Ohio counties looking to boost community development and breathe new life into blighted or dormant properties have found land banks to be an incredibly useful tool. Land banks are a specialized version of community improvement corporations, with the distinction of …

The standard for establishing bad faith by insurers was set nearly three decades ago when the Ohio Supreme Court ruled in Zoppo v. Homestead Insurance Co. The high court set the “reasonable justification” standard in that 1994 ruling, which declared …

In January, one of our clients passed away with an estate worth about $2 million and substantial funds invested in the stock market. Based upon his revocable trust, those monies were to be divided between relatives. When we met with …

For the past eight years, the Ohio Department of Jobs & Family Services (ODJFS) has adhered to a U.S. Sixth Circuit Court order that provided limited protections for private sector retirees. This court ruling was the leading precedent for protecting …

One of the necessary tools for today’s general contractors and other key players in the construction industry is a commercial general liability policy. It covers your business from financial loss should you be held liable for property damage or personal …

Most people are familiar with wills and trusts, but often do not understand the difference between the two. This lack of understanding could lead an individual to choose the option that is not optimal for them. As you consider whether …

As a veteran litigator, Sam Pipino has witnessed several construction claims due to building envelope issues over the years. Here, he’s compiled a few tips for builders of commercial and residential properties to mitigate their risk of liability. Check it …

Technically, no.  Practically, maybe.  Two weeks ago, the Ohio Supreme Court issues another decision in the seemingly never-ending line of cases which are related to Home Rule, automated traffic cameras, and the General Assembly’s effort to turn them off.  At …

Ohio has historically supported and encouraged “anatomical gifts,” or donation of a person’s whole body or useable organs and tissues upon that person’s passing.  It may therefore be surprising to learn that Ohio House Bill 7, also known as the …

Let’s talk retirement accounts. Even if your spouse never set foot in your workplace, or you never set foot in your spouse’s workplace, in the Court’s view, any retirement account that was created or grew during the marriage is marital property built by …

Kyriakos Georgantonis was painting the side of a building on West Benson Street in Reading, Ohio.  He was working from the platform of a scissor lift which he moved into place on the sidewalk in front of the building. Unbeknownst …

For prospective adopting parents who need to complete a home study by an assessor through the Franklin County Probate Court in order to finalize an adoption, there is work that you can do to help expedite what is currently a …