Franklin County Law Library Newsletter

Summer 2026

We've been reporting annually on grant projects funded by the Statewide Consortium of Ohio County Law Libraries. We are happy to announce that the Consortium has again provided the Franklin County Law Library with a grant award. This year, the funds will assist us as we begin a two-year project to replace our public computers, which are approximately ten years old. While we have an excellent IT consultant who keeps them running smoothly, they are more outdated than any of our other library technology (except for, perhaps, the fax machine and typewriter, which are still available to library patrons). The funds from the Consortium are appreciated and will help us provide machines that are faster and more secure. Expect to see the first two new PCs up and running right away.

We're also excited about a new project made possible with funding from the Columbus Bar Foundation's Law Library Fund. We will soon be partnering with the Dispute Resolution Department of the Franklin County Common Pleas Court's Domestic Relations Division and Juvenile Branch to distribute books to children and parents in our local court system. Once this program is up and running, we'll provide additional details, including ways you can support the efforts, so stay tuned...

The Law Library is grateful to those who partner with us and provide essential funding. Though our agency's statutory revenue is limited, our funding partners can assist with special projects, new resources, and critical updates that allow us to better serve you.

Jennifer Jones, Director

jdjones@franklincountyohio.gov

calendar icon graphic with text: "EVENTS"

Holiday Closures

September 7: Closed for Labor Day
October 12: Closed for Indigenous People Day

Board Meeting

August 19 at noon in the library

Baldree Brown Bag Lunch Programs

The CLE scheduled for August 5 is full
October 21 - "Zone in Columbus" with Shannon Pine, Chief Zoning Official for the City of Columbus

Reminder: All Baldree Brown Bag Lunch CLEs begin at 12:15 in the Law Library's classroom and last for one hour. Because class size is limited, we respectfully request that if you register and cannot attend, you call the library at 614-525-4971 to cancel at least 24 hours before the program.

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Recent Reference Requests

Susanna Marlowe, Reference Librarian

Dear Reference Librarian,

I heard there was a law saying that if a driver hit and injured or killed a tree on your property, then you could sue them and get triple damages. Is this true?

Curious Homeowner

Dear Homeowner,

Ohio Revised Code Section 901.51 does allow for “treble,” commonly called “triple,” damages, but only when someone “recklessly” damages your tree. If a person intentionally cuts down your tree, then you could recover triple the amount of money that the damage cost you. However, if a driver just negligently wrecks into your tree, you would only be entitled to the amount of money the tree was worth, not triple the amount.

The Reference Librarian

Dear Reference Librarian,

I successfully sued someone in Franklin County Municipal Court and the defendant has now paid the judgment in full. Do you know where I would find a Satisfaction of Judgment form and a Release of Lien?

A Winning Plaintiff

Dear Plaintiff,

Congratulations on winning your case and collecting the judgment. There is a Satisfaction of Judgment form on the Franklin County Municipal Court’s website. The Franklin County Law Library has a Release of Lien form, which you file at the Recorder’s Office.

The Reference Librarian

What We're Reading

Law Library Staff Share Their Favorites

Minnie - Greenteeth by Molly O'Neill, A Hymn to Life by Gisele Pelicot, Martin Misunderstood by Karin Slaughter, You've Been Pooping all Wrong by Trisha Pasricha, and Killer Vibes by Jack Friday

Susanna - John of John by Douglas Stuart, The Midnight Train by Matt Haig, What We Can Know by Ian McEwan

Franklin County Law Library

369 S. High Street, 10th Floor

Columbus, OH 43215

Phone: 614.525.4971

Fax: 614.525.4978

FCLL-info@franklincountyohio.gov

https://www.franklincountyohio.gov/Agency-Directory/Law-Library

Law Library Resources Board

Chair:

Charles A. Schneider

Members:

Hon. Elizabeth Gill

Tunney King

Hon. Jarrod B. Skinner

Jill Snitcher