Latest news with #ZachKlein
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7 days ago
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Columbus, county say Hilltop store sold stolen goods, seek 'public nuisance' declaration
The city of Columbus and Franklin County have filed a lawsuit accusing the owner of a Hilltop store of selling stolen products. Herbert's Market, located at 1121 Sullivant Ave., is named in the complaint, filed by Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein and Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Shayla Favor. The lawsuit aims to have Herbert's declared a public nuisance and accuses owner Ahmad Arman of a "clear and repeated pattern" of taking stolen goods and reselling them for profit, according to a July 9 statement from Klein. The lawsuit says that, since July 31, 2022, Columbus police have responded to 138 calls from Herbert's and the surrounding area for a variety of criminal and nuisance activities, including reports of drug use, harassment and a gunman threatening people. Columbus fire has also found several code violations for fire hazards on Herbert's premises, according to court records. Herbert's Market and Arman did not respond to The Dispatch's request for comment in time for publication. Columbus police began their investigation into the store after repeated inspections of Herbert's property uncovered evidence that the owners knowingly attempted to sell stolen goods, including shoes, clothing, audio equipment, liquor, and more, which still had the original tags of other retailers attached, according to court records. When detectives asked Arman about the source of his merchandise, which included products from Gucci, Adidas, and other name-brand manufacturers, he offered to remove the products in question from his shelves, according to court records. After being confronted with a picture of retailer anti-theft devices that had been thrown away and asked for the receipts of products he was selling, Arman admitted he had bought stolen merchandise at least once. According to the lawsuit, there were several discrepancies in Arman's story as detectives continued to question him. The lawsuit also refers to frequent shoplifting incidents affecting law-abiding businesses on the West Side, especially along Sullivant Avenue. Columbus Police have dedicated "many thousands of hours" to responding to these crimes, and plaintiffs believe this kind of legal action will help in addressing that problem, according to the press release. This is not the first time the city has taken legal action against a Sullivant Avenue business. In October 2024, Klein's office sued Rosco's Market, located at 2500 Sullivant Ave., for being a "haven for prostitution, drug-related activity and violence." In 2019, The Dispatch published a special three-part investigation into the frequent crime that occurs on Sullivant Avenue, finding it to be more plagued with prostitution and drug abuse than anywhere else in Columbus. Klein said the July 8 lawsuit is an example of the city "cracking down on shady retailers that traffic stolen goods ... and attempt to rip off businesses and consumers." 'Business owners have a responsibility to remain in compliance with laws and regulations at all times, and thanks to the Division of Police, the County Prosecutor's Office and the Property Action Team, we've brought a strong case to hold owners accountable and clean up this illicit activity along Sullivant Ave," he said. Favor agreed, calling the case a "powerful example" of the coordination between her office and Klein's. The filing is the first joint lawsuit filed by both offices. Favor created a nuisance abatement unit after being elected prosector in January 2025. "We remain committed to ensuring that those who put our communities at risk face real consequences," she said. Reporter Emma Wozniak can be reached at ewozniak@ or @emma_wozniak_ on X, formerly known as Twitter. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Hilltop store Herbert's Market accused of selling stolen goods
Yahoo
7 days ago
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Franklin County judge closes case against Downtown night club, site of double killing
A Downtown night club that was the subject of more than 75 police calls in 11 months, including a double homicide, has come into compliance with a judge's order. Franklin County Environmental Court Judge Stephanie Mingo ruled on July 2 that the former Avalon Night Club, which has changed its name to Aura, is now in compliance with conditions requested from the Columbus City Attorney's office. The club, located at 205 N. Fifth St., has been closed since December 2023 when Mingo granted a request for the club to be boarded up and closed for a full year. Mingo also closed out the environmental court case against the club and its ownership. It was not immediately clear if the year-long closure order would remain in effect. City Attorney Zach Klein's office said between January and December 2023, police received 78 calls to the club, including several for reports of gunfire. On June 14, 2023, two men died after being shot at the club, and two other people were hurt. Klein's office said at the time of the December 2024 contempt finding that the owners had ignored prior court orders and not allowed inspections to take place. Before the December 2024 filing, Klein's office had taken other steps to hold the owners accountable, including requiring special duty police officers in the club's parking lot while it was open and mandating that properly licensed security personnel be on site. Reporter Bethany Bruner can be reached at bbruner@ or on Bluesky at @ This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Judge closes case against Downtown night club where double killing occurred
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Politics
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Appeals court says Ohio legislative effort to block local tobacco laws unconstitutional
An Ohio appeals court has unanimously decided that efforts by state lawmakers to prevent city governments from regulating tobacco products are unconstitutional. The Tenth District Court of Appeals, which covers Franklin County and hears many state government-related court cases, ruled July 8 that the Ohio General Assembly's attempt to bar Columbus and other cities from enacting their own rules about what types of tobacco products can be sold within their limits violated the Home Rule Amendment of the Ohio Constitution. Among other things, the Home Rule Amendment gives local governments the autonomy to enact ordinances related to the safety and welfare of their residents, including matters involving local police, sanitary, and other similar regulations, provided they don't contradict state laws. By 2023, Columbus and other cities had passed ordinances that regulated how flavored tobacco products were sold to snuff out swelling teen use of the products. The state legislature, in response, added an amendment state's 2023 budget bill to prevent cities from doing so. Gov. Mike DeWine twice vetoed the section, but state lawmakers voted to override the governor, in essence nullifying efforts by the cities. City Attorney Zach Klein's office filed a lawsuit against the state on behalf of Columbus and multiple other cities and municipalities in Ohio to prevent the law from taking effect. Klein, DeWine and others had argued for flavored tobacco bans, as well as limits on the sale of e-cigarettes, because of a rise in nicotine use among teenagers that threatened decades-long anti-tobacco efforts. The arguments also said sales of flavored tobacco, like menthol cigarettes, have targeted minorities and low-income people. Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Mark Serrott sided with the cities, saying the way the Ohio law is written violates the Ohio Constitution's provision that allows municipalities to govern themselves. The state appealed, and the Tenth District Appeals Court agreed with the cities. In a decision written by Judge David Leland, the appeals court said the state is trying to claim "exclusive power to regulate tobacco," which creates problems beyond where flavored tobacco is sold. "Cities would lose the power to enforce their tobacco laws, both criminal and civil. They would lose authority to keep city parks free of tobacco," Leland writes. "They could no longer regulate tobacco marketing. Licensing and zoning of convenience stores that sell tobacco products might be invalidated. Cities could do nothing to stem the sale of flavored tobacco products, no matter the addictive or mortal effects of the tobacco industry's targeted advertising to children or other demographic groups." Mayor Andrew J. Ginther told The Dispatch that he was encouraged by the decision. 'I'm glad the judges support the Ohio Constitution, that clearly states that home rule is a core principle of governing in this state. We have always said that local knows best,' Ginther said. 'The tobacco industry has disproportionately targeted young people, people of color and poor and disadvantaged communities and we feel like this is a smart and appropriate thing to do to protect kids. The governor stands with us on this.' The state can appeal the Tenth Court of Appeals decision to the Ohio Supreme Court. Steve Irwin, a spokesperson for Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, said Yost's office is reviewing the decision and will talk about what next steps may be taken. The district appeals court is comprised of eight judges, three of whom hear cases as a panel and rule at a time. All of those judges are Democrats. Six of the Ohio Supreme Court's seven justices are Republicans, with Justice Jennifer Brunner being the lone Democrat. (This story has been updated to include comments from public officials.) Dispatch reporter Jordan Laird contributed to this story. Reporter Bethany Bruner can be reached at bbruner@ or on Bluesky at @ This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio court sides with cities in state tobacco law dispute
Yahoo
22-05-2025
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Sanctuary Night held in contempt of court for violating agreement with Columbus
Sanctuary Night, a Columbus nonprofit that serves women escaping sex trafficking and battling drug addiction, was held in contempt Thursday after it violated an agreement it made with the city to address its status as an alleged "nuisance" property. Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein filed a nuisance lawsuit against Sanctuary Night, located at 1195 Sullivant Ave. in Franklinton, on April 30, alleging it attracted criminal activity, open drug use and prostitution. On May 7, the city and the nonprofit came to a court-approved agreement where Sanctuary Night would prohibit drug and alcohol use on its premises, cut down on loitering, install Columbus Division of Police recommended security upgrades, ban camping and refrain from serving food to clients who identify as male, among other changes. According to court filings, a city environmental specialist attempted to enter Sanctuary Night on May 15 to conduct an inspection required by the agreement but was not allowed inside until after the nonprofit's staff evacuated its clients. Sanctuary Night's property manager told the inspector that entering would violate the HIPAA rights of clients currently in the building and asked him to sign a confidentiality agreement. The inspector refused to sign the agreement and conducted an exterior inspection while the nonprofit's employees tried to reach someone in upper management. The inspector was eventually allowed in once all the clients, except for one using the shower, had left. Stopping the inspector from entering while the nonprofit was occupied and operational prevented him from ensuring it complied with the city's May 7 agreement, according to court filings. As a result, Judge Stephanie Mingo moved to hold Sanctuary Night in contempt on Thursday, according to Pete Shipley, the communications director for City Attorney Zach Klein's office. Shipley said that the city will continue to monitor the nonprofit's compliance with the agreement and take appropriate action if it does not live up to the terms. Mayor Andrew Ginther said the city was a proud partner and supporter of Sanctuary Night but that everybody who operates in the community needed to be a good neighbor. "They're gonna be held accountable if they're not a good neighbor. But they provide critically important services," he said at a May 22 press conference. The next hearing in the case is set for July 24, according to court records. Sanctuary Night could not be reached for comment by the time of publication. Breaking and Trending News Reporter Nathan Hart can be reached at NHart@ and at @NathanRHart on X and at on Bluesky. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus nonprofit Sanctuary Night held in contempt
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Health
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Columbus sues Trump administration over cuts to disease funding amid measles outbreaks
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The City of Columbus has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its cuts to infectious disease funding during a rise in measles outbreaks across the country, including in Ohio. City Attorney Zach Klein said Columbus Public Health has already had to terminate 11 infectious disease workers due to cuts in the funding, leaving only 11 employees left. 'The Trump administration's termination of billions of dollars in infectious disease funding is both dangerous and unconstitutional,' Klein said in a statement. 'The City cannot stay quiet on the sidelines as extremists within this administration continue to defy the Constitution and recklessly endanger the health and safety of our children and the public.' Ohio State faculty vote to join Big Ten alliance against Trump The city claims that the funding cuts are unconstitutional because the money was already approved by Congress. The city is asking for a judge to order the Trump administration to reinstate the grant programs and congressionally appropriated funding. Kansas City and Nashville also joined the lawsuit, along with Harris County, Texas, which includes Houston. Dkt.-1-ComplaintDownload Several states also previously sued the administration over the funding cuts. U.S. Health and Human Services Department spokesperson Andrew Nixon told the Associated Press earlier this month that it doesn't comment on pending litigation, but said the HHS 'will no longer waste billions of taxpayer dollars responding to a non-existent pandemic that Americans moved on from years ago.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
