Follow The Civil Rights Bike Ride

Al Gerhardstein and his daughter Jessica Gingold are biking across the south for civil rights! Their trip from Mobile, Alabama to Cincinnati, Ohio will traverse the path of the Underground Railroad to raise money for the Ohio Justice and Policy Center. Follow their adventures at www.civilrightsbikeride.blogspot.com and learn more about their cause at www.ohiojpc.org or make a donation to OJPC.

Make Your Voice Matter: Share Your Opinions about Juvenile Justice in Ohio
It is an exciting time and significant changes in how systems and communities respond to youth in Ohio are on the horizon. We want to hear from professionals who work on juvenile justice issues and family and youth who have experienced the system about what is working and what improvements need to be made. What are the opportunities?

• Participate in discipline-specific or community focus groups to discuss issues that impact your profession;
• Capture your story via video, audio, or in writing so that it can be shared with the media, lawmakers, and others interested in juvenile justice public policy reform;
• Show support by joining the Facebook group called Partners for Youth Justice: Ohioans United for System Reform; or
• Request a presenter to come train at a conference or local event about the efforts in Ohio and across the country.

MORGUE PHOTO CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT
Class action lawsuit against Hamilton County, Ohio Morgue for unauthorized photographs settles for $8 million.  Read the Joint press release from Al Gerhardstein, Stan Chesley, and Hamilton County announcing the $8 million settlement.  Click here to read all of the documents in the case.
Class Members NOTE: The Due Date for Individual Claims Forms has been extended to 12/31/08. There will be a hearing 12/16/08 at 3:00 pm on partial distribution to Sub Class One.  Click here to read the Court Order regarding the new due date and Click here for details about the hearing.”

OBAMA AND MCCAIN CITY WORKERS WIN RIGHT TO BE POLITICALLY ACTIVE IN TIME FOR NOVEMBER ELECTION
Alphonse A. Gerhardstein and Andrea Reino filed class action lawsuit for City of Cincinnati employees who want to donate funds and distribute campaign literature (away from work) for federal, state, and county candidates for political office. The City refused to let them. On October 23, 2008, Judge Michael Barrett granted a preliminary injunction permitting employees to donate to candidates but not permitting them to distribute campaign literature.  That issue will proceed to further litigation.  Click here to see the documents in the case.

WE HAVE MOVED!

After thirty years of working in the Enquirer Building we must move. The building is being converted to apartments. All of our contact information will remain the same, only our address will change. Visit our contact us page for directions and parking options.

GERHARDSTEIN & BRANCH CO. LPA
432 Walnut Street, Suite 400
Cincinnati, OH 45202

VERDICT AGAINST THE U.S. POST OFFICE IN DISABILITY DISCRIMINATIONT TRIAL

Jennifer Branch and Andrea Reino won an almost $400,000 verdict against the U.S. Post Office August 14, 2008. The jury found the Post Office discriminated against Joan Fredericks, a clerk at the Bulk Mail Center, over the last five years. The jury found her knee condition was a disability and that the Post Office failed to accommodate her need to sit down and avoid steps. Ms. Fredericks is seeking reinstatement with accommodations. Click here to see the documents in the case.

JUVENILE REFORM CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT ANNOUNCED

The State of Ohio and Al Gerhardstein, Lead Counsel for the youth in Ohio’s juvenile facilities, have announced a settlement that will implement $20-$30 million annually in reforms. The agreement must be approved by federal judge Algenon Marbley. The fairness hearing is set for 8:30 a.m. on May 21, 2008. It is open to the public. The class action settlement resolves issues of overcrowding, understaffing, violence, education services, as well as mental health, physical health and other programming issues. Click here to read the Notice to the Class, the joint Press Release announcing the settlement, and other Documents in S.H. v. Stickrath.

POLICE SHOOTING CASE SETTLED FOR ONE MILLION DOLLARS

Jury selection was underway on February 8, 2008 when the City of Cleveland decided to pay the family of Ricardo Mason one million dollars to settle the case.  Ricardo was a 16 year old passenger in a car that the police stopped on August 27, 2002.  Ricardo was unarmed and had his hands in the air when the shooting occurred.  Lead attorney Al Gerhardstein co-counseled the case with David Malik and Dennis Niermann of Cleveland.  They were prepared to prove that the defendant police officers moved the suspect car after the shooting and before the investigation in order to support their version of events.  The settlement ended the trial.  Click here to read the Sixth Circuit decision in the case.

JURY RETURNS $1 MILLION VERDICT IN WRONGFUL DEATH CASE

On November 15, 2007, the Fossyl family won a $1 million verdict against Thomas Watson and Michael Milligan for the death of their sister in June 1977. Click here to see the verdict and other documents in the case.