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Ohio Civil Litigation Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Civil Litigation, Family Law and Domestic Violence for Ohio on
Q: Can an officer of the court lie to you, preventing you from information regarding your own case?

I called the county I was sure my soon to be ex filed for divorce in, but the lady was snarky and evasive, so I traveled to that county and she was extremely rude to me, then fake typed my info in, I literally watched her type nonsense the hit enter.

Todd B. Kotler
Todd B. Kotler
answered on May 24, 2023

From your question one cannot tell if the person with whom you disagree is actually an officer of the court. It looks like it might be a deputy clerk of courts, which is a little different. I recommend finding out from the clerk of court's website whether the information you are seeking is... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Civil Litigation and Family Law for Ohio on
Q: I am being harassed over text. Should I take action?

My coparent and his wife continuously harrass me over text. They attack me, my character and parenting style. No threats of harm have been made. I do not respond to these messages yet they continue to send them. I don't block their number because my son lives in their household during... Read more »

Nicholas P. Weiss
Nicholas P. Weiss
answered on Mar 27, 2023

If you don't have an existing custody order, I'd recommend pursuing one and making a condition of the order being that everyone uses a third-party messenger service, like Our Family Wizard, to communicate. The benefit there is that anyone, including the court or GAL, will have instant... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Litigation, Education Law and Elder Law for Ohio on
Q: ORC 4117.103 -volunteer at public schools When can a qualified volunteer be turned back by principal?

be turned away directly from the principle?

Arriving at my granddaughter’s elementary school for an approved PTO volunteering event at the requested time, Right away I was met with resistance. She began using her phone. She inquired to several ladies standing close by a loc of someone.... Read more »

Matthew Williams
Matthew Williams
answered on Jan 20, 2023

The law does not require the schools to allow any particular person to volunteer and there are literally hundreds of reasons from the mundane (we have enough help) to the quite serious (this individual set fire to the building last time they were here) that someone might be turned away.

1 Answer | Asked in Bankruptcy, Civil Litigation, Collections and Foreclosure for Ohio on
Q: My mother-in-law was served papers recently. In them she is marked as a judgment creditor. What does this mean?

The case seems to be a default on a property owned by someone possibly attach to her we are unsure on what the complaint in the case is but they have her marked as a judgment creditor in the concerned parties information.

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Dec 12, 2022

An Ohio attorney could advise best, but it looks like your question was overlooked under the general Uncategorized heading. You could try reposting under Collections, Foreclosure, Bankruptcy, and Civil Litigation. This looks like something for attorneys who practice in one of those areas. Good luck

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Litigation and Small Claims for Ohio on
Q: My question is, can they do that? Agree to $85 being the amount repaid, and then demand an additional $200 or be sued.

I was working for a pet store/supply company, and stole $85 worth of merchandise due to financial issues I’ve been having. I apologized, admitted to my wrong actions, and even agreed to pay back the $85 which is the amount a cooperate representative of the company agreed was the correct amount... Read more »

Matthew Williams
Matthew Williams
answered on Nov 29, 2022

First, yes, they can sue you. There is a statute that allows merchants to sue for statutory damages of $200 from thieves to help defray the costs of loss prevention. But they probably won't. They simply cannot win enough money to make it worth the time. In many courts it costs more than $200... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Banking, Civil Litigation, Contracts and Real Estate Law for Ohio on
Q: Is it against the law to force someone to sign the deed to their home over to them?

I applied for mortgage assistance in which I could skip some payments and have them rolled to the end of my mortgage. I was approved and skipped about 11 payments. The lender needed my wife and I to sign papers to make it official. My inlaws told my wife to not sign those papers. Despite my... Read more »

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Sep 13, 2022

The in-laws aren't forcing you to sign, they are offering a choice - you can either sign (and then rent from them or move elsewhere), or allow the foreclosure to proceed and you would be evicted by the new owner or you could try to rent from the new owner. Or the in-laws could purchase it at... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Litigation for Ohio on
Q: My girlfriend of 10yrs kicked me out of the house she got swhile we were together. What do i do about getting my things

I have attempted to sit down with her and a mediator , her daughter who doesn't care for me too much, and discuss who gets what but she starts yelling acting like a child. AnywYs mist of the stuff in the house , I have bought but I'm not trying to empty her house . I don't have room... Read more »

Raquel Ann Parish
Raquel Ann Parish
answered on Jun 30, 2022

Parties can file for a right of replevin at the municipal court in the county where the property is located under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 2737 re Replevin. Any party to an action involving a claim for the recovery of specific personal property, upon or at any time after commencement of the... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Litigation for Ohio on
Q: Is my husband allowed to sell a car that’s in his name but I helped pay for from under me
Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Jun 3, 2022

If his name was the only one on the vehicle title, then his signature alone was sufficient to legally sell the vehicle. It does not matter whose money paid for it. The signature of a spouse is not required if that spouse's name is not also listed on the title. Dividing up the money from the... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Litigation for Ohio on
Q: My boyfriend walked out of our 6 yr relationship and moved out of my house. I own it. This was over 3 months ago.

He never left my property. He is staying in a camper in my yard. We have no agreement of any kind yet he refuses to leave. I live in Ohio and need him gone. This is causing me terrible stress and raising my blood pressure. Do I have to evict him although there is no lease agreement?

