Chapter 4721 | Innkeepers

Section 4721.01 | Liability for loss of property.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

An innkeeper, whether a person, partnership, or corporation, having in his inn a metal safe or vault in good order suitable for the custody of money, bank notes, jewelry, articles of gold and silver manufacture, precious stones, personal ornaments, railroad mileage books or tickets, negotiable or valuable papers, and bullion, and keeping on the doors of the sleeping rooms used by his guests suitable locks or bolts, and on the transoms and windows of such rooms suitable fastenings, and keeping a copy of this section printed in distinct type conspicuously suspended in the office, ladies' parlor or sitting room, barroom, washroom, and five other conspicuous places in such inn, or not less than ten conspicuous places in all, shall not be liable for loss or injury suffered by a guest, unless such guest has offered to deliver such property to such innkeeper for custody in such metal safe or vault, and the innkeeper has omitted or refused to take and deposit it in the safe or vault for custody and give the guest a receipt therefor.

Section 4721.02 | Extent of liability - agreement.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

An innkeeper shall not be obliged to receive from a guest for deposit in the safe or vault, property described in section 4721.01 of the Revised Code exceeding a total value of five hundred dollars, and shall not be liable for such property exceeding such value whether received or not. Such innkeeper, by special arrangement with a guest may receive for deposit in such safe or vault property upon such written terms as may be agreed upon. An innkeeper shall be liable for a loss of any of such property of a guest in his inn caused by the theft or negligence of the innkeeper or his servant.

Section 4721.03 | Limit of liability as to certain property.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The liability of an innkeeper whether person, partnership, or corporation, for loss of or injury to personal property placed in his care by his guests other than that described in sections 4721.01 and 4721.02 of the Revised Code, shall be that of a depositary for hire. Liability shall not exceed one hundred fifty dollars for each trunk and its contents, fifty dollars for each valise and its contents, and ten dollars for each box, bundle, or package, and contents, so placed in his care, unless he has consented in writing with such guest to assume a greater liability.

Section 4721.04 | Innkeeper's lien.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

An inkeeper shall have a lien on the baggage and other property in and about the inn belonging to or under the control of his guests or boarders for the proper charges due him for their accommodation, board, and lodging, for money paid for or advanced to them, and for such other extras as are furnished at their request. The innkeeper may detain such baggage and other property until the amount of such charge is paid, and the baggage and other property shall not be exempt from attachment or execution until the innkeeper's lien and the cost of enforcing it are satisfied.

Section 4721.05 | Sale of property.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The innkeeper shall retain such baggage and other property, upon which he has a lien, for sixty days, at the expiration of which time, if such lien is not satisfied, he may sell it at public auction, after giving ten days' notice of the time and place of such auction in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where such inn is situated, and by mailing a copy of such notice addressed to such guest or boarder at the place of residence registered by him in the register of such inn.

Section 4721.06 | Disposal of proceeds.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

After satisfying the lien and costs that may accrue, the residue, on demand within six months thereafter, shall be paid to the guest or boarder to whom the property belonged or by whom it was controlled, and if not demanded, shall be deposited by such innkeeper with the county treasurer of the county in which such inn is situated, with a statement of the innkeeper's claim, the cost of enforcing it, a copy of the published notice, and the amount received for such property sold at such sale. Such residue shall be credited by the treasurer to the general revenue fund of the county, subject to a right of such guest or boarder, or his representatives, to reclaim it within three years from the date of such deposit.