Rittgers Rittgers & NakajimaRittgers Rittgers & Nakajima2026-07-14T21:43:26Zhttps://www.rittgers.com/feed/atom/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/sites/1104373/2023/01/cropped-favicon-32x32.jpgby Jonathan Specht<![CDATA[Steps to Take If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect in Ohio]]>https://www.rittgers.com/?p=832442026-07-13T15:47:03Z2026-07-13T15:47:03ZStep One: Request the Medical Records Now
Ask for the complete set of medical records through a medical records request while your loved one is still living. Once a resident passes away, getting records becomes a slow and expensive process; the family usually has to open an estate and appoint a representative before the facility will release anything, and the clock is already running. Requesting now is faster and cheaper, and the written request itself creates a timestamp showing exactly when the facility was put on notice. Keep a copy of the request.
Step Two: Document Everything and Take Photographs
Take photos today, and again over the next several days as bruising changes color or a wound changes stage. Capture the room, the call light, the bed rails, the conditions your loved one is living in. Write down what you saw, when you saw it, and the names of the staff you spoke with. If your loved one can communicate, write their words down as close to verbatim as you can get them. A note written the same day carries far more weight than a memory reconstructed six months later.
Step Three: Report It
You do not need proof. A reasonable concern is enough, and reporting to more than one agency is protective, not redundant.
Ohio Department of Health Complaint Hotline: 1-800-342-0553. ODH has jurisdiction over licensed nursing homes and can open an unannounced investigation./li>
Ohio Long-Term Care Ombudsman: 1-800-282-1206. The Ombudsman advocates directly for the resident and can work an issue even while an ODH complaint is pending.
Step Four: Preserve the Evidence and Call a Lawyer
Nursing home records do not last by nature. Staffing schedules, incident reports, hallway video, and care-plan revisions can all be overwritten or "misplaced" as time passes. A lawyer can send a spoliation letter putting the facility on formal legal notice to preserve personnel files, incident reports, video, and staffing records before they disappear.
Move quickly. In Ohio, nursing home neglect is frequently treated as a medical claim, which carries a one-year statute of limitations, one of the shortest deadlines in Ohio law. Waiting can end the case before anyone has looked at it. And if the facility's insurer or risk manager reaches out to you first, you are not required to give a recorded statement or sign anything. Talk to a lawyer before you talk to them. You do not have to be certain, and you do not have to figure it out alone.
]]>On Behalf of Rittgers Rittgers & Nakajima<![CDATA[Can I lose my professional license for an OVI in Ohio?]]>https://www.rittgers.com/?p=831562026-07-01T21:34:01Z2026-07-01T21:34:01ZOVI arrest, charge, or conviction does not automatically result in the loss of a professional license. However, depending on the profession and the circumstances surrounding the incident, it may trigger mandatory reporting obligations, a licensing board investigation, disciplinary proceedings, or other professional consequences.
When Should I Report an OVI to My Ohio Professional Licensing Board?
Ohio nurses are required to self-report certain criminal dispositions to the Ohio Board of Nursing. Specifically, a nurse must report an OVI conviction (including a conviction for Physical Control of a Vehicle While Under the Influence) within 30 days after a conviction, finding of guilt, or a determination of eligibility for a pretrial diversion program or intervention in lieu of conviction. The rule does not expressly require a nurse to report simply because an OVI charge has been filed. See Ohio Administrative Code 4723-7-08(A)(4) and (B).
Do I Have A Similar Duty to Self-Report to the Medical Board If I am a Doctor?
Yes. Ohio physicians are also subject to mandatory self-reporting requirements imposed by the State Medical Board of Ohio. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 4731.224, physicians must report criminal charges involving felonies, misdemeanors committed during the course of medical practice, offenses of violence, sexually-oriented offenses, and certain other specified offenses within 30 days after being charged.
In addition, Ohio-licensed physicians must report any “conduct involving the use of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs” within 30 days after being charged. Because the statute uses the broad phrase “use of a motor vehicle,” this reporting requirement includes a Physical Control offense as well.
