Elsebeth Baumgartner may the most annoying woman alive. What started a decade ago as a beef over her daughter getting benched by her high school cross-country coach has spiraled into an all-out assault on the legal system in Ohio. She’s sued literally everybody in her path — judges, prosecutors, former friends — leveling bizarre accusations ranging from child-sex rings to cocaine-smuggling to drunken exploits at Put-In-Bay. Among her many adventures, Baumgartner has been a prisoner, a fugitive leading police on a high-speed car chase, and a patient in a mental hospital. But no one’s been able to shut her up.
Yesterday Baumgartner was convicted of sending intimidating e-mails to a judge who presided over cases in which Baumgartner was being sued for defamation. And thanks to a little-known 1996 law called the “paper terrorism” statute, she now faces 75 years behind bars for her crimes. But even that won’t silence her. She told a Plain Dealer reporter after the sentencing that she intends to take her case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. And trust us, she means it. — Jared Klaus
This article appears in Nov 15-21, 2006.
There is a cure for frivolous litigents such as her.. Make the unsucessful party in any litigation financially responsible for the entire cost of the sucessful parties defence or litigation. If that practice existed the overcrowding of court dockets would also become non-existent
How do you know that her allegations are untrue, none of them have ever been independently investigated. They’re only false because the officials saya they are. She called the Noe case, the Taft ethics violations and more before they were finally exposed. She challenged the visiting judge system and Judge Nancy Russo agreed, taking it to the Supreme Court which also agreed with Baumgartner. Richard Markus is doublebilling the taxpayers. The invoices prove it. Baumgartner’s allegations have a factual base, they need to make her go away and shut up, lest they all take a tumble. Part of the problem is the male dominated hierarchy of Markus/Baxter/Mulligan/Kasaris and the rest are pissed because a woman, a highly educated woman, has the goods on the them and has them in her sights. Instead of demeaning her, you should conduct your own independent investigation. Ed Flask stole over $1 million from the taxpayers but Markus said he didn’t have to pay it back because there were no victims. Noe has to pay $13 million back to the taxpayers—that judge ruled that the taxpayers are victims. ONe of the first things that has to happen in northern Ohio is to get rid of the retired visiting judge system and in particular, Richard Markus. He’s cost the taxpayers a bundle by pursing frivolous and unconstitutional charges against Baumgartner at the cost of the taxpayer, just because she deflated his ego. Markus is so full of himself he forgot all about the law.
Jared Klaus may be the most annoying reporter alive. He actually took time, unlike most reporters, to interview Elsebeth and then I guess he was unable to grasp the seriousness and depth of what this woman has exposed — Pay to Play that includes the Ohio Judiciary. Cases are fixed by special prosecutor appointments and visiting judges and financially lucrative state contracts are steered to the participants as the reward. Insurance companies and businesses are protected. Public officials and attorneys that have been exposed receive light sentences. In return, the public officials can expect huge campaign donations and support at election time. The system is closed and justice is denied to ordinary citizens who have been wronged by a state or government agent. The entire operation is funded by Ohio taxpayer money — public money.
Now it did take the Blade more than a year and numerous reporters to expose Tom Noe’s (a non-lawyer) “small” role in the Pay to Play corruption in the BWC … so I think Jared was not the right reporter and obviously did not have enough manpower to investigate this case. Besides, Elsebeth reported Ohio Pay to Play concerning illegal contract steering (including biotechnology contracts) to the United States Department of Justice in the summer of 2001.
My understanding is that the Baumgartners’ identified $1.4 million in illegal spending in the Benton-Carroll-Salem School District while Joe Baumgartner was a Board member. The Baumgartners requested an audit, but one was never done of the years in play. Petro eventually did an audit which did not include the years identified. The harassment of their daughter and the attacks on Elsebeth’s professional licenses all came during and after their complaints.
The accusations of child-sex rings and cocaine smuggling were made based on testimony of eyewitnesses (ordinary citizens) that had come forward to Elsebeth during this time while she was still an attorney. She simply tried to do her job as a good defense attorney. The problem for Elsebeth was the evidence indicated criminal activity of local and State public officials. Visiting judges and special prosecutors were brought in to contain the situation.
Erie Voices was targeted because the website was publishing Elsebeth’s factual story with evidence and documentation that proved what she had been saying all along. The power elite could not have that continue so they fabricated a case so voluminous, twisted, and ludicrous that the average person would have a tough time deciphering the maze.
As an Ohio taxpayer, I am wondering if the new administration of State government will get to the bottom of this activity and put a stop to it and make it right? As a concerned citizen of Ohio, I am wondering if there are any reporters out there besides June Maxam, North Country Gazette, New York, that have what it takes to report the truth of this story. It will be the biggest story of your career and hopefully affect a systemic correction that is long overdue in Ohio.
Elsebeth is a good decent woman who has tried to do the right thing. She has been smeared by a biased local media that it seems has no intention of getting to the real truth which is to expose the egregious and unforgivable waste of millions and perhaps billions of Ohio taxpayers’ money that has been spent to line the pockets of Ohio public officials and visiting judges over many years.
