Wooten v. Knisley

[This opinion has been published in Ohio Official Reports at 79 Ohio St.3d 282.] WOOTEN ET AL., APPELLANTS, v. KNISLEY, APPELLEE, ET AL. [Cite as Wooten v. Knisley,

1997-Ohio-390.] Torts—Unauthorized removal of timber from private property—Criminal conviction is not a prerequisite to the imposition of civil liability for treble damages under R.C. 901.51. A criminal conviction, resulting from a violation of R.C. 901.51, is not a condition precedent to an award of treble damages in a civil cause of action against a defendant who has recklessly, and without privilege, cut down, destroyed, girdled…