COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 1 The Ohio Supreme Court invalidated a veto of a bill protecting businesses from lawsuits, ruling Wednesday the new governor did not have that power.
Gov. Ted Strickland vetoed the measure on his first day in office in January. The high court ruled 7-2 that the measure is now law, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reported.
The decision produced a total of six opinions, including three concurring opinions from the majority and two opinions from the minority.
The state Senate majority leader and speaker of the state House of Representatives challenged the veto. They argued Strickland's predecessor, Gov. Bob Taft, had said he would let the bill become law without his signature and that the 10-day tolling period for a veto had passed by the time Strickland became governor.
The bill protects businesses from lawsuits over lead paint liability and consumer fraud.
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