Big Walnut rejects lawyer that sent monthly $20K bills to another Ohio school district

SUNBURY, Ohio ( WCMH ) — A phone call may have led to Big Walnut’s school board deciding not to enlist a lawyer who previously sent bills for more than $20,000 a month to another central Ohio district.

Board of education members for Big Walnut, based in Sunbury, held votes on multiple law firms that pitched their services to the district in two special meetings. Solo practitioner Omar Tarazi was among them, but in an August vote 3-1, the board decided not to hire him. One member was absent and did not vote. The district did move forward with a selection of other candidates.

“We did select multiple firms, we selected those firms because we thought they would best meet the needs of our district at this time,” Big Walnut Superintendent Ryan McLane told NBC4.

Before Big Walnut’s vote in August, Board Vice President Angela Graziosi flagged an issue with Tarazi to the other members in attendance. She said he acquired her personal cellphone number from Zach Duffey, her sole colleague to vote in favor of hiring the attorney. Tarazi called her, attempting to discuss district business after she told him she was in a hospital’s ICU with her mother, who later died.

“Then he continued on like nothing was going on,” Graziosi said. “Why he would think it would be good to call a personal board member, and then continue on after I’ve told him I’m in the ICU, to ask about more business items of the day as if nothing had happened. So, from my opinion, this person does not have situational awareness as to what’s going on.”

Tarazi also shared his perspective on Big Walnut’s decision with NBC4, noting the district contacted him first requesting he submit a proposal.

“Nine firms submitted proposals and were invited for interviews, and our firm was one of them, but I could only offer limited consultation services because of my many other time commitments,” Tarazi said. “We wish them the best as they move forward working for the families and students of the Big Walnut Local community.”

Tarazi, who previously spent time on Hilliard City Council, was looking to work for a second district after he secured a six-month contract with South-Western City Schools. Before that, he racked up $117,146 in charges, with roughly two thirds covering his legal services, and the other portion going to invoices he sent for the district’s superintendent search .

Around the same time Tarazi was making his bid to Big Walnut in July, the South-Western board also voted 3-1 to place him in the official contract . This guaranteed him a flat rate of $9,000 a month — $54,000 in total — with the option to bill extra up to $300 per hour for “non-routine services.”

Parents in the South-Western district have expressed frustration with the high bills from Tarazi, citing the multiple law firms the district already has on retainer. They have also taken issue with the secrecy surrounding his work, as itemized invoices released by the district to NBC4 are completely redacted.

Tarazi has told NBC4 in the past that he can't comment on the legal services he provides, citing attorney-client privilege. But when he entered talks with Big Walnut Local Schools' Board of Education, he explained some of what he offered during a July 15 meeting.

"One of the advantages I would bring would basically be that I come with a lot of background in board governance, as well as, I've got 15 years of litigation experience, et cetera," Tarazi said. "The main value that lawyers provide is being able to give attorney-client privileged, clear advice ... and can really help guide a board without necessarily being in the public sphere."

Tarazi added that the board members would be able to call him "day or night" and receive independent, confidential guidance on what to do in certain situations. While he referenced South-Western City Schools and individual charter schools for past experience, he couldn't share specific examples, also citing attorney-client privilege to Big Walnut.

"You have board counsel that's directly helping the board through all of the things that need helped at the board level," Tarazi said. "Is everybody in the district rowing in the right direction?"

NBC4 previously reached out to multiple South-Western board members about their decision to contract Tarazi, including board president Chris Boso. They said any questions should be sent to Evan Debo, executive director of communications for the district, who had already said he could not speak on behalf of board members. Board members did not respond to NBC4’s emails explaining Debo’s response.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.