February 7  at 7:50 am  & February 8  at 7:50 am.

BusinessWise airs on WNKU-FM 89.7, 105.9 & 104.1 at 7:50 am and 5:45 pm Monday – Friday.

Mr. Heintz is a principal with Finney, Stagnaro, Saba & Patterson Co., L.P.A., where he has concentrated his practice in the areas of business law, tax law, estate planning and probate since 2001.

Location: Hyde Park Country Club 3740 Erie Ave. Cincinnati OH 45208

RSVP: Peggy Gruenke peg@fssp-law.com or 513-533-2732

COST $25 includes CLE and Lunch

Topic: Ohio Public Records and Open Meeting Law

Presented by: Christopher P. Finney, Esq. and Curt Hartman, Esq.

Description of Event:  Overview of Statutes and Recent Cases; Ohio Public Records Law and Open Meeting Law – Practical utilization in your practice.

1:00 – 1:30 pm:   Lunch (Dine in or Carry-Out, whichever you prefer)

Creating an Effective Estate Plan, Guest speaker Patrick R. Veith, Esq.

This seminar will help you understand and make decisions around issues such as:

1. Do you need an estate plan
2. Helping to avoid probate
3. Who needs a will and what types can be effective
4. Common Pitfalls of estate plans

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/06/us/was-that-twitter-blast-false-or-just-honest-hyperbole.html?_r=2&hp

The prosecutor claimed that requesting and obtaining those records through a strawman and using Ohio’s public records statutes trigger reciprocal discovery under Criminal Rule of Procedure 16.  Rule 16 provides that when a criminal defendant makes a request in the criminal case for discovery from the prosecution, that in turn triggers a right in the prosecution for discovery from the defendant.

The City of Cincinnati argued successfully in Municipal Court that the public records request triggered reciprocal criminal discovery (even though the rule provides no such thing).  This week, Hamilton County’s First District Court of Appeals reversed that trial court finding, holding that the use of Ohio’s public records statute to obtain discovery relating to criminal cases does not trigger reciprocal discovery from the defendant, a major win for open records in Ohio.

The case is State of Ohio v. Athon, First Appellate District of Ohio Case No. C-110236 – 110239 (consolidated) and C – 110-290.

Background

Ohio is one of a handful of states with a statute punishing “false” political speech in the context of election campaigns (i.e., in the vast majority of jurisdictions, “free speech” reins and those aggrieved can rely upon common law defamation if they feel aggrieved).  

The position advanced by COAST is that the Ohio Elections Commission has failed to understand a proper role for regulating in the First Amendment arena, improperly making findings in cases dealing with those who participate in electoral campaigns and, indeed, punishing speech that is true, and defensible under the U.S. and Ohio constitutions.

COAST’s opponents filed a Complaint against certain “Tweets” of COAST tying streetcar spending to brownouts of fire departments.  They hoped for a last minute finding against COAST by the OEC and resulting negative press coverage over statements COAST contends are true in the closing days of the 2011 campaign. 

COAST sued in federal court to stop claimed unconstitutional interference in COAST’s free speech rights.  That case is pending before federal district court Judge Michael Barrett.

Actions of the Ohio Attorney General

The Ohio Attorney General is the statutory counsel of the Ohio Elections Commission, defending the OEC in that suit as is his obligation under the Ohio Constitution.  DeWine is also charged in his oath of office with defending the U.S. and Ohio Constitutions.  Thus, it seems he was in a bit of a quandary in defending such an obviously unconstitutional law, and its over-reaching enforcement by the OEC.

Well, this past week, in response to that dilemma, DeWine did a remarkable and brave thing — he filed an Amicus Brief pointing out to the Court the unconstitutionality of Ohio’s False Claims statute.  He is represented by preeminent First Amendment attorney Brad Smith, a former FEC Commissioner, to present this ground-breaking argument. Judge Barrett must still decide the issues in the case, but the trail has been blazed for him by the Attorney General.

Location: Hyde Park Country Club 3740 Erie Ave. Cincinnati OH 45208

RSVP: Peggy Gruenke peg@fssp-law.com or 513-533-2732

Topic: Consumer Bankruptcy Basics

Presented by: Mark Godbey, Esq.  and Brian Flick, Esq.    

 The following are the main topics will be covered:

1. The Current Climate
   1. Chapter 7 in a nutshell
   2. Chapter 13 in a nutshell
   3. Ohio and Federal Property Exemptions
2. Issues in Chapter 7 filings
   1. Median test
   2. What is and what isn’t an asset
   3. Recent case law
3. Issues in Chapter 13 filings
   1. Navigation of computing a Chapter 13 plan
4. Ancillary Practice in Bankruptcy
   1. FDCPA/Stay/Discharge Violations
   2. Securitization and foreclosure defense work

1:00 – 1:30 pm:   Lunch (Dine in or Carry-Out, whichever you prefer)

Join us for a hands on seminar: How to Appeal Your Property Tax Assessment  Presented by Paul T Saba, Esq.

Date:  February 28, 2012  Time:  6:00 – 7:30pm

Location:  The Edgecliff 2200 Victory Parkway Cincinnati, OH 45206

Join us for a free seminar on How to Appeal Your Property Tax Assessment sponsored by Finney, Stagnaro, Saba & Patterson Co, LPA and Rick and Holly Finn of Coldwell Banker West Shell.

Presenter: Attorney, Paul T. Saba will bring his knowledge of property tax assessment and valuation to this class to discuss the process to obtain reductions in both residential and commercial property tax assessments.

RSVP to Judith Holcomb  judith.holcombe@cbws.com or 513-533-8081

Date:  January 25, 2012  Time:  9:00 – 12:10 pm  Cost:$15 CABR members/$20 all others

Location:  Cincinnati Area Board of Realtors  14 Knollcrest Drive Cincinnati, OH 45222

Instructors: Attorney Chris Finney and County Auditor Dusty Rhodes
Attorney, Chris Finney along with County Auditor Dusty Rhodes together have taught this class for the past three years at the Board, and it has been one of our most popular offerings.
Learn how you can provide value to clients in a down market.   Keep your name and high degree of professionalism top-of-mind with your clients and help them achieve real savings on their property tax bill by appealing their value to reflect the true fair market value.
Did you know that if a home sells for less than tax valuation or if the real value falls below the county Auditor’s assessment, the client can save money on their taxes?
This class will instruct you on the process of property tax reduction.  You will be able to provide real value to your clients by advising them of the procedures that are available to them.

Please RSVP to Annette Chmiel 513-842-3011 or achmiel@cabr.org