I would venture to guess that millions of Ohio taxpayers’ money has been spent to incarcerate, harass, and destroy this one woman and her family who have attempted to expose the true nature of the Pay to Play operations of the Ohio State government and the Ohio Judiciary. The number of other legitimate cases that have been shut down by this modus operandi is unknown.
I grew up spending my weekends and summers the Oak Harbor, Ohio area, which is where Dr Baumgartner is from. Has it ever occurred to any of those in the media to delve into the person who instigated prosecuting Baumgartner (and her husband Joe who did nothing, and former Baumgartner friend Bryan DuBois and Bryan’s wife Mandy).
If you examine a few of Kasaris’s cases from start to finish you’ll find they have an awful lot in common. Kasaris who studied theater in undergraduate school, has done a great deal to get everyone’s attention. He’s had a case on the TV series in the jury room. He sets up a lot of deals with the real criminals in his cases so they are at liberty to go out and commit more crimes. Kasaris’s stock in trade is bringing down people with advanced degrees, and a lot of letters behind their names. Kasaris likes attention and he likes power.
The most interesting comment Mr Kasaris has made about Dr Baumgartner is the Joseph McCarthy remark. Joseph McCarthy worked to suppress the voices of anyone who seemed to be in disagreement with those in power. That, Mr Kasaris, is your area of expertise.
Among the current cases Kasaris is prosecuting that of Dr Bruce Feldman who is widely regarded as a humanitarian. People who have lived with chronic pain will tell you that pain medications based on clinical research do not make them high or irresponsible citizens. It would seem that all Kasaris sees in the case of Bruce Feldman is someone else he can bring suffering upon while getting more media attention.
What Dan Kasaris misses in each of these situations is the starring role he seems to be after, and he won’t stop putting non violent idealists who still believe in the system away for decades with investigation that relies entirely on iconography until he’s received his leading role. With the strength of Elsebeth Baumgartner, Dan Kasaris may finally have met his match. With Judge Markus and some of the other better known characters in his cases
reaching retirement age and eventually going on to face whatever reward they go on to, eventually Elsebeth will unquestionably shine the light on Dan Kasaris.
Kasaris should be the shady DA in a TV series not a real life Assistant Prosecutor engaged in the social engineering of criminal cases that Kasaris develops. Many of the facts in the high profile cases he’s prosecuted – when held up to the tests of time and real investigation below the surface – simply don’t turn out to be as Mr Kasaris has represented them. But this isn’t about justice for Mr Kasaris, it’s about feeding his ego and his transparent desire to spurn those who failed to recognize that he should have been the next Michael J. Fox.
Elsebeth Baumgartner is my personal hero. Myself the great-grand-daughter of one of the Toledo area’s Progressive Party politicians, Elsebeth reminds me of those crusaders for decency. In a time when the lobbyists and politicians such as Tom Noe are going off to prison, it’s sad that the whistleblowers are being sent away too. Isn’t it about time someone investigates the middlemen like Kasaris?
Okay, “Mary.” Look on the bright side. You already have your Christmas lights up…from two years ago.
There is real corruption going on. At the same time, Elsebeth Baumgartner is a nut case, and a proven liar. Yes, both are possible. She makes up allegations against anyone who figures her out. Just go ask some of her former supporters who learned all about her.
Let’s not be sidetracked by this goof ball, and instead, look at the very corrupt judiciary with an independent eye. They are the problem. Elsebeth Baugartner is just the destraction from that issue.
What a waist of tax payers money in Ohio…..
Elsebeth Baumgartner did not deserve to be convicted for the truth. I hope Chief Justice Thomas Moyer is ready for the attention that Ohio is going to get……
Elsbeth…… You’ve done a great job exposing the corruption.l’ll see you soon at your book signing….
Elsebeth Baumgartner being convicted is a sad day for America. The Ohio Justice system has been corrupt for a very long time. One can only hope that Elsebeth Baumgartner is totally vindicated of these fabricated charges and that she keeps fighting to no end.
I personlly looked forward to viewing the website that no longer exsists- ERIE VOICES… Bryan Dubois and Elsbeth Baumgartners investigations made me see the Ohio’s Justice for what it was worth. I personally found it quite amusing to hear about what judge, prosecutor or lawyer was up to next (meaning corrupted activity). Sandusky Ohio, is in bad shape with Kevin Baxter as a prosecutor. I will never forget how Elsebeth and Bryan exposed Kevin Baxter, Prosecutor in Sandusky Ohio. This is awful to hear that a Prosecutor was forcing a young woman to engage to have sexual relations with threat of charging her to murder for her false testimony that sent innocent victims to prison. Not only was he screwing her and enjoying cocaine with her she was also the key eyewitness to the prosecution and Elsebeth states that without her testimony there would never have been a conviction. Come on CNN where are you the people in Ohio are crying out. Nancy Grace send your crew this is going to make National news….