Bruce Martin Broyles
Bruce Martin Broyles
answered on May 18, 2022

Yes, you should evict him. He does not have a oral lease for a period of term. He is a person with no interest in the property and he can be served a three day notice and a complaint for forcible entry and detainer should be filed against him. If you call the police they will typically say it is... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Litigation and Divorce for Ohio on
Q: My ex-wife and I still own a house together. She is refusing to pay any amount of the mortgage. What can I do

We bought the house, in North Carolina, shortly after getting married. Our jobs moved us out of state and we rented the house out on a 5 year lease with option to buy. The renters didn't buy, but still living there without paying rent (another legal issue in progress), and my now ex-wife is... Read more »

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on May 13, 2022

Your divorce decree should have specified what was to happen to that house, who was to pay mortgage, expenses, etc. If ex is not complying with the decree, then you can file with the court that issued your divorce decree and ask the judge to order her to comply and to hold her in contempt if she... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law and Civil Litigation for Ohio on
Q: If someone tried to file a restraining order against me and it was denied, does it go on my record?

I had many issues with my neighbor in the past and have multiple emails with my apartment complex stating that. I called the police multiple times for noise complaints and they never did anything, recently she kicked my door multiple times and had a guy friend with her, i felt threatened so when I... Read more »

Patrick DiChiro
Patrick DiChiro
answered on Mar 22, 2023

NO. IT WOULD NOT GO ON YOUR RECORD. THIS GOES FOR A RESTRAINING ORDER OR CIVIL PROTECTION ORDER. IT MUST BE GRANTED IN ORDER TO GO ON YOUR RECORD.

GOOD LUCK.

PATRICK DICHIRO

1 Answer | Asked in Business Law, Civil Litigation, Consumer Law and Federal Crimes for Ohio on
Q: I live in Ohio, I was hired with the understanding I had the card. Hr found out and terminated due to drug policy.

They are a BWC drug free workplace but I was 10-99 and not even an employee. I never took a pre or post drug test. Is this legal?

Nicholas P. Weiss
Nicholas P. Weiss
answered on Mar 16, 2023

Yes. Even if you were an employee, Ohio allows for termination of employees who use medical marijuana.

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Litigation, Family Law, Civil Rights and Federal Crimes for Ohio on
Q: I am 16 and from ohio, my friends sometimes buy me stuff is my step mom allowed to open my mail if its not hers?
Troy J Doucet
Troy J Doucet
answered on Feb 6, 2023

Yes. Whether or not she has any custodial rights over you, your father can certainly open your mail. He can then delegate that right to your step mom, so she can also open it without permission.

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Litigation, Collections and Small Claims for Ohio on
Q: I'm being sued by a creditor I filed an answer with the court myself now I have a pretrial date coming very soon.

I can't afford an attorney and my legal aid consultation appointment is after the pretrial, that's the only date they had available. What defense can I use to stop them from garnishing my paycheck? I feel as though this company lied to the court in their filing they claim that they have a... Read more »

Barry W. Kaufman
Barry W. Kaufman
answered on Nov 23, 2022

Nobody can help you without reading the pleadings and examining the file. Maybe you can buy 30 minutes of an attorney's time before the pre-trial.

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Personal Injury, Civil Litigation and Civil Rights for Ohio on
Q: My daughters name was found to be on a students hit list.

Her name was on a students hit list. The school has a zero tolerance policy and only suspended the student for 10 days with a potential expulsion based on a closed door expulsion hearing that we are not allowed to go to. What would be our best avenue for how to handle this legally potentially... Read more »

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Nov 17, 2022

Talk to your local county prosecutors office, which might want investigate and will decide whether to pursue a criminal action. Then use the Find a Lawyer tab to retain a local attorney who handles civil litigation cases.

1 Answer | Asked in Personal Injury, Civil Litigation, Civil Rights and Domestic Violence for Ohio on
Q: I am looking for a lawyer who will prosecute up to 3 union county deputies.

I apologize if this goes to Akron its fighting me to send this to Marysville.

Roger  Bouchard
PREMIUM
Roger Bouchard
answered on Jul 24, 2022

Call the UnionCounty prosecutors office.

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Litigation for Ohio on
Q: two cases that are related to one another and one was dismissed and currently being appealed, what happens to the other
Matthew Williams
Matthew Williams
answered on Jun 9, 2022

You really don’t give enough information here to answer your question. It’s quite possible nothing happens to the other case. In what way are they related?

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Employment Law, Civil Litigation and Libel & Slander for Ohio on
Q: What can I do if I am on the receiving end of a threatening text message from an ex-coworker in Ohio?

An ex-coworker sent me a text message stating people will be going after me after he talks to them and they will beat me, this is after he caused me issues at work by lying to HR and almost getting me fired.

Matthew Williams
Matthew Williams
answered on Mar 25, 2022

You can do one or both of the following: report the matter to the police, and/or seek a civil protection order.

1 Answer | Asked in Copyright and Civil Litigation for Ohio on
Q: Can someone sue someone for civil if they don't live in that state?

Suing me in California and i lived in Ohio all my life

Stephen Arnold Black
Stephen Arnold Black
answered on Feb 18, 2022

If you have minimum contacts with that state, then personal jurisdiction over you will exist under California’s long arm statute. If not then you should fight jurisdiction.

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Litigation and Small Claims for Ohio on
Q: If an ex boyfriends mom gave me a phone and added me to her phone plan, then suspends my phone and threatens me with the

Police is that legal? She gifted it to me and now I’m being told that if I don’t return it she will get the police involved and use my phone records.

Anthony C. Satariano
Anthony C. Satariano
answered on Jan 18, 2022

This question depends on the nature of the transfer. If she truly gifted it to you, there is an argument it is yours. If she merely intended for you to use it, then it may still be hers. But, as the owner of the plan she likely has an undisputed ability to suspend phones she pays for.

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