of Education to enhance school safety after the shootings at a school in Chardon earlier this year.