Ohio Rev. Code § 111.24

November 6, 1996 House Bill 644 - 121st General Assembly (A) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Revised Code, if a person presents a document to the secretary of state for filing or recording, the secretary of state may refuse to accept the document for filing or recording if the document is not required or authorized to be filed or recorded with the secretary of state or the secretary of state has reasonable cause to believe the document is materially false or fraudulent. This division does not create a duty upon the secretary of state to inspect, evaluate, or investigate a document that is presented for filing or recording. (B) If the secretary of state, pursuant to division (A) of this section, refuses to accept a document for filing or recording, the person who presented the document to the secretary of state may commence an action in or apply for an order from the court of claims to require the secretary of state to accept the document for filing or recording. If the court determines that the document is appropriate for filing or recording, it shall order the secretary of state to accept the document for that purpose. (C) If the secretary of state, acting under this section in a manner that does not subject the secretary of state to personal liability under section 9.86 of the Revised Code, improperly refuses to accept a document for filing or recording, the secretary of state shall not be personally liable on account of the improper refusal and the sureties that issued the bond shall not have a right of subrogation against the secretary of state on account of a claim made on the secretary of state's bond as a result of the improper refusal.