How About Ohio Teachers?
Teachers are subject to different requirements. Although educators must truthfully disclose criminal and OVI history when required during the licensure or renewal process, Ohio law generally does not impose a comparable self-reporting deadline requiring teachers to notify the State Board of Education upon being charged with or convicted of an OVI or crime. See Ohio Revised Code Section 3319.313 and Ohio Administrative Code 3301-73-21.
Instead, Ohio Revised Code Section 3319.313 requires school superintendents, governing authorities, and certain other officials to report specified criminal convictions, diversion dispositions, and professional misconduct involving licensed educators to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.
What Information Can My Licensing Board Consider During the Disciplinary Process?
Ohio licensing boards often consider far more than the criminal charge itself. Depending upon the profession, the board may evaluate certain factors, including but not limited to the following:
The facts and circumstances surrounding the arrest
Whether bodily injury, physical injury, financial harm, or other damages occurred
The professional’s prior disciplinary or criminal history, if any
The professional’s honesty, candor, and cooperation during the investigation and disciplinary process
Any treatment, counseling, or rehabilitation efforts
Whether the conduct undermines public confidence in the profession
The sincerity of the professional’s remorse
Any mitigating circumstances or other unique personal factors that contributed to the incident
These considerations help the licensing board determine whether the incident represents an isolated lapse in judgment or raises broader concerns regarding public safety and professional fitness.
What Disciplinary Actions Are Possible?
Though not every OVI or criminal offense results in professional discipline, disciplinary action may include:
A warning or public reprimand
Required monitoring, treatment, or substance abuse counseling
Probation or practice restrictions
A temporary suspension of the professional license
Permanent revocation of the license in the most serious cases.
Of course, every case is different. And because each Ohio licensing board operates under its own statutes and administrative rules, the same OVI incident may result in different consequences for different licensed professionals.
How Can I Protect My Professional License After an OVI Charge?
When a professional career depends upon maintaining a license, missed reporting deadlines or procedural mistakes can sometimes create consequences that are just as—if not more—serious than the underlying OVI offense itself. This is why prompt attention to reporting obligations, careful compliance with board rules, and maintaining complete copies of court and licensing documents can substantially improve a professional’s position during any disciplinary review.
The experienced attorneys at [nap_names id="FIRM-NAME-1"] can help ensure compliance with applicable reporting requirements, while protecting both, the criminal case and the professional license.
If you are a licensed Ohio professional and have been charged with an OVI or criminal offense, the experienced criminal defense attorneys at [nap_names id="FIRM-NAME-1"] are available to provide a free consultation.
Do not hesitate to contact us to discuss both, the criminal and professional licensing implications of your case]]>On Behalf of Rittgers Rittgers & Nakajima<![CDATA[Can doctors be held liable when AI makes a mistake? ]]>https://www.rittgers.com/?p=831672026-06-30T19:35:10Z2026-06-30T19:35:10ZArtificial intelligence changes modern medicine, yet even advanced software systems make bad mistakes. When a computer misreads a scan or suggests a wrong treatment, patients suffer serious harm. This technical shift leaves many Ohio residents wondering who faces the legal blame for these automated errors.
Human Responsibility in a Tech-Driven Practice
Ohio law holds doctors to a strict standard of care. Under Ohio law, physicians must use independent clinical judgment. They must apply this skill during every single patient visit. If a doctor blindly follows a flawed AI suggestion without checking the facts, that physician faces liability. The law treats AI as a helpful tool but it does not replace human skill. Ohio courts view these errors as malpractice because the professional failed to give acceptable care. A doctor cannot blame a machine for poor choices.
Financial Judgments and Professional Sanctions
When an Ohio court finds a doctor liable for an AI mistake, the practitioner faces major penalties. Patients who suffer harm can recover economic damages and these funds pay for medical bills and income losses. Victims can also get money for pain and suffering, though Ohio law caps these non-economic payouts. Beyond financial costs, a malpractice verdict ruins a doctor’s career. The State Medical Board of Ohio reviews these actions and they can take away the provider’s medical license.
