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Portage County Farm Bureau sponsored an attractive nuisance, trespassing and liability seminar that drew 100 people from Portage, Columbiana, Stark and Summit counties.

Nan Still, OFBF director of agricultural law information; Victor Vigluicci, Portage County prosecutor; and Duane Kaley, Portage County sheriff; talked to participants about different examples of liability and what they should expect if someone is injured or killed on their property.

Still discussed many judicial cases involving trespassing and liability, focusing much of her presentation on landowner liability. Still explained liability may differ in the case of a child fatality or injury. In previous cases, the Ohio Supreme Court has ruled that while landowners owe no special care to trespassers, landowners owe a special "duty" to children trespassers, as they may not understand the dangers that may exist on their property.

Sheriff Kaley talked about his experiences on the job, and how he reacts to each trespassing case differently. Prosecutor Vigluicci told the group about some of the liability cases he’s been involved with.

"This was a great learning experience for everyone who attended," said Robert Winkler, Portage County Farm Bureau member and organizer of the event. "It was a huge success, and I think more meetings like this in the future will be beneficial to our members."