Municipal Law

Few law firms can match the experience and attorney breadth that Walter & Haverfield has in municipal law.

The firm has provided general and special legal counsel to government bodies since shortly after its founding in 1932, and today offers a wide range of services to municipalities, townships, school boards, special taxing districts and regional agencies within and outside of Ohio.

Walter & Haverfield's Municipal Law Group consists of seven (7) attorneys, many of whom serve as law directors or assistant law directors for northern Ohio communities.

These services include counsel and representation in such areas as:

Zoning and land use
Cable television franchising, refranchising and rate regulation
Public telecommunications issues
Administrative law and procedures
Drafting of legislation and regulations
Drafting of charters and charter amendments
Equal employment practices
Defense of Civil Rights actions
Defense of public officials
Self-insurance pools
Prosecutions of all kinds
Environmental law
Real estate and construction law
Eminent domain
Public improvement projects
Awarding of contracts Regulatory compliance
Wireless telecom facilities regulations and leasing
Public funding, tax abatements and economic development

Walter & Haverfield's Municipal Law Group consists of seven (7) attorneys, many of whom serve as law directors or assistant law directors for northern Ohio communities. Especially skilled in litigation, they have successfully argued precedent-setting cases at all levels of the state and federal court system including the United States Supreme Court. While their goal is to prevent needless litigation, they stand ready to represent the interest of any client in any court with vigor, imagination and a thorough understanding of the laws and regulations involved.

In addition, Walter & Haverfield has provided effective legal counsel to developers and real estate owners — offering a wide range of services dealing with municipalities, counties, townships, special taxing districts and regional agencies. Although Walter & Haverfield cannot represent private clients in any matter before a municipality to which it serves as counsel, the firm is able to apply its knowledge of the inner workings of municipalities toward numerous legal matters involving other jurisdictions where no conflict of interest exists.

April 2011

In an article written by Sun News reporter Faith Hampton and posted on the website, cleveland.com, Pepper Pike Law Director Christopher L. Gibbon raised concerns about a local effort to have the city join its neighbor, Orange Village, in making seat belt law violations a primary offense. This article, titled "Orange Village passes measure making seat belt law violations a primary offense," appeared on-line on April 22, 2011.

March 2011

The City of Hudson named R. Todd Hunt and Aimee W. Lane as its new City Solicitor and Assistant City Solicitor, and it recognized Charles T. Riehl for his 16 years of service as the community's law director.

December 2010

On December 15, 2010, R. Todd Hunt and Jonathan D. Greenberg spoke on the topic, "Internet/Sweepstakes Cafes: Zoning and Gambling Regulations applicable to internet sweepstakes cafes." This program, held in Richfield, Ohio, was presented by the American Planning Association, Ohio Chapter - Akron Section.

July/August 2010

Aimee W. Lane provided a comprehensive review of Ohio laws governing open meetings and public records in her article for Cities & Villages magazine, titled, "Ohio's Sunshine Law 101 - What Newly Elected Officials Need to Know... and Understand about Open Meetings and Public Records."

June 2010

On June 25, 2010, Todd Hunt spoke at the NE Ohio Planning & Zoning Workshop, which was held in Warren, Ohio. To view the program outline and PowerPoint materials for this presentation, please access the links provided here: "BZA: Powers and Duties-Variance Authority and Those Other Pesky Applications" and "NE Ohio Planning & Zoning Workshop."

May/June 2010

Jonathan D. Greenberg and Heather R. Baldwin Vlasuk advised municipalities on the benefits of using outside counsel to conduct investigations in cases of alleged wrongdoing by their officers or employees in their article, "When Public Officials Go Rogue: The Importance of Hiring Outside Counsel to Perform Investigations into Allegations of Employee or Officer Wrongdoing."

February 2010

Patricia F. Weisberg and Todd Hunt provided a "Municipal Employment Law Update" to the attendees at the 2010 Annual Presidents Day Municipal Law Seminar, hosted by the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association.

Recent Publications

February 2012 - "Ohio Attorney General Announces Debt Collection Program for Local Governments," by Heather R. Baldwin Vlasuk

November 2011 - "Recent Law Places Notice Requirements On Oil And Gas Leases On Public Lands," by Heather R. Baldwin Vlasuk

June 2010 - "Red Flag Rule" Update: Another New Enforcement Date!

November 2009 - "Red Flag Rule" Update: New Enforcement Date and Anticipated Exemptions to the Regulation

May 2009 - The FTC's "Red Flag Rules" Require Local Governments to Implement Identity Theft Prevention Programs

September 2008 - Local Government Telecommunications Law Update

August 2008 - Summary of Recent Amendments to Ohio's Public Records Laws

January 2007 - New Public Records Law

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