Protecting Crucial Proof in the Digital Arena
Malpractice cases involving computers introduce difficult technical hurdles for malpractice victims. Hospitals often delete digital records, software logs and algorithm data very quickly.A skilled advocate knows how to send instant letters to save this vital electronic evidence and also prove that the doctor broke Ohio care rules. Having a skilled lawyer ensures that negligent parties answer for their choices. They fight for the settlement and justice that you deserve.
]]>by Justin Sanders<![CDATA[Supreme Court’s Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II Decision Makes America’s Highways Safer]]>https://www.rittgers.com/?p=831892026-06-30T15:26:34Z2026-06-30T15:26:34ZOn May 14, 2026, the United States Supreme Court issued one of the most significant trucking safety decisions in years. In Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC, the Court unanimously ruled that freight brokers cannot use federal law as a shield against lawsuits alleging they negligently selected an unsafe trucking company to haul freight.For victims of catastrophic truck crashes, this decision represents an important step toward safer highways. It reinforces a simple but powerful principle: companies that profit from arranging transportation should use reasonable care when deciding which trucking companies they trust with thousands of pounds of freight traveling alongside the rest of us on America's roads.
What Is a Freight Broker?
Many people assume that the company transporting freight owns the truck, employs the driver, and deals directly with the customer. In reality, that often is not how the trucking industry works.Instead, manufacturers and retailers frequently hire freight brokers. A broker acts as the middleman between a shipper and a trucking company. The broker finds a carrier willing to move the load and is paid for arranging the shipment.A broker that repeatedly hires unsafe carriers increases the likelihood that dangerous trucks and poorly managed trucking companies will continue operating on public highways.
The Facts Behind the Case
The case arose after Shawn Montgomery suffered devastating injuries when a commercial truck struck his tractor-trailer while it was stopped on the shoulder of an Illinois highway. The collision resulted in the amputation of one of Mr. Montgomery's legs and other permanent injuries.Mr. Montgomery alleged that the freight broker, C.H. Robinson, should never have hired the trucking company involved because federal safety records allegedly showed serious deficiencies, including concerns involving driver qualifications, hours-of-service compliance, vehicle inspection and maintenance, and crash history.C.H. Robinson argued that federal law prevented any negligent hiring claim from being brought at all.
Understanding the Federal Preemption Issue
One of the more confusing issues in trucking litigation is something lawyers call federal preemption. Federal preemption is derived from the general principle that federal law overrules the laws of individual states.Congress passed a law known as the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (FAAAA) to prevent states from imposing different economic regulations on the trucking industry. The goal was to create a more uniform national freight market by limiting state laws that regulate trucking prices, routes, and services.Some freight brokers argued that this law also prevented injured people from bringing ordinary negligence lawsuits against them after truck crashes. In other words, they claimed that because they provide transportation services, they could not be sued under state negligence law even if they carelessly selected an unsafe trucking company.The Supreme Court rejected that argument.
Why the Supreme Court Said These Lawsuits Can Continue
The Court focused on an important part of the FAAAA called the “safety exception.”Congress specifically stated that the law does not limit "the safety regulatory authority of a State with respect to motor vehicles." The Supreme Court explained that state negligence law has always been one of the ways states promote public safety. According to the Court, requiring a freight broker to use reasonable care when selecting a trucking company plainly concerns motor vehicle safety because the decision determines which trucks will be operating on public highways. Therefore, negligent hiring claims fall within the statute's safety exception and are not preempted by federal law.The Court emphasized that Congress intended to deregulate the economics of trucking—not eliminate traditional state authority to protect public safety.
Why This Decision Will Improve Highway Safety
Before Montgomery, some brokers boasted that they had little legal exposure for choosing carriers with poor safety records. If those arguments had prevailed nationwide, brokers would have had fewer incentives to carefully evaluate the companies hauling freight on America's highways. Now, brokers know that reasonable care matters.A prudent freight broker should expect to devote greater attention to questions such as:
Does the carrier have serious safety violations?
