Hamrick v. Maloof , 2021 Ohio 1535 ( 2021 )

[Cite as Hamrick v. Maloof, 2021-Ohio-1535.]
STATE OF OHIO ) IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
)ss: NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
COUNTY OF MEDINA )
MARK HAMRICK C.A. No. 20CA0025-M
Appellee
v. APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT
ENTERED IN THE
WILLIAM MALOOF COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
COUNTY OF MEDINA, OHIO
Appellant CASE No. 17CIV1138
DECISION AND JOURNAL ENTRY
Dated: May 3, 2021
TEODOSIO, Judge.
{¶1} Defendant-Appellant, William Maloof, appeals from the judgment of the Medina
County Court of Common Pleas. This Court affirms.
I.
{¶2} Plaintiff-Appellee, Mark Hamrick, began working part-time at Thrifty Propane,
Inc. (“Thrifty Propane”) in 2004 and transