The Ohio Supreme Court issued a decision yesterday that appears to recognize the False Light tort claim. Not previously recognized in Ohio, False Light claims are a type of invasion of privacy claim.
This case involved a dispute between private homeowners in Stark County and the owner of a neighboring party center In an escalating series of clashes, the center’s owner distributed a series of handbills at the neighbors’ place of work and children’s schools implying that the homeowners had thrown a rock through one of the center’s windows.
The Court determined that the actions of the center’s owners comprised false-light invasion of privacy by meeting two essential elements: the matter being publicized was highly offensive to a reasonable person and the person disseminating the information had knowledge or acted in reckless disregard as to its falsity.
For the Akron Beacon Journal article on this, click here.
For the opinion, click here.
