Golf carts are now frequently being used off the course. We see golf carts used in neighborhoods, airports, malls, beaches, and schools, but manufacturers are making and selling tens of thousands of golf carts per year without essential basic safety features.Limited...
Month: September 2020
When an Accused is Charged With a Crime, is the State Permitted to Introduce Evidence of the Accused’s Prior Bad Act at the Trial to Attempt to Show the Accused is Likely to Commit Bad Acts and is Therefore Guilty of the Crime in Question?
No. Ohio Rule of Evidence 404(B) outlines a limited set of circumstances during which a prosecutor can attempt to introduce prior bad acts. A prosecutor cannot use a accused's prior bad act to show the accused has a tendency to act wrongfully and from that, attempt to...
Staying Healthy Together: Making sense of Miami University’s Pledge, the City of Oxford’s mass gathering ordinance, and COVID regulations
Are gathering of more than 10 people allowed in at Miami University? Maybe. Since the University released its Healthy Together Pledge (see my previous blog post here) in the summer of 2020, the City of Oxford has passed its own ordinance governing gatherings. On...
Can a Defendant Sentenced to Prison Get Jail-Time Credit for House Arrest After Sentencing?
According to the Ohio Supreme Court, the answer is "no." This month, the Ohio Supreme Court issued its decision in State v. Reed, Slip Opinion No. 2020-Ohio-4255. In Reed, the defendant was found guilty of a felony and given five years of community control with a...
If I’m on Social Security benefits and I die, is my family entitled to my benefits?
The answer is yes. Certain family members are eligible to receive the benefits of a deceased Social Security recipient, including: Your widow, if aged 60 or older Your widow who is aged 50 or older and becomes disabled within 7 years of your death Your widow who is...
Do I have to give my phone passcode to the police?
The short answer is no. The issue as to whether a suspect in a criminal case can be ordered to disclose to the government the passcode to his cell phone has previously been discussed in the blog, "Can the Police Force You to Unlock Your Phone?." Last month,...
The Little Miami High School Flag Controversy – Protected Speech or a Legitimate Penalty Flag for Inappropriate Expression?
To answer the question of whether the administrators at Little Miami High School had the right to prohibit speech that supports fallen firefighters and police officers who risked and sacrificed their lives on September 11, 2001, we must first understand the First...
$1 Million, Insurance Policy Limits, Recovered for Woman Injured by Dog Bite
A few lessons can be learned from this case. First, a smart business owner should always have at least a million-dollar insurance policy. Second, the lawyer you choose for a serious injury or death case will greatly impact the amount of money recovered and the time it...
Does Post-Conviction House Arrest Count For Jail Time Credit?
In an update to our previous post on this topic found here: /blog/2018/05/does-post-conviction-house-arrest-count-for-jail-time-credit.shtml; the Ohio Supreme Court recently held that a defendant is not entitled to days he or she spent in postconviction house arrest....