Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.15 (2026)

Tolling during defendant's absence, concealment or imprisonment

✓ current as of May 2026
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(A)(1) Except as provided in division (A)(2) of this section, when a cause of action accrues against a person, if the person is out of the state, has absconded, or conceals self, the period of limitation for the commencement of the action as provided in sections 2305.04 to 2305.14, 1302.98, and 1304.35 of the Revised Code does not begin to run until the person comes into the state or while the person is so absconded or concealed. After the cause of action accrues if the person departs from the state, absconds, or conceals self, the time of the person's absence or concealment shall not be computed as any part of a period within which the action must be brought.

(2) Division (A)(1) of this section does not apply to statutes of repose, including, but not limited to, those contained in any of the following:

(a) Division (C) of section 2305.10 of the Revised Code;

(b) Division (C) or (D) of section 2305.113 of the Revised Code;

(c) Division (B) of section 2305.115 of the Revised Code;

(d) Division (B) or (C) of section 2305.117 of the Revised Code;

(e) Section 2305.131 of the Revised Code.

(B) When a person is imprisoned for the commission of any offense, the time of the person's imprisonment shall not be computed as any part of any period of limitation, as provided in section 2305.09, 2305.10, 2305.11, 2305.113, or 2305.14 of the Revised Code, within which any person must bring any action against the imprisoned person.

