Explanation
BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Franklin County Municipal Court Administrative and Presiding Judge to modify legislation 0877-2026, passed on 3/30/26, for the Ohio Bar Liability Insurance Company (OBLIC), and authorizes the additional expenditure of up to $2,053.00 from the Municipal Court General Fund. This policy will cover municipal court magistrates and staff attorneys for liability claims due to errors and omissions. This will also allow for any necessary additions or deletions of staff during the contract period. The purchase of said insurance is authorized by the following section of the Ohio Revised Code:
Section 1901.38 | Liability coverage for municipal court judges and employees.
Effective: May 6, 1992
The legislative authority may procure insurance covering the judges of the municipal court and the employees of the municipal court, including but not limited to any deputy clerks, the bailiff of the municipal court and any deputy bailiffs, the assignment commissioner, and probation department personnel, in one or more policies, against liability arising from the duties of their office or employment, including liability on account of errors or omissions unknowingly made by them and for which they may be held liable.
The policy or policies of insurance shall be in an amount of not less than fifty thousand dollars. The premiums shall be paid from monies appropriated by the legislative authority from funds available for that purpose.
We are short of funds because part-time magistrates (who have magistrate insurance) are not covered for their work as staff attorneys. We had to add three people to the staff attorney policy, which put us over the limit. We were not aware the magistrate's insurance did not cover all their work. OBLIC is the only company we found that offers insurance for attorneys and magistrates. Insurance rates are based on years of coverage.
Ohio Bar Liability Insurance Company Federal Tax ID is 31-0947214.
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