Maternal Grandmother v. Hamilton County Job & Family Services

Emmett was retained to present oral argument in this Ohio Supreme Court appeal on behalf of the plaintiff, who sought to hold caseworkers from the Hamilton County, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services accountable after her granddaughter was murdered.  Because the caseworkers were government employees, they were entitled to certain protections from liability under a statute providing for government-employee immunity in many circumstances.  The Ohio First District Court of Appeals had previously ruled against Emmett’s client, but the Ohio Supreme Court unanimously reversed, holding that plaintiff did not have to meet special “heightened” pleading requirements in order to initiate suit against the caseworkers.