Does the carrier have a history of crashes?
Have federal regulators identified significant safety deficiencies?
Has the carrier demonstrated a pattern of poor compliance with federal safety regulations?
Should additional investigation be performed before entrusting this carrier with another shipment?
The Supreme Court did not hold that brokers automatically become liable whenever a truck crash occurs. Instead, the Court simply held that brokers, like everyone else, may be held responsible if they fail to exercise reasonable care and that failure contributes to someone being seriously injured.
Although the Court's decision was unanimous, Justice Kavanaugh wrote separately to explain why allowing these lawsuits is consistent with Congress's goal of improving highway safety.He observed that federal law imposes relatively few safety-related obligations directly on freight brokers regarding the selection of motor carriers. If state negligence claims were also eliminated, brokers would effectively operate in what he described as a safety "black hole" with little meaningful accountability for unsafe hiring decisions.He also emphasized an important point for the industry: brokers that act reasonably and select reputable carriers should be able to defend these cases successfully. The decision does not impose automatic liability; it requires reasonable care.
What This Means for Injury Victims Going Forward
Trucking cases often involve multiple companies, each playing a different role in getting freight from one place to another.The Supreme Court's decision confirms that freight brokers are not automatically immune from responsibility simply because they did not own the truck or directly employ the driver.When evidence shows that a broker negligently selected an unsafe motor carrier, injured victims may now pursue those claims under state negligence law.The truck safety lawyers here at [nap_names id="FIRM-NAME-1"] celebrate the Court’s decision. Every company involved in commercial transportation—including freight brokers—should take reasonable steps to ensure that the carriers they choose can operate safely. The Montgomery decision reinforces that principle and should encourage better decision-making throughout the trucking industry, making our highways safer for everyone.
]]>by Gus Lazares<![CDATA[What if you are hit by an autonomous commercial vehicle?]]>https://www.rittgers.com/?p=831702026-06-23T22:24:12Z2026-06-23T22:24:12Zare here. According to the Wall Street Journal, there are at least nine autonomous-truck companies operating in the United States currently, including major players like PepsiCo.
While Pepsi's Senior VP of Supply Chain asserts that driverless trucks are "more reliable than human drivers," the safety risks of this technology are immense. Look no further than the Tesla Model 3 that violently crashed into a house and killed a woman while in autonomous mode. A Tesla Model 3 weighs between 3,000 and 4,000 pounds. In fact, additional reporting has revealed that the steady increase in the average weight of even non-commercial vehicles explains why the U.S. has experienced a 75% increase in traffic fatalities over the last 10 years, unlike the rest of the world. A tractor-trailer is many times more dangerous because in the U.S. it weighs, on average, roughly 35,000 pounds—-the risk to the public is obvious.
Who is Held Liable for a Driverless Truck Accident?
Currently there are "no federal laws regulating autonomous vehicles" and thus they are governed solely by state regulations. As truck accident lawyers, we cannot stress enough how important it is that these interstate trucking companies be regulated to ensure the safety of the public.
Who is to blame for a crash if there is no driver? Well, just like in any commercial vehicle case, it will be the trucking company that will ultimately be responsible. (It could also be the broker that connected the shipper with the trucking company, but that is a blog for another day.) The company is responsible for the vehicle's maintenance, its inspections, and, in today's world, its software and algorithms.
Uncovering Critical Evidence After a Crash
While you might be tempted to think that fewer drivers means less evidence if you are hit by an autonomous truck, remember that these vehicles now have "multiple cameras mounted at the front and back, as well as radar and lidar equipment that help determine what’s on the road," as the WSJ reports. These are vital sources of information about how the crash occurred, and often only with an experienced truck accident lawyer will you ever have a chance of retrieving these videos before they are destroyed.
Many of these trucks, while operating autonomously, often have a human "safety driver" present in the vehicle that is watching and overseeing the new technology. These individuals would be key witnesses in any collision—-again, often an attorney will be needed to sleuth out whether such a person was present.
