On Sunday, March 29, 2026, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Robert Carpenter, David Brittingham, and Allison Knerr filed a notice of appeal in the Supreme Court of Ohio, following a decision by the First District Court of Appeals. The case, the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, et al., v. Judge Guy L. Reece, with Case No. C-250701, was initially decided in the First District Court of Appeals, with the order entered on March 12, 2026.

The underlying dispute involves a complaint in prohibition and mandamus filed by Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Robert Carpenter, David Brittingham, and Allison Knerr on December 17, 2025, against Judge Guy L. Reece. Judge Reece then filed a motion to dismiss the complaint, which was granted by the court.

The case originates from 21 medical malpractice actions related to Abubakar Atiq Durrani, M.D., referred to as “the Durrani cases”. While the claims against Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in those cases were dismissed, the matters continued concerning other parties. Subsequently, 21 plaintiffs filed motions for contempt and sanctions against Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, alleging discovery misconduct. Judge Reece presides over the Durrani cases at the trial court level.

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center sought to prevent the trial court from proceeding, asserting a lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Judge Reece moved to dismiss the writ complaint based on Civil Rule 12(B)(6), citing failure to state a claim upon which relief could be granted.

The First District Court of Appeals concluded that Judge Reece’s exercise of jurisdiction over the plaintiffs’ motions for contempt and sanctions was not unauthorized by law, and that Judge Reece did not patently and unambiguously lack jurisdiction to proceed. The court also determined that Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center would have an adequate remedy at law through a direct appeal from any adverse rulings issued by Judge Reece.

The court dismissed Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center’s prohibition and mandamus complaint.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.