07
Apr
Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Coverage: What Is It, and Why Do I Need It?
What is it? Uninsured / underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage is a type of automobile insurance coverage that pays when you are injured by a driver who carries no automobile liability insurance or doesn't carry enough of it. While some states require that you buy this cov...
View MoreCategory: Ohio Law Series
07
Apr
Coronavirus COVID-19 Update: Ohio Supreme Court Orders Tolling Of Time Requirements
On Friday, March 27, 2020, the Ohio Supreme Court issued an order “tolling” time requirements imposed by the rules promulgated by the Supreme Court (including the Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure). This same day, Governor DeWine signed into law HB 197, which “tolle...
View MoreCategory: Coronavirus
07
Apr
UPDATE: HB 197 to Extend Statutes Of Limitations In Ohio During State Of Emergency
On March 23, we reported that the current COVID-19 crisis had yet to affect statutes of limitations (and other important case deadlines) in Ohio. As with so much during this time, things have changed. Yesterday, Ohio’s General Assembly passed HB 197 with amendments, which, among...
View MoreCategory: Firm News
07
Apr
Punitive Damages / Attorney Fees (The “Lodestar” calculation)
Ohio Law Series Punitive Damages / Attorney Fees (The “Lodestar” calculation) Ohio adheres to the “American Rule” regarding attorney fees, which means each party is responsible for its own attorney fees: Ohio courts generally follow the “American rule” with respect to an award of...
View MoreCategory: Ohio
07
Apr
How Does the Current State of Emergency in Ohio Affect Statutes of Limitations?
On March 9, 2020, Governor Mike DeWine declared a state of emergency in Ohio, empowering state agencies “to develop and implement procedures” to “prevent or alleviate” the threat posed by Coronavirus (COVID-19). The threat has had a direct impact on our lo...
View MoreCategory: Firm News
07
Apr
Robinson v. Bates
In Ohio, the Ohio Supreme Court gave the insurance companies a huge gift when they decided Robinson v. Bates, 112 Ohio St. 3d 17, 2006-Ohio-6362. An injured plaintiff can no longer recover the gross amount of the medical expenses incurred (the old rule), but only the amount that w...
View MoreCategory: Collateral Source Rule
07
Apr
Attorney charging liens
An attorney who obtains a settlement or verdict for his / her client can assert a “charging lien” against the fund obtained. This usually happens when a lawyer working under a contingent fee agreement does some work that contributes to obtaining the settlement, then the client do...
View MoreCategory: Lawsuits
07
Apr
Caps on damages (personal injury cases)
In 2005, the Ohio General Assembly passed several “tort reform” measures, the most controversial being the limits on the amount a jury can award in personal injury and product liability cases. (See RC 2315. 18). Under the 2005 rules, a plaintiff cannot recover more than the greate...
View MoreCategory: Personal Injury
07
Apr
What are the safest cars for teens to drive?
Congratulations, your teen is enrolled in driver’s education and soon will be able to drive. Your days of driving the “mom taxi” or “dad taxi” soon will be over! But wait…you’re probably going to need a car for your son or daughter to drive. If you’re like most parents, this “new...
View MoreCategory: Car Accidents
07
Apr
How to spot bad drivers and avoid crashes
It has never been more important to look out for bad drivers and potentially dangerous driving situations. Distractions are omnipresent in nearly every vehicle – phones, dashboards with interactive features, eating and more. You don’t want to be a crash victim. To avoid a crash w...
View MoreCategory: Car Accidents
07
Apr
IIHS: In newer vehicles, back seats are less safe than the front
Rear car seats are traditionally safer than front seats, but in the face of recent car safety improvements, rear-seat safety is now lagging. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has been making efforts to raise awareness of this fact, developing a series of crash tests to i...
View MoreCategory: Car Accidents
07
Apr
There is Something in the Water – Legionnaires’ Disease
Mount Carmel Grove City, located just outside Columbus, is presently the epicenter of a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak. The Franklin County Public Health reports ten confirmed cases, one of which has resulted in death. The hospital is working in conjunction with Franklin County P...
View MoreCategory: Personal Injury
