COLUMBUS, OH (WOWO) A legal dispute involving Columbus-based startup OH.io and three former executives has escalated with new court filings and a statement from their attorney disputing allegations made by the company.
Attorneys for plaintiffs J. Seth Metcalf, Jeff Schumann, and Kevin Colón say the claims made by OH.io are false and defamatory, while the company’s legal filing outlines allegations of misconduct, financial mismanagement, and reputational harm on both sides.
Defense attorney disputes allegations
Attorney Rex Elliott of Cooper Elliott issued a statement on behalf of the three former executives, rejecting claims made in court filings.
“This is a desperate attempt to manufacture a false narrative through legal filings in a situation in which opposing counsel knows our clients have been wronged,” Elliott said.
He added that each of the former executives “always acted in the best interest of the company” and characterized opposing claims as “manufactured and defamatory.”
Background of Franklin County lawsuit
The dispute stems from a case filed in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, where Metcalf, Schumann, and Colón allege they were fraudulently induced to join OH.io Ventures Holding, Inc. and later terminated after raising concerns about company direction.
The complaint names OH.io, its leadership, and associated individuals as defendants and includes claims of defamation and reputational harm.
Allegations outlined in complaint
Court documents allege that OH.io representatives made public statements accusing the former executives of “financial improprieties” following their termination.
The filing also claims:
- Plaintiffs were engaged in weekly leadership meetings and approved business spending
- Company expenditures were reviewed and authorized through leadership channels
- Some public statements about financial misuse were false or misleading, according to plaintiffs
- Plaintiffs were terminated after raising concerns about company direction
The complaint also alleges that statements made on LinkedIn and to media outlets damaged the plaintiffs’ professional reputations.
Defamation claims
The lawsuit includes counts of defamation and defamation per se, alleging that statements implied misconduct and financial wrongdoing.
Plaintiffs argue that such statements were published publicly, including on LinkedIn and in media reports, and were understood by third parties in the business community.
They claim the statements caused reputational and financial harm and are seeking damages exceeding $25,000, as well as punitive damages and legal costs.
Defendants’ position in filings
The complaint alleges OH.io and its representatives made statements about “financial improprieties” and operational concerns following the executives’ departure.
It further claims those statements were knowingly false and intended to damage reputations.
The filing also references internal business expenses and leadership decisions as context for the dispute, though those claims have not been adjudicated in court.
Next steps
The case remains pending in Franklin County Common Pleas Court. No rulings have been issued on the merits of the allegations, and the litigation is expected to continue through pretrial proceedings.
