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16 Ohio Misc. 196

State v. Picciochi

Mahoning County Court of Common Pleas · decided 1968-08-01

Decided 1968-08-01

Jeheists, J.

¶1The case presented to this court for determination is an extraordinary one, by reason of the facts elicited in the same.

¶2The state seeks by injunction to bring about the closing of defendant’s home, stating in support thereof the series of events and findings which preceded the instant suit. Defendant in her answer does so by general denial plus the further claim that she is not amenable to those provisions of law relative to nursing homes.

¶3It is the contention of defendant that she is using her home, which is her only property, to personally care for persons who are needy and sick; that she personally offers such care and attention for 24 hours a day; that she makes no charge therefor. She claims that the application of Section 3721.01 et seq., Revised Code, to her effectively deprives her of rendering assistance and care to her neighbors, where her sole motivation is love *198of those neighbors, and a sincere desire in her own way to please her God.

¶4The court notes that no claim has been made that defendant abuses or neglects those in her home; violates any fire or safety regulations; is unclean in person or premises, or maintains a nuisance.

¶5The court recognizes that abuses, neglect and crass commercialism brought about the need for Chapter 37 of our law. There is no question of the need for the same because of the desire of some to profit from the misfortune of others. Such is not the situation in the case at bar.

¶6The exercise of regulatory power by an agency of the state existing to regulate some form of human activity, is based on the assumption that the activity affected is detrimental to the public welfare.

¶7Where an individual, either for profit or otherwise, uses his private property for a humane and lawful purpose, and where the regulating authority makes no initial and conclusive showing that such use adversely affects the public welfare, no grounds of enforcement by such regulatory authority exists.

¶8Injunction denied.

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