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Ohio Civil Rights Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Civil Rights and Constitutional Law for Ohio on
Q: Is this an unlawful arrest? There was a search warrant for an address and description of the property no people named

The cops pulled over a vehicle that had no ties to us or the address on search warrant, detained us, then brought us to the address and had us cuffed in back of police cruisers while they ran into search the house of the address then charged us with possession and trafficking from substances found... View More

Matthew Williams
Matthew Williams
answered on Mar 29, 2021

You leaving out some key information. Like, for example, who the house belongs to? Was there any reason to stop the vehicle in question? At the end of the day, you need to get an attorney to look at the situation. It sounds fishy, but there's information missing.

1 Answer | Asked in Business Law, Civil Rights and Internet Law for Ohio on
Q: Can a business video and audio surveillance record without letting any customers know he is doing this?

He can access the recordings online!

Matthew Williams
Matthew Williams
answered on Mar 29, 2021

Businesses are free to employ surveillance in most parts of the business. They cannot do so in changing and bathroom areas, or showers at places like gyms.

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law and Civil Rights for Ohio on
Q: Is it illegal to remove the doors of a bathroom stall? Thank you.
Matthew Williams
Matthew Williams
answered on Mar 18, 2021

In what context? With someone in there, yeah. To install a toilet, no.

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Civil Rights and Federal Crimes for Ohio on
Q: i am a highschool student who is trying to better understand the McClesky v. Kemp case that i was given by my tea

how did they come to the conclusion of the death penalty? And if a man can get the death penalty by killing a police officer while resisting lawful arrest bc they were involved in an armed robbery, then why don't serial killers get sentenced to death as well?

Matthew Williams
Matthew Williams
answered on Feb 25, 2021

In order to impose death as a penalty, juries are typically called upon to consider aggravating factors--things that made the crime worse--and mitigating factors--things that made it better--as compared to similar offenses. These come in two basic varieties: (1) facts from the offense itself, and... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights for Ohio on
Q: The victim is looking for financial restitution for a crime my minor son committed, what are our obligations?

My son pled guilty to vandalism and breaking and entering, he is 12. We have received a letter from the victim's lawyer asking for restitution. In Ohio, I know we are not legally responsible for our son's crime however, can they come at us with a civil suit? If so, how do I respond to... View More

Matthew Williams
Matthew Williams
answered on Feb 12, 2021

The juvenile court cannot order you to pay restitution for a juvenile. But, you are not entirely correct about not being legally responsible. The victim can file a civil lawsuit against the parents of a juvenile to recover damages. Read this: http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/3109.09

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights for Ohio on
Q: I fired a contractor for not making their deadline and doing shoddy work. Do I have a strong case in civil court?

Hired a contractor for a bathroom remodel who let his employees do the job with zero supervision.The contractor didn’t ask for any upfront payment until I began to question the type of work I was seeing them do. They then wanted half of the estimate, which I paid, and didn’t resume work for... View More

Drew Chalfant
Drew Chalfant
answered on Nov 18, 2020

In Ohio you have a number of possible remedies. Home renovations contractors are required to do work in a "professional and workmanlike manner" that is consistent with generally accepted practices in the industry. If your contractor failed to do that and you had to hire someone else, your... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Animal / Dog Law, Civil Litigation and Civil Rights for Ohio on
Q: Hi, I need help regarding on getting my dog back from ex. I bought the dog; what do I do?

I was in a relationship with my ex partner for 5 years; I bought my dog three years in. I have a receipt from the person I bought the dog from as well as I am currently fighting the bank for the statement showing I withdrew $300 the day my dog was bought. My ex currently has the dog and will not... View More

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Nov 13, 2020

Sue in small claims court. But you might only recover the cost of the dog. Check your local court web site for the small claims process. Or use the Find a Lawyer tab to retain a local attorney to file in court to try to recover the dog.

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights and Juvenile Law for Ohio on
Q: Can a 19 year old date a 16 year old who’s turning 17. Me and my boyfriend are 2 years and 4 months apart.

Can they also engage in sexual activity

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Oct 12, 2020

Engaging in that activity would be a criminal offense, and the older person could be classified as a sex offender.

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, Real Estate Law and Small Claims for Ohio on
Q: Im renting in ohio. An i allowed to deny a house showing if the realtor doesn't give me a 24 hr notice?

I'm technically in Lorain County. My landlord is cool but the realtor is now getting angry with my bf and I cause we were out of town for a showing that he failed to give a 24hr notice for. He's done it multiple times now and we have pets. What drew the line for him is when we refuse to... View More

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Sep 18, 2020

The realtor has no legal rights and cannot require you to do anything. You don't even have to talk to him if you don't want to. You certainly don't have to leave the key in the box. Ohio law requires a landlord to give reasonable (24 hour) notice of having someone come in for an... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law, Civil Rights, Landlord - Tenant and Securities Law for Ohio on
Q: Apartment manager decided to do a “wellness check” without telling us.. there is a lot more.

