Chris Sagers, the James A. Thomas Professor of Law, spoke with the Wall Street Journal today on breaking news in the Justice Department’s closely watched challenge to the merger of AT&T and Time Warner, Inc. The Journal uncovered AT&T’s apparent intent to call Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim as a witness in the case. The move may signal a plan to challenge the suit as an improperly discriminatory action against the firm for criticism of the Trump Administration by CNN, a Time Warner asset. You can read the article here.

Professor Jonathan Witmer-Rich was recently interviewed by News Channel 19, in a story about two recent cases in which police officers failed to enter homes, even though persons inside needed police help.

In the first case, out of Columbus, police responded to a neighbor’s call about a domestic dispute and gunshots in a nearby apartment.  The police knocked on the door, but left after no one answered.  Twenty-four hours later, a friend entered the apartment and found Heather Campbell dead, the victim of an apparent murder-suicide at the hands of her boyfriend, Kyle Lafferty, whose body was also found at the scene.  Professor Witmer-Rich explained that the Fourth Amendment “exigent circumstances” doctrine permits police to enter when they reasonably believe there is an imminent threat to the life or safety of someone inside.  He observed that there are no bright line rules for when police can and cannot enter–police must make individual judgments based on what they know.

In another case, police responded to a Euclid apartment after the resident, Charles Matlin, failed to show up at a restaurant where he was a regular.  After receiving no response, police chose not to force entry.  The next day, police entered the house and found Matlin, confused and on the floor of his apartment.  Professor Witmer-Rich explained that under the “community caretaker doctrine,” courts often give police more leeway to enter when they are conducting a welfare check than during a criminal investigation.

The News Channel 19 story can be found here.

Professor and Associate Dean Milena Sterio participated in the American Society of International Law International Courts and Tribunals Annual Workshop on February 9; the Workshop was held was the John Marshall School of Law in Chicago.  Professor Sterio presented her article, “The Legacy of Ad Hoc International Tribunals.”

In addition, Professor Sterio participated as a panelist on “The Sound of Ideas” morning show on WCPN/90.3, where she discussed President Trump’s recently-announced immigration policy.  Audio and video of the show are available here.

Professor and Associate Dean Michael Borden is acting as mediator in a landlord-tenant dispute involving residents/tenants at a Beachwood luxury building, the Vue, and their corporate landlord and building manager.  The case, and the ongoing negotiation, are currently pending before the Shaker Heights Municipal Court.  More details about this case are available here .

Professor Matthew W. Green Jr. testified on Wednesday, January 31st before the Ohio House of Representatives’ Government Accountability and Oversight Committee in support of House Bill 160, The Ohio Fairness Act. The act would amend the Ohio Civil Rights Act to include sexual orientation and gender identity and expression among the protected classes the statute currently covers. Professor Green’s testimony focused on the fact that LGBT individuals must often rely on federal law for protection from workplace discrimination because of the lack of explicit protection under Ohio law, and he provided an overview of the status of federal law in this area. Professor Green also fielded inquiries regarding the documented pervasive and persistent discrimination confronting the LGBT community in employment and other areas.