Google Opposes Splitting Ohio Lawsuit in Common Carrier Case

It wouldn’t promote judicial economy to bifurcate Ohio’s lawsuit claiming Google is a common carrier, the company said Friday at the Ohio Common Pleas Court in Delaware County (case 21 CV H 06 0274). The court ruled May 24 that Ohio “stated a cognizable claim” that Google could be a common carrier, though it disagreed the company is a public utility (see 2205260057). The court asked Google June 13 to respond to Ohio’s request to bifurcate the case. That would be inefficient, Google said in opposition. “The discovery, briefing, and possible trial of factual disputes necessary to resolve Ohio's claim that Google Search is a common carrier will require examination of the same evidence and law that must be examined to resolve Ohio's requests for declaratory and injunctive relief in the second count of its Complaint.”