Manager entered our apartment with any form on contact before doing so while my wife was asleep naked and daughter was sleeping. Got to the bedroom door before announcing himself and my wife freaked out and tried to cover up as quickly as possible, he proceeded to stand there and stare at her while... View More

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Sep 16, 2020

You can file a police report, but they are unlikely to do anything. You could sue the apartment owner for trespass. Talk to the owner about the manager's unauthorized entry. Put an interior lock on the door.

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights for Ohio on
Q: Legal or not, a minor child is killed mom not permited 2 identify her.
Warner Mendenhall
Warner Mendenhall
answered on Sep 14, 2020

More detail on this is needed to answer. Where was the minor child living? Did the mother have custody? Were the mother's parental rights taken in a dependency, abuse, neglect case? etc...

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, Consumer Law and Land Use & Zoning for Ohio on
Q: If the landlord allowed me to put 15,000$ of work into his house and Now he trying to evict me, can I sue for that mone

I been living in this home for 16 years and i finally decided to ask him can I put some work into the home and it costs me 15,000 and it made the value of the home go up, he can now charge $800 instead of 200$ in rent, So he wants to evict me out of the house, can I sue for that money out of that... View More

Taylor P Waters
Taylor P Waters
answered on Sep 5, 2020

You may have a case for unjust enrichment, contact an attorney to discuss how to file the claim and what you need to allergies

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights for Ohio on
Q: Do I have to go to court to evict my husband if the house is in my name only
Matthew Williams
Matthew Williams
answered on Aug 8, 2020

If your husband was living in the home (which seems likely), then yes, you would need to get an eviction to kick him out.

2 Answers | Asked in Contracts, Civil Rights and Education Law for Ohio on
Q: it Is legal for a public university to randomly require students to test for Covid and deny access to their class if not

Students will be randomly selected throughout the semester, 100 at a time. Students with no symptoms, no contact tracing, perfectly random. If they choose not to be tested they will be made to “ quarantine “until they comply. They will not be allowed to attend their classes. This is only for... View More

Matthew Williams
Matthew Williams
answered on Aug 5, 2020

That’s a rather strange scheme. There’s little precedent on a lot of these issues. General, common sense health precautions are likely to be upheld in court. But this does seem wrongheaded. For one thing, with limited testing resources, it makes sense to focus on those with symptoms or probable... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Contracts and Civil Rights for Ohio on
Q: Do I have to allow inspectors into my apartment during COVID19 if they are from a highly infested area?

I am a disabled 65-yr old with multiple health issues that make my chance of surviving COVID highly unlikely, living in a county with 135 cases of COVID. Inspectors from Columbus, which has the highest number of cases and deaths in Ohio, are planning to walk through my apartment. Am I required by... View More

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Jul 15, 2020

Landlord is allowed by law to inspect after giving reasonable notice. But if you refuse entry, there is not much landlord can do about it. Landlord could call the police, but are unlikely to force you to let landlord enter. If landlord tries to force his way in, call the police. If you refuse... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights and Constitutional Law for Ohio on
Q: Is it legal to go topless for a woman in Ohio?

I want to go topless.

Hunter G. Cavell
Hunter G. Cavell
answered on Jul 9, 2020

It is a crime to do this in public per Ohio Revise Code Section 2907.09 Public indecency.

(A) No person shall recklessly do any of the following, under circumstances in which the person's conduct is likely to be viewed by and affront others who are in the person's physical...
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2 Answers | Asked in Criminal Law and Civil Rights for Ohio on
Q: Can I own a gun with a sealed record

I was convicted of a felony 5 complicity to breaking and entering 20 years ago I have had my record sealed do you know if I can own a gun

Hunter G. Cavell
Hunter G. Cavell
answered on Jul 9, 2020

I may have answered your question before, suggesting that you seal your record. I would simply call a criminal attorney near you and ask. They will know the requirements.

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1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law and Civil Rights for Ohio on
Q: Can I own a gun

I was convicted of a felony 5 breaking and entering 20 years ago I recently had it sealed do you know if I can own a gun I live in Ohio

Hunter G. Cavell
Hunter G. Cavell
answered on Jul 8, 2020

You should look to get your record sealed. Technically expunging a record does not exist in Ohio, but you could likely seal it. The problem you have is the crime is inherently violent, and you likely will not qualify for a firearms purchase until the record is sealed. You can speak with an... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights and Family Law for Ohio on
Q: Is it true you can legally “run away” or leave your house at 17?
Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Jul 6, 2020

No, it is not true. You could end up at juvenile detention. If there are problems at home, talk to your parents, a teacher, or other trusted adult.

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law and Civil Rights for Ohio on
Q: My manager fired me for retaliation. What should I do now?

I worked in a restaurant kitchen. My manager wanted to fire me for a while because I once point out that she did not follow the rules announced on the very morning. She cut off my working time while added my working load. Then she ganged with other employee to harass me –to test my temperature... View More

Kyle Anderson
Kyle Anderson
answered on Jul 1, 2020

Hi, more facts are needed here to fully evaluate your claim, but it doesn't appear your termination was unlawful based on what you stated here. Your termination could have been unlawful if it was based on your race, color, gender, religion, amongst other things. I would reach out to an... View More

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