Access to Legal Services.
Columbus City Codes § 4551.08
in effect4551.08 - Access to Legal Services.
(A) All Covered Individuals are eligible to receive legal services from a Designated Organization(s) in a Covered Proceeding once an action has been filed in a court of competent jurisdiction. The Designated Organization(s) must seek to provide Full Legal Representation unless the individual is ineligible for the Designated Organization's services due to a conflict of interest, a violation of any retainer agreement, or other circumstances make Full Legal Representation infeasible to render.
(B) The access to legal services described in division (A) of this section is contingent upon additional Council action authorizing the appropriation and expenditure of funds for a contract between the city and a Designated Organization.
(C) Provision of legal services by a Designated Organization for Covered Individuals in a Covered Proceeding shall be administered by the Department of Development or their designee.
(D) Designated Organizations shall work with community partners to engage and educate tenants on their rights and available resources.
(E) Any legal services performed by a Designated Organization(s) under this section shall not supplant, replace, or satisfy any obligations or responsibilities of that Designated Organization under any other program agreement or contract with the City.
(F) Nothing in this chapter, or in the administration or application of this chapter, shall be construed to create a private right of action on the part of any person or entity against the City of Columbus or any agency, official, or employee of the City of Columbus, or any Designated Organization or any employees or agents of a Designated Organization
(G) If any provision of this section or the enforcement of any provision is held to be invalid or unenforceable such finding shall not affect or render invalid or unenforceable any other provision of this section. To this end, each of the provisions of this section are severable.
(H) On February 28th of each year, the Designated Organization shall submit a written report to Council detailing the number of Covered Individuals served, the extent of the legal services performed, metrics that evaluate the outcomes, and a summary of the engagement and education of tenants.
(Ord. No. 3510-2024, § 2, 12-16-2024)
Source: City of Columbus, City Codes and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT45HOCO_CH4551REOWOC_4551.08ACLESEFetched: 10/27/2026