The Importance of Specialized Expert Witnesses
Finally, the technological component of these autonomous commercial vehicles will require specialized experts to immediately examine the vehicle and download any relevant data. An experienced attorney is your gateway to hiring such an expert to build your case if you are injured in a crash with an autonomous vehicle.
There is no stopping the autonomous vehicle revolution, but there should also be no stopping your right to recover for all harms and losses that you incur due to a collision with one of these vehicles. If you have been a victim of an autonomous commercial vehicle crash, contact [nap_names id="FIRM-NAME-1"] for a free case evaluation.]]>by Ryan Nelson<![CDATA[How Ohio’s Marijuana Laws Can Still Get Sober Drivers Arrested For OVI]]>https://www.rittgers.com/?p=831472026-06-09T15:15:19Z2026-06-09T15:15:19Zoperating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs of abuse, and marijuana is defined as a drug of abuse. While the substance is legal to possess and use in Ohio, and while the FDA and DEA have been directed to reschedule it, cannabis will continue to be a drug of abuse until otherwise reclassified by the legislature. If you are noticeably impaired by your ingestion of it, then you should not be driving and, if you do, you are in violation of 4511.19.
Why Is an Ohio OVI Conviction So Devastating?
Ohio’s OVI laws are fairly draconian- just being charged often creates automatic license suspensions, and convictions result in mandatory jail time, escalating penalties and mandatory fines and fees, often without any relationship to the actual danger one posed while committing the crime. The solution is often obvious: if you’ve consumed marijuana and feel buzzed, stoned, or even just “off”, there are scores of apps, friends, and relatives that you can use to obtain a ride.
The financial, emotional and psychological cost of a taxi, Uber or Lyft and the inconvenience of returning to pick up your car the next day is far less the stress and emotional toll of being charged with and defending an OVI, or, in the event of an accident with injuries, a potential felony offense that involves mandatory prison time in the Ohio Department of Corrections. If you ask people who have gone through the ordeal, almost to a person they will tell you that the worst consequence is the license suspension, which essentially is akin to being grounded by the government for at least a year on a first offense.
How a Lingering Odor Triggers an Unwarranted Investigation
One would think that this would make the calculus easy- “I feel fine, I haven’t used THC in the last 24 hours /couple of days, so I’m good to go”. Not so fast. To begin with, you can still be stopped, investigated, arrested and successfully prosecuted for an OVI even if you haven’t ingested THC recently and are sober. Typically this happens when an officer has another reason to stop you (speeding, or other minor traffic infraction) and then sees, hears or smells something that raises their suspicions when it comes to whether you have recently used marijuana or may be impaired. A large number of these investigations begin with the officer observing a “strong odor of marijuana”. It is not uncommon for officers to fail to distinguish between unburnt and burned marijuana, so any cannabis odor may raise suspicion.
The best way to prevent this is to never smoke in your car, and to travel with marijuana in an odor-proof bags. The lingering odor of marijuana is something that users may become noseblind to, but non-users and law enforcement can smell it like a dead skunk on the highway. Once they have made a determination to proceed with an investigation as to your fitness drive, you are wholly dependent upon their competency with regard to their assessment. In my practice, I frequently see people who appear perfectly sober arrested on suspicion of OVI.
Can You Fail a Urine Test Days After Using Cannabis?
Once arrested, an officer will ask for a chemical test, and in the case of suspicion of marijuana that test is almost always a urine test. Ohio Revised Code section 4511.19 (A)(1)(j)(viii)(I) provides that a person is under the influence of cannabis when that person has a concentration of marihuana metabolite in the person's urine of at least fifteen nanograms of marihuana metabolite per milliliter of the person's urine or, under (A)(1)(j)(vii)(I) that person has a concentration of marihuana in the person's urine of at least ten nanograms of marihuana per milliliter of the person's urine.
However, because the test used do not test for the active component in THC but merely tests for the presence of metabolites in your urine, there is no relationship between the presence of that in your urine and actual impairment- meaning that you can be sober, not have used THC for days and still be violating the law when it comes to operating a vehicle. If this sounds unfair and like it doesn’t make any sense, that’s because it is unfair and doesn’t make any sense.
