On Thursday, November 20, 2025, Cleveland19 reported that District Judge Algenon L. Marbley recused himself from the Ohio unclaimed funds lawsuit. The case, which has significant implications for the funding of the Cleveland Browns’ proposed new stadium in Brook Park, has now been reassigned to Judge Edmund A. Sargus for all further proceedings.
The lawsuit revolves around Ohio’s decision to allocate $1.7 billion in unclaimed funds to a new Ohio Cultural and Sports Facility Performance Grant Fund and Unclaimed Funds. A substantial portion of this allocation, specifically $600 million, is earmarked for the Browns’ stadium project.
Unclaimed funds originate from various sources, including inactive bank accounts and unclaimed payouts from class action lawsuits. The state is legally obligated to hold these funds until they are claimed by their rightful owners.
Former Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann has been a vocal opponent of using these funds for projects like the Browns’ stadium. He initially filed a lawsuit in Franklin County, arguing that such use constitutes an unconstitutional misappropriation of taxpayer dollars, regardless of whether the funds have been claimed. Dann asserted that the state does not have the right to spend these funds on stadiums or other projects without a constitutional process to claim them from the rightful owners.
Dann has since voluntarily dismissed the local lawsuit in favor of pursuing the matter at the federal level, citing similar cases in other states regarding the misuse of unclaimed funds that are currently under consideration by the U.S. Supreme Court. He believes that the federal court system provides a more suitable venue for his claims, anticipating that the issue will ultimately be decided by the Supreme Court, given the broader implications for other states.
Source: Cleveland19
