WARREN, Ohio (Legal Newsline) -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced Friday his office has filed a lawsuit against the owners of the former St. Joseph Riverside Hospital, requiring the demolition of the property and the reimbursement of costs.
The lawsuit against the Leesburg, Fla.-based Euro-American Finance Network Inc., Ljubica Stefanovic and Slavolijub Stefanovic, the company's president, alleged that the defendants were cited for code violations but took no actions to address the violations or demolish the property.
The owners allegedly took no further action after receiving the most recent notice that the property must be demolished.
"The refusal of the owners of the former St. Joseph Riverside Hospital to maintain their property and demolish it after it had been condemned exhibits egregious neglect which must be addressed," DeWine said.
"The Ohio Attorney General's Office has assisted cities in collecting the costs of demolition from grossly negligent property owners, and I am pleased to partner with the city of Warren to help combat blight and make this neighborhood safer for Warren families."
DeWine filed the lawsuit on behalf of the city of Warren and Warren Deputy Health Commissioner Robert Pinti. Warren Mayor William Franklin referred to the former hospital site as a long-standing and potentially dangerous structure.
The lawsuit requests that the Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas order the demolition of the property, declare the defendants responsible for the costs incurred by the city of Warren, and reimburse the city for costs associated with a previous demolition of a separate structure and the provision of public safety services at the site.
The lawsuit also seeks attorney costs and interest.