COVID-19 has undoubtedly caused all of us to adjust to a new way of life. As much as it has impacted your personal lives, we also imagine it has impacted your business and professional lives as well. In challenging times, the attorneys at Rittgers & Rittgers want to ensure you that help is available when you need it. While Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has issued a Stay-At-Home Order, legal services were deemed essential and exempt from the Order. While we are limiting physical interaction between clients and staff to the maximum extent possible, our office remains OPEN with the capability to conduct most, if not all, meetings virtually and to enable you to sign many documents electronically.
Statute or Limitations During the Covid-19 Crisis
Statute of limitations govern the amount of a time a person has to file a lawsuit. As an example, most injury cases in Ohio caused by negligent acts are governed by a two-year statute of limitations. Meaning, if you are in a car crash, you have two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit. Medical malpractice claims and intentional torts such as assaults are governed by a one-year statute of limitations. Statute of limitations vary by case, so it is critical you speak with a lawyer quickly if a loved one or you have been injured. Furthermore, the best lawsuits are filed after a long due diligence period to ensure all potential wrongdoers are captured in the lawsuit.
Recently, as a result of the coronavirus, courts have drastically reduced operating hours and the ability for people to file lawsuits. Some courts place filings in a safe bin and wait several days before filing the pleadings. For people and lawyers who wait until the last day to file a lawsuit, statute of limitations can be missed which would forever prevent a person from bringing a lawsuit.
How do you stay safe at home while quarantining?
The world we live in, as COVID-19 spreads around the world and throughout our county, is not the same world we lived in a year or even a month ago. By the end of March no fewer than 30 states had implemented "stay at home orders" to help flatten the curve and hopefully reduce the number of people infected with the coronavirus.
This forced isolation is having the unintended consequences of a rise in acts of domestic abuse - emotional, mental and physical. Victims of domestic violence are, essentially, trapped in their homes with their abusers in order to protect the public from a health crisis. Staying home can be more dangerous than leaving for some people. The abuse may be exacerbated when the abuser feels out of control or there are financial strains on the household. Many people have already been laid off from work and everyone's movements are being controlled as to where they go and who they associate with - these are prime examples of not being in control. Being laid off or even unsure of the future of your job can cause financial issues and tensions.
Coronavirus Doubles Risk of Mass Bankruptcies
According to an article on Yahoo! Finance the risk of mass bankruptcies has doubled due to the spread of the Coronavirus in the United States. NYU Stern School of Business professor emeritus Ed Altman stated that "distress in the corporate debt market has now reached levels that haven't been seen since the 2008 financial crisis." As a result, individuals should be prepared to file bankruptcy if necessary. The sooner financial concerns are addressed, the more quickly the game plan to prevent long-term financial issues can be implemented. We previously touched upon bankruptcy in our blog at https://www.rittgers.com/blog/2020/03/filing-for-bankruptcy-in-ohio-during-coronavirus-pandemic.shtml. For a free consultation regarding bankruptcy and how we can assist, please feel free to call us at 513-932-2115.
Filing For Bankruptcy In Ohio During Coronavirus Pandemic
The COVID-19 virus has caused stress on so many aspects of our daily lives. For many people, theses stresses span from how to stay healthy to how to make ends meet. The financial stress caused by COVID-19 can be seen on small businesses and individuals alike. For many, the newest Stay at Home order by Governor DeWine is yet another sign of hard times to come.
What is Bankruptcy?
How Does an Auto Insurance Company Value My Car Crash?
The simple answer is : In a way that saves them the most money. Like most businesses, insurance companies want to save money - they want to settle claims as quickly and cheaply as possible.
The Law Regarding Injuries; The Value of Injury
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT OHIO UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
Ohio employees who have been terminated from their employment should act immediately for unemployment benefits. During these times with the Coronavirus this is more important than ever before.
Domestic Violence Charges and Marsy's Law
In November 2017, the victim's rights amendment, commonly known as "Marsy's Law," was passed and added to the Ohio Constitution. As part of Marsy's Law, the definition of "victim" was expanded. A "victim" is now defined as "the person against whom the criminal act is committed, or the person directly and proximately harmed by the criminal offense." This means that the parent(s) of a child that was assaulted, or the spouse of a victim that was injured during a robbery are considered "victims" are also considered a "victim" and now have a number of guaranteed constitutional rights. Previously, only the person listed as "victim" in the police report was considered a "victim" in court; and while that victim had some influence on the case (see our previous blog on some limits on victims' influence in domestic violence cases), there was not a constitutional amendment defining victims' rights that must be honored.
Hamilton County Sheriff Announces Potential Charges For Non-Essential Businesses That Do Not Follow Orders
Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Neil announced that non-essential businesses as defined by the State order that goes into effect tonight at midnight will face charges if they are caught remaining open more than once. He indicated that businesses would receive a warning if found to be operating, and if they are caught operating again will face charges. The sheriff also stated that deputies will not stop residents who are driving and will assume that they are traveling in accordance with the order. The penalty for violating this order is a second-degree misdemeanor, which carries up to 90 days in jail and a $750 fine. A copy of the order can be found here: https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/home/public-health-orders/directors-order-to-stay-at-home
Understanding A Domestic Violence Charge
Ohio Revised Code §2919.25 contains Ohio's domestic violence statute. There are three ways to violate this statute: knowingly causing or attempting to cause physical harm to a family or household member; recklessly causing serious physical harm to a family or household member; or, by threat of force, knowingly causing a family or household member to believe that the defendant will cause them imminent physical harm. A family or household member includes a spouse, person living as a spouse, former spouse, parent, foster parent, child, and any relative by blood or marriage that lives or has lived with the defendant.
