The Columbus Dispatch recently reported on the closing of a nursing home in Ohio. The facility's license was revoked in January by the Ohio Department of Health based on failed inspections and allegations of failing to report sexual abuse. The facility also allegedly...
Ohio Legal Issues Blog
Motorcycle Accidents: Safety Reminders and Road Hazards
Late spring and early summer is a good time for drivers to remind themselves that they share the road with motorcycles. They need to patiently proceed at intersections and be aware of blind spots. Just as important, motorcyclists must renew their dedication to driving...
The top 3 overlooked injuries after a motor vehicle accident
Being involved in a car wreck is a massive jolt to your system. When everything comes to a stop, most people are just happy they can still get out of the vehicle under their own power. You may even be grateful that you have no obvious injuries, like broken bones or...
OVI refusal ends in acquittal
Recently, Rittgers Rittgers & Nakajima attorney Neal Schuett won an OVI trial where the client was acquitted on all charges, including possession of marijuana. The client was pulled over at a rest stop off 71 near Lebanon, Ohio at approximately 4am. The Ohio State...
Golf Cart Injuries: Who is Responsible?
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...
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...
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...