Last updated August 14, 2024 at 9:05 AM

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 135 cases (48 in the last 5 years), 1955–2026 · leading case: Grover v. Bartsch, 866 N.E.2d 547 (Ohio Ct. App. 2006).
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Grover v. Bartsch, 866 N.E.2d 547 (Ohio Ct. App. 2006). · cites it 52× “The court further concluded that Ohio’s tolling statute, R.C. 2305.15, was unconstitutional as applied to Bartsch.”
Elliot v. Durrani, 2021 Ohio 3055 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021). · cites it 49× “{¶13} To answer that question now, we first turn to the plain language of R.C. 2305.15. R.C. 2305.15 is titled, “Tolling during defendant’s absence, concealment or imprisonment,” and states in pertinent part: (A) When a cause of action accrues against a person, if the person is…”
Elliot v. Durrani, 2022 Ohio 4190 (Ohio 2022). · cites it 36× “Durrani appealed, and we accepted jurisdiction over his lone proposition of law: “The absent defendant statute, R.C. 2305.15, does not toll the medical claim statute of repose in R.”
Dewine v. State Farm Ins. Co., 2020 Ohio 5517 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 55× “Matthew also argues that the trial court improperly added “intent” as an element to R.C. 2305.15 even though there is no distinction in the statute between absences “intended” to be permanent and those “intended” to be temporary.”
Lovejoy v. MacEk, 702 N.E.2d 457 (Ohio Ct. App. 1997). · cites it 32× “Appellee returned to Painesville to attend college in Ohio from August 1993 through January 11, 1995. Upon receiving appellee’s answers, appellant filed a motion for relief from judgment pursuant to Civ.”
Saunders v. Choi, 466 N.E.2d 889 (Ohio 1984). · cites it 13× “The plaintiff-appellant submits that R.C. 2305.15, 2305.19 and Civ. R. 3(A) must be read in pari materia, meaning that the two statutes and the civil rule are to be construed together.”
Johnson v. Rhodes, 733 N.E.2d 1132 (Ohio 2000). · cites it 17× “In addition, we must determine if the application of R.C. 2305.15 against such an individual is unconstitutional for the reason that it constitutes an impermissible burden on interstate commerce under the holding of the United States Supreme Court in Bendix Autolite Corp.”
Wilson v. Durrani, 2021 Ohio 3226 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021). · cites it 17× “113(C) and made other amendments to R.C. 2305.15. Id., citing 2002 Am.Sub.S.B.”
Mead Corp. v. Allendale Mut. Ins., 465 F. Supp. 355 (N.D. Ohio 1979). · cites it 10× “10 was tolled by the “saving clause” set out in Ohio Rev.Code Ann. § 2305.15 (Page Supp.1975): When a cause of action accrues against a person, if he is out of the state, or has absconded, or conceals himself, the period of limitation for the commencement of the action as…”
Bendix Autolite Corp. v. Midwesco Enter., Inc., 486 U.S. 888 (1988). · cites it 4× “The Ohio tolling statute, Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2305.15 (Supp. 1987), is on its face discriminatory because it applies only to out-of-state corporations.”
Stafford v. Columbus Bonding Ctr., 896 N.E.2d 191 (Ohio Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 5× “Specifically, appellant contends in his fourth assignment of error that the trial court erred when it refused to rule on the issue of CBC’s vicarious liability for Callahan’s actions and, thus, whether Callahan’s leaving Ohio tolled the statute of limitations as to CBC pursuant…”
Hyde v. Reynoldsville Casket Co., 626 N.E.2d 75 (Ohio 1994). · cites it 12× “At the time of the accident, R.C. 2305.15, now 2305.15(A), tolled the limitations period for claims against out-of-state defendants by providing: “When a cause of action accrues against a person, if he is out of the state, or has absconded, or conceals himself, the period of…”
Show all 135 citing cases →
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.15(2)(b) — 1 case
Pulley v. Voytko, 2025 Ohio 1587 (Ohio Ct. App. 2025).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.15(A) — 70 cases
Elliot v. Durrani, 2021 Ohio 3055 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021). “{¶13} To answer that question now, we first turn to the plain language of R.C. 2305.15. R.C. 2305.15 is titled, “Tolling during defendant’s absence, concealment or imprisonment,” and states in pertinent part: (A) When a cause of action accrues against a person, if the person is…”
Grover v. Bartsch, 866 N.E.2d 547 (Ohio Ct. App. 2006). “The court further concluded that Ohio’s tolling statute, R.C. 2305.15, was unconstitutional as applied to Bartsch.”
Elliot v. Durrani, 2022 Ohio 4190 (Ohio 2022). “Durrani appealed, and we accepted jurisdiction over his lone proposition of law: “The absent defendant statute, R.C. 2305.15, does not toll the medical claim statute of repose in R.”
Dewine v. State Farm Ins. Co., 2020 Ohio 5517 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020). “Matthew also argues that the trial court improperly added “intent” as an element to R.C. 2305.15 even though there is no distinction in the statute between absences “intended” to be permanent and those “intended” to be temporary.”
Wilson v. Durrani, 2021 Ohio 3226 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021). “113(C) and made other amendments to R.C. 2305.15. Id., citing 2002 Am.Sub.S.B.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.15(A)(1) — 1 case
Pelletier v. Mercy Health Youngstown, L.L.C., 2024 Ohio 3397 (Ohio Ct. App. 2024).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.15(A)(2)(b) — 1 case
Gamble v. Valley Oaks Care Ctr., 2025 Ohio 570 (Ohio Ct. App. 2025).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.15(B) — 5 cases
Elliot v. Durrani, 2021 Ohio 3055 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021). “{¶13} To answer that question now, we first turn to the plain language of R.C. 2305.15. R.C. 2305.15 is titled, “Tolling during defendant’s absence, concealment or imprisonment,” and states in pertinent part: (A) When a cause of action accrues against a person, if the person is…”
Montgomery v. John Doe 26, 750 N.E.2d 1149 (Ohio Ct. App. 2000).
Henton v. Ohio Dept. of Rehab. & Corr., 2017 Ohio 2630 (Ohio Ct. App. 2017).
White v. Stotts, 2010 Ohio 4827 (Ohio Ct. App. 2010).
In re Evans v. Evans-Sanford, 2020 Ohio 5315 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.15(a) — 5 cases
Luse v. Durrani (S.D. Ohio 2021).
Sterling v. Durrani (S.D. Ohio 2021).
Sturdivant v. Durrani (S.D. Ohio 2021).
Mahlenkamp v. Durrani (S.D. Ohio 2021).
Stidham v. Durrani (S.D. Ohio 2021).
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