FOIA Request to Cuyahoga County regarding contingency fee agreements on December 1, 2025.
On December 1, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to Cuyahoga County by a representative from the Cleveland Reporter. The request seeks access to records under the Ohio Open Records Law, specifically requesting all contingency fee agreements with external attorneys or law firms that were in effect at any time during the last 12 months. The requester has expressed a preference for receiving these records in electronic format.
The Cleveland Reporter is a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs. As part of their commitment to transparency and accountability, they have requested this information to fulfill their professional responsibilities in gathering and reporting news to the public. They have also requested a fee waiver based on their role as media professionals.
Additionally, the requester is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization that assists media companies and public advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws. More information about this organization can be found on their website here.
Alternative Education Academy had the largest enrollment among the 306 schools in Cuyahoga County during the 2023-24 school year, with 6,364 students enrolled.
Our team will continue to keep you updated as we gather and report news related to this request and other matters of public interest. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further clarification regarding this matter.