My prayers are with the Baumgartner family… God Bless
Ah…. smart lady – sounds like she is only asking that we remember, the August United States Supreme Court once stated “SILENCE WITH KNOWLEDGE IS THE GREATEST LIE”!
Only nine comments? Either this blog is not popular or the local population would have been comfortable with the regime in Germany during the thirties and forties.
“Paper Terrorism” ? That sounds like a law that give unfettered authority to the government in a move to circumvent the protections of the US Constitution. I would like to see the text of such a law; it would probably remind me of some of the laws passed in Germany during the Hitler era.
We need another constitional convention to remove the immunity that these government people are able to hide behind.
This is outrageous to say the least.
Dieter Schmied
Cincinnati
Dieter,
Sadly I’m not even a local so you can reduce the number of people paying any attention in that area to 8.
I’d give anything to have a sit down with Elisabeth over coffee. As I have seen it lately, the Ohio justice system is anything but just. I have seen those “supposed” to protect and serve let down those who have faith in the system. The truth does not prevail when it falls upon deaf ears!
Good for Elisabeth – doing what most are unable to do by stirring things up a bit! A very tough cookie in my book!
Sorry for the typo on the spelling of Elsebeth. After I re-read it, I realized the mistake. :o)
Once again, Elsebeth rocks and does for us “plain folk” what most don’t have the cajones to do!
Okay, somehow my posting disappeared.
I have noticed that the justice system is anything but just. Simply because someone stands up against the system, is not a reason to classify her/him as a wackado. Had I had the legal know-how and monies, I too would have filed motion after motion for the wrong doings in my Ohio county. Things are NOT fair across the board for all! And no, I am not nor have ever been a criminal, just a person who has witnessed a lot of wrong doing within the judicial system. Granted, sometimes ya can catch more flies with honey rather than vinegar – but for a passionate cause to be seen as the vinegar, is outrageous. I believe it was her way of being heard and any attention, good or bad, still brings her issues to the fore front. And look – some of the injustices she was fighting against, indeed happened. I would love nothing more than to have a sit down over coffee with her, and end it with a congradulatory handshake! (Sry for the typos, I live and breathe by spell check!) :o)
This story is frightening. I wouldn’t have thought it possible five years ago, but I know better now.
I am beginning to wonder what the depth of corruption in our country is…….
We are attempting to fight elder abuse in Illinois….. It’s o.k, if done by attorneys and bankers. It is a tolerated way of life, facilitated by bureaucracies.
I only just discovered this story. Is she actually in prison?
Dear Helen:
My mother is not presently in prison though she just served 120 days in the Ottawa County Jail for criticizing a judge by calling him among other things dishonest.
She has a pending federal Petition for Habeas Corpus to review the Ottawa contempt conviction in the US District Court in Toledo and her other convictions are stayed pending appeal. We pray that reason and the Constitution will prevail in the higher courts.
My mother welcomes correspondence at else512@aim.com but she is prohibited from commenting publicly about her case and public officials by her bond conditions
imposed by Judge Saffold in Cuyahoga County.
Baumgartner’s comments on Prosecutor Dan Kasaris. The accusations in several reports regarding Kasaris’ “misconduct” are absolutely ridiculous. Let us review for a minute exact words from Baumgartner. “He illegally held me in the hole” For starters it is not illegal to put someone in the hole for intimidation. Let us also review a paragraph from a document filed by Baumgartner, “What more can this Christian woman expect from Judge Markus? Perhaps he intends to tie her up and torture her to death, all to be filmed of course for the viewing pleasure of his misogynistic master Tom Moyer. After all there isn’t much more of the mob can do to silence this lady about racketeering in the courts.” This is completely ludicrous. Tie her up and torture her. This was a document filed with the court. Baumgartner also has issues with the grand jury indictment apparently. She should know how the grand jury system works. If the grand jury finds enough evidence to indict, then the person will be indicted. In this case the grand jury clearly found enough evidence to do so. Allegations also made by Baumgartner state that Kasaris took bribes from Judge Markus. Could you please show evidence of these “contributions” no of course not. Baumgartner”s blind accusations are not supported by any fact. Kasaris has an excellent record as a distinguished trial attorney and as a prosecutor. He has put away some of the most hardened criminals and genuinely in concerned for the well being of the public. So perhaps Baumgartner should stop throwing s*** at the wall just to see what sticks.
the corruption in this country is totaly out of control, we the people are absolutly prisoners of this system. anyone who speaks out for the injustist thats been thrusted on us get’s hammered. unless you bribe(political contrabutions) the politicians you don’t have a leg to stand on, and they all will go to great lenghts to protect one another. i absolutly feel sorry for her. IT’S TIME FOR COMPLETE CHANGE; put an end to political contributions and it will end political corruption; dear God protect this woman from these animals.
I must admit I don’t know a lot about this case but from the outside it looks like she tried to expose the good old boys club.The men(boys) didn’t take to kindly to being exposed and now she sits in prison.What a country !!!
I did that same in Putnam County, Ottawa, ohio
I did this in Putnam County, Ottawa, Ohio