Ohio Supreme Court case could impact renters who own dogs

Laura A. Bischoff

Enquirer Statehouse Bureau

USA TODAY NETWORK

A legal case that could impact renters, landlords and dog owners will be heard by the Ohio Supreme Court on Dec. 10.

In 2020, a cocker spaniel at a mobile home park playground seriously injured Kelly Hipshire’s then 11-year-old son. Hipshire sued Beth Anne Lake, whose son had taken the leashed dog to the playground, and the Oakwood Villages mobile home park owner, Sun Secured Financing.

Lake never responded to the lawsuit. The trial court granted Sun Secured Financing’s request to resolve the lawsuit in its favor without a trial.

Hipshire appealed the trial court’s decision and won a 2-1 decision from the Second District Court of Appeals. Sun Secured Financing then appealed to the Ohio Supreme Court.

The case hinges on whether a landlord who allows dogs in common areas has some responsibility for the animals’ behavior under the state’s dog laws.

The law applies to owners and 'harborers' of dogs. Hipshire argues that a harborer includes property owners who control the premises. Landlords who advertise as 'dog friendly' bear some responsibility when injuries occur in common areas, she argues.

Her son required emergency medical care and received more than 50 stitches.

The mobile home park owners give tenants a list of banned breeds and require dogs to be leashed in common areas.

But that isn’t enough to hold the landlord liable for injuries dogs might cause, Sun Secured Financing argues.

If landlords faced that kind of liability, it would make it difficult for dog owners to find places to rent, the company argues.

Roughly 17,000 dog bites are reported to local public health agencies each year across Ohio. Experts agree that dog bites are vastly underreported.

Following publication of an investigation by The Cincinnati Enquirer, Columbus Dispatch, Akron Beacon Journal and The Canton Repository into flaws in Ohio’s dog laws, legislators passed an overhaul named after 12-year-old Avery Russell. She was attacked by two pit bulls in 2024.

Gov. Mike DeWine is expected to sign it into law in December.

State government reporter Laura Bischoff can be reached at lbischoff@usatodayco.com and @lbischoff on X.