Clinton Stanley vs.
Board of Education
1960 – 1962
Regarding A. P. Hunt Property at State Route 335 & Bond Road
The Portsmouth Times, September 24, 1960
COMMON PLEAS COURT
Clinton Stanley of Minford, vs. Stephen Like and other members of Minford Board
of Education: Plantiff asks declaratory
judgement on agreement for real estate sale.
The Portsmouth Times, November 1, 1960, p. 21
Clinton Stanley of Minford vs. Stephen Like of Minford Rt. 1, and others; Case
dismissed.
The Portsmouth Times, June 7, 1961, p. 8
COMMON PLEAS COURT
A motion to dismiss the suit involving land purchase by Minford School Board
was overruled by Common Pleas Judge Vernon Smith. The board was given 20 days in which to
further plead.
Clinton Stanley of Minford filed the suit against Stephen Like et al seeking to
enjoin the board from buying land on contract by installment payment. He said the board contracted with the late
Dr. A. P. Hunt to buy land on the installment plan. The plaintiff, represented by Attorney E. G.
Littleton, contends the law required the board to pay cash for land and
prohibits installment buying. Prosecutor
Everett T. Burton represents the board.
The Portsmouth Times, January 13, 1962, p. 9
JUDGE RULES BOARD’S LAND DEAL IS OK
Common Pleas Judge Lowell C. Thompson ruled Friday that a school board has the
power to purchase or enter into an option for land.
His decision may end a 1 ½ year “taxpayer’s suit” against the board of education of the Minford Local School District.
The petition was
filed September 23, 1960 by Clinton Stanley against Stephen Like, then
president of the Minford Board of Education.
It challenged the validity of a land option agreement
between the board and the A. P. Hunt estate of Harrison Township.
The plaintiff challenged the agreement as being unauthorized
by Ohio statutes governing school boards on the grounds that the agreement was
a contract to purchase real estate on an installment payment basis.
The plaintiff’s suit also claimed that the board failed to comply with the Ohio Code requiring the fiscal officer in county as to the availability of funds for such contract.
In an 11-page opinion, Judge Thompson said “that a board of education does have the power and under its general authority to purchase or acquire land . . . to enter into an option for land that it desires or intends to purchase.
The judge also ruled the payments made by the fiscal officer
was in compliance with the requirement of the Ohio Code.
Attorney Earnest G. Littleton represented the plaintiff and
assistant Prosecutors Jack Marshall and Robert Dever acted as legal counsel for
the school board.
The Portsmouth Times, January 29, 1962, p. 5
COMMON PLEAS COURT
Clinton Stanley vs. Stephen Like, et al: Defendant Leslie Hunt, administrator of the A. P. Hunt estate, denies allegations contained in plaintiff’s petition and asks for dismissal of same.
The Portsmouth Times, March 8, 1962, p. 5
The Clinton Stanley vs. Stephen Like, et al, has been filed but apparently are
not ready for hearing on March 14.
The Portsmouth Times, December 10, 1962, p. 12
COURT DENIES APPEAL IN SCHOOL SUIT
The 4th District Court of Appeals today ruled in favor of Scioto
County Prosecutor Everett Burton in dismissing an appeal motion in a Minford
Local School District dispute.
Clinton Stanley had filed the taxpayer suit in 1960 against
Stephen Like, then president of the Minford Board of Education.
The case concerned the protest of a taxpayer against the
Board option agreement between the Board and The A. P. Hunt estate in Harrison
Township.
In January 1960, Common Pleas Judge Lowell Thompson settled
the issue by ruling that a school board had the power to purchase or enter into
an option for land.
The plaintiff appealed and the appellate court took it under
advisement on October 10.
Assistant Prosecutors Jack Marshall and Robert Dever acted
as legal counsel for the school board.