The law used to be justified under the logic that marijuana is an illegal substance, and you shouldn’t any THC in your urine at any time- but now that we’ve collectively decided that adults have the discretion to choose to consume it creates a situation where sober, non-dangerous responsible adults can be subject to these mandatory fines and penalties.
How to Protect Yourself During an Ohio Traffic Stop
So what should you do? Well, for starters, as we stated before- don’t drive while high. However, if you’re stopped by the police, be polite and cooperative, but exercise your Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination and don’t provide them with information that you don’t have to- and that’s anything beyond your name, license and insurance information. Keep relatively still in your car, do not make sudden or furtive movements that may give them reason to search its cabin, and don’t make any statements as to consumption of any alcohol or drugs of abuse, or anything for that matter. The traditional battery of standardized field sobriety tests were not designed to detect marijuana usage but you still shouldn’t take them, and whatever you do do not provide them with a urine sample unless you’re a non-user. Keep all vape pens, loose marijuana, and paraphernalia used to consume it out of reach and ideally in the trunk in smell proof bags.
These simple steps can help you avoid headaches that cost you thousands of dollars, and can go a long way towards preventing you from ever having to contact an attorney to either help put the pieces back together or pick them up.]]>On Behalf of Rittgers Rittgers & Nakajima<![CDATA[Should you seek medical care after a minor car crash in Kentucky?]]>https://www.rittgers.com/?p=831352026-06-04T14:41:20Z2026-06-03T21:52:02Zcar accidents in Kentucky, even minor crashes deserve careful consideration regarding your health.
Why do some injuries and conditions take time to manifest?
Your body responds to trauma in complex ways. After a car crash, adrenaline may flood your system. This natural response can mask pain and injuries for hours or even days. What feels like a minor bump today could become a significant injury tomorrow.
Soft tissue injuries, whiplash and concussions are notorious for delayed symptoms. You might not feel neck pain or headaches until well after the accident occurred. By that time, documenting the connection between your symptoms and the crash becomes more challenging. Insurance companies often question injuries that were not immediately evaluated by medical professionals.
What type of medical care should you consider?
You have several options for medical evaluation after a minor crash. If you experience any pain, dizziness, confusion or visible injuries, you might want to consider visiting the emergency room. You may also visit your primary care physician, though you might need to wait for an appointment. Whatever route you choose, the key is getting evaluated by a qualified professional relatively soon after the incident.
How does medical care help you protect your claim?
Seeking prompt medical attention serves two important purposes. First and most importantly, it protects your health. A doctor can identify injuries you might not notice on your own. Early treatment often leads to better outcomes and faster recovery times.
Second, medical records create a documented timeline. If you later need to file an insurance claim or pursue compensation, having immediate medical documentation strengthens your position. Gaps in treatment or delayed medical visits can raise questions about the severity of your injuries or whether the accident caused them.
Keep in mind that your auto insurance policy should contain mandatory first-party Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage in Kentucky. This generally pays your medical bills up to $10,000 regardless of fault or minor delays in your initial evaluation. In most cases, you may only pursue a liability claim against the at-fault driver if your medical bills exceed $1,000 or your injuries involve a fracture, permanent injury or disfigurement.
Prompt medical attention can protect your interests
Even minor car accidents can cause injuries that take time to appear. Seeking medical care soon after a crash helps you catch hidden injuries early and creates a clear record of your condition. Taking that step may protect your health and claims you may need to file later.
Understanding Kentucky's deadlines to file a lawsuit
The deadline to file a lawsuit depends on the type of claim. Injured drivers with Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage generally have two years from the date of the last PIP payment to file a personal injury claim, while drivers who have rejected PIP coverage have only one year from the date of the crash. Wrongful death claims generally must be filed within one year of the death or the appointment of an estate representative, with a two-year outer limit, so contact an attorney immediately to make sure your family does not miss this deadline. Claims for property damage, including damage to your vehicle, carry a two-year deadline from the date of the crash. Missing any of these deadlines can permanently bar your right to compensation, so it is important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible after your crash.]]>On Behalf of Rittgers Rittgers & Nakajima<![CDATA[Rittgers Rittgers & Nakajima’s Free Backpack Giveaway for Local Students Is Back for 2026!]]>https://www.rittgers.com/?p=831422026-06-03T19:49:23Z2026-06-03T19:49:23ZWhat Does Each Backpack Include?
