On Feb. 26, 2019, citizens in the city of Toledo amended their city charter to include the “Lake Erie Bill of Rights” (LEBOR). The Lake Erie Bill of Rights, or LEBOR, states that Lake Erie, and the Lake Erie Watershed, has the right to “exist, flourish and naturally evolve…” and gives any Toledoan the right to file a lawsuit on the lake’s behalf against any business in the Lake Erie Watershed.
Ohio Farm Bureau is staying abreast of this issue and will be posting updates as they are known.
Farmers are encouraged to enroll in an agricultural district. The ag district program provides an affirmative defense for farmers in certain types of nuisance lawsuits. While it is not certain this defense will apply in LEBOR cases, it is one of the best and most underutilized tools in agriculture. Enroll in an ag district via the county auditor. Learn more.
Ty Higgins - May 8
Toledo voters passed the Lake Erie Bill of Rights in 2019, giving Toledoans the legal right to sue anyone accused of violating the lake’s right under LEBOR to “exist, flourish and naturally evolve.” The very next day, a lawsuit challenging…
Ohio Farm Bureau Staff - Feb. 28
Exactly one year after the Lake Erie Bill of Rights was challenged by a northwest Ohio farmer, U.S. District Court Judge Jack Zouhary ruled decisively that LEBOR was invalid. LEBOR, passed by Toledo voters in 2019, attempted to give legal…
Ohio Farm Bureau Staff - July 23, 2019
Some aspects of the new two-year state budget will better protect farmers from nuisance lawsuits. Ohio Farm Bureau Policy Counsel Leah Curtis visits with Ohio Farm Bureau Director of Media Relations Ty Higgins about the language included in the budget and…
Adam Sharp - April 26, 2019
Fewer than 9 percent of a city’s registered voters just passed the Lake Erie Bill of Rights, which declares that Toledoans have legal authority over some 5 million Ohioans, more than 430,000 businesses, thousands of local governments and tens of…
Lynn Snyder - April 4, 2019There have been many developments on the Lake Erie Bill of Rights (LEBOR) front since the law was passed by Toledo voters. In the latest Legal with Leah, Ty Higgins visits with Ohio Farm Bureau’s Policy Council Leah Curtis about…
Joe Cornely - March 27, 2019
Editor’s Note: Below is an update from Ohio Farm Bureau Executive Vice President Adam Sharp regarding the next development in a Wood County farmer’s lawsuit that challenges the constitutionality of the Lake Erie Bill of Rights: For several weeks…
Amanda Bush - Feb. 27, 2019
Ohio Farm Bureau Federation has pledged its support to member and Wood County farmer Mark Drewes, who today filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality and legal status of the Lake Erie Bill of Rights. Toledo voters yesterday approved creation of…
Kelli Milligan Stammen - Feb. 14, 2019
With the Feb. 26 special election on the Lake Erie Bill of Rights looming in the city of Toledo, Ohio Farm Bureau is encouraging farmers to enroll their operations in an agricultural district. OFBF Policy Counsel and Senior Director of Member…
Ohio Farm Bureau Staff - Feb. 13, 2019
Ohio State University Extension Agricultural and Resource Law Program has compiled a publication that explains the proposed Lake Erie Bill of Rights, which is shared on the program’s Ag Law Blog. This new “In the Weeds” in-depth resource answers questions…
Amanda Kolitsos - Jan. 29, 2019Toledo voters will soon decide whether farmers can be sued by Lake Erie. In this update of the Lake Erie Bill of rights on Legal with Leah, Farm Bureau Policy Counsel Leah Curtis says the court has ruled the measure…
