The General Civil Division is made up of 17 attorneys and support staff . We are experienced in civil litigation, employment and contract law.  The Civil division practices like a private law firm. We answer civil complaints and engage in all aspects of litigation. We advise elected officials, and various departments, agencies, boards and commissions of Cuyahoga County on all legal matters.  

We are the legal advisors for the County Commissioners, Treasurer, Auditor, Sheriff, Coroner, Engineer, Common Pleas Judges and Clerk of Courts.  Additionally, our duties include: 

• Reviewing contracts
• Offering legal opinions on a wide variety of subjects
• Represent county agencies in litigation

Our broad range of responsibilities includes defending county officials from civil rights lawsuits to subpoenas.  

As legal advisors to the county we have the responsibility of representing diverse agencies such as:

• Board of Mental Retardation
• Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services Board
• County Planning Commission
• Adult Protective Services
• Department of Children and Family Services

The civil division also represents the County Board of Elections as well as the two remaining townships in Cuyahoga County. 

We represent the county on personnel issues before the State Personnel Board of Review as well as advising the departments concerning personnel issues. 

We also advise the county on various real estate issues and labor agreements connected with building projects. 

The civil division appears in courts throughout the State of Ohio and has represented Cuyahoga County’s interest in the Courts of Common Pleas, Probate Court, and municipal courts.

We are charged with reviewing public records requests submitted to the various agencies and are responsible for making the determination between privacy issues and the public access to records. 

We represent the county in court to protect at risk children as well as the at-risk elderly.