We've made sure each backpack is fully equipped and stuffed with all the core school supplies your student will need:
It's easy! To apply, send an email to backpackgiveaway@rittgers.com with the following information:
Parent's Name
Full Address
Child's Elementary School
Child's Grade Level for the 2026-27 school year
Pickup Information
The first 350 applicants will be awarded a backpack with supplies included. Selected parents will be contacted via email with their specific pickup date and time. The backpacks will be handed out on a Saturday in July at our Lebanon office: [nap_names id="FIRM-NAME-1"] 12 East Warren Street Lebanon, Ohio, 45036
Cincinnati Giveaway Details
An additional 750 backpacks will be given away to Cincinnati Public School students at the Back-to-School Fest on Saturday, August 8, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Washington Park; no need to pre-register for this one; just show up. Join us for this free community promotion to ensure every student starts class prepared, confident, and ready to learn.
Disclaimer: By submitting your email, you are consenting to receive further communications from [nap_names id="FIRM-NAME-1"].]]>by Barbara Strady<![CDATA[Federal Trucking Liability Limits and Midwest Risk]]>https://www.rittgers.com/?p=831302026-05-12T16:08:29Z2026-05-12T16:07:41ZAre federal trucking liability limits sufficient for the level of risk carriers face in Ohio and across the Midwest?
Why Ohio Is Ground Zero for Interstate Trucking Risk
Within a 600-mile radius of 60% of the U.S. population
Anchored by major freight corridors:
I-70 (east–west)
I-75 (north–south)
I-80/90 (Ohio Turnpike)
This makes Ohio a high-volume interstate trucking state, meaning most carriers operating here are subject to federal liability insurance requirements, not just state minimums.
The result: More trucks + more interstate commerce = higher exposure to catastrophic loss events.
Federal Liability Limits vs. Midwest Reality
Federal minimum insurance requirements remain:
$750,000 – General freight
$1,000,000 – Oil
$5,000,000 – Hazardous materials
These limits apply uniformly across the country—but they do not reflect regional risk differences.
Rural + urban corridor overlap leads to complex crash environments
Multi-vehicle interstate crashes are more common
In short, a $750,000 policy in rural Ohio on I-70 may carry far more real-world risk than the same policy in a lower-density region.
Ohio Truck Crashes Have Increased
Recent data shows a clear upward trend in truck-related crashes in Ohio—especially post-pandemic.
Over the past decade, fatal crashes involving large trucks have risen by 30%. Although large trucks represent 9% of vehicles involved in fatal crashes, they account for 10% of total vehicle miles traveled, making them a common presence on Ohio roads. Sources: https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/road-users/large-trucks/; Overview of Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes in 2023, U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, April 2025 (https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813705).
The Insurance Gap in the Midwest—Is getting larger.
Here’s where the problem becomes clear:
Scenario:
A multi-vehicle crash on I-75 in Ohio involving:
A fully loaded tractor-trailer
Several passenger vehicles
Severe injuries and fatalities
Likely Costs:
Medical expenses: $1M+
Wrongful death claims: $2M–$10M+
Litigation costs: significant
Federal Minimum Coverage:
$750,000
Result: A substantial coverage gap.
Final Takeaway
Ohio and the broader Midwest highlight a growing disconnect:
High freight volume + rising crash rates
Outdated federal liability minimums
With truck crashes in Ohio climbing sharply and thousands of injuries occurring each year, the traditional $750,000 federal minimum is increasingly misaligned with real-world exposure. For interstate carriers operating in the Midwest, the question is no longer compliance—it’s the necessity to increase federal liability minimum limits to protect others on the roadways.]]>by Steve Kilburn<![CDATA[What is considered telecommunications harassment in Ohio?]]>https://www.rittgers.com/?p=831272026-05-12T15:51:14Z2026-05-12T15:51:14Zcriminal charges.
Can Making a Telecommunication After Receiving a Notice to Cease Contact Result in a Criminal Charge?
Yes. Under Ohio law, repeated communications after someone clearly tells another person to stop contacting them can lead to criminal charges. Therefore, threats, intimidation, or abusive language are not necessarily required.
Ohio’s Telecommunications Harassment statute is found in Revised Code Section 2917.21.
Subsection (A)(5) states:
(A) No person shall knowingly make or cause to be made a telecommunication, or knowingly permit a telecommunication to be made from a telecommunications device under the person's control, to another, if the caller:
(5) Knowingly makes the telecommunication to the recipient of the telecommunication, to another person at the premises to which the telecommunication is made, or to those premises, and the recipient or another person at those premises previously has told the caller not to make a telecommunication to those premises or to any persons at those premises.
Allegations may arise from:
Repeated texting, calling, emailing, social media posting or messaging after being blocked;
Repeated calls after being told “Do not contact me again.”;
Contacting someone through multiple phone numbers, emails, or social media accounts, or perhaps even fictitious or anonymous numbers or accounts; or
Repeated unwanted messages sent over an extended period of time.
Many people are surprised to learn that a communication made after a clear demand to stop may result in a criminal charge and arrest.
Of course, every case is different. Context matters, intent matters, and not every unwanted communication constitutes a criminal offense or even one that would cause the police to charge someone.
In What Other Ways Can Telecommunications Harassment Charges Arise in Ohio?
While repeated unwanted contact is one basis for potential charges, Ohio telecommunications harassment allegations may involve:
threats;
anonymous communications;
repeated hang-up calls;
spoofed phone numbers or prank calls;
obscene or abusive messages;
communications intended to harass or intimidate someone;
repeated calls at inconvenient hours; or
any telecommunication made with the purpose to abuse or threaten another person.
In many situations, what begins as an emotional disagreement or argument can unfortunately escalate into criminal charges.
We see these allegations arise in many different contexts, including but not limited to divorce and custody disputes, ex-relationships, debt collection disputes, workplace conflicts (often between a disgruntled former employee and their prior employer), political or social media disputes.
What Are the Penalties for Telecommunications Harassment in Ohio if Convicted?
Telecommunications harassment is ordinarily a first-degree misdemeanor (“M1”) in Ohio, meaning if convicted, a defendant faces up to 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. If convicted, a court could place someone on probation, which would usually entail some sort of corrective thinking course, mental health evaluation, or anger management, depending on the circumstances. Further, the court would almost certainly impose a no-contact order with the victim-recipient of the telecommunication as a term and condition of probation.
A telecommunications harassment offense can potentially be enhanced to a felony charge depending on whether the individual has a prior conviction for telecommunications harassment or whether economic harm was caused by the prohibited conduct.
If I’m Convicted of Telecommunications Harassment, Can I Seal or Expunge it From my Record?
Yes. Criminal convictions can of course create long-term consequences involving employment, professional licensing, housing, and firearm rights in certain situations.
That said, a telecommunications harassment conviction is a sealable and even an expungeable offense. The one exception to this would be if the victim is under the age of 13 or if it was a third-degree felony and the defendant has an additional, prior disqualifying felony on their record.
Contact Our Experienced Criminal Defense Lawyers at [nap_names id="FIRM-NAME-1"]
If someone tells you to stop contacting them, you should stop immediately. Even if you believe you haven’t said anything wrong, continued communications themselves can be a crime after a clear warning to cease contact.
If you or someone you know has been charged with telecommunications harassment in Ohio, do not hesitate to contact the experienced criminal defense team here at [nap_names id="FIRM-NAME-1"] at [nap_phone id="LOCAL-REGULAR-NUMBER-1"]. We offer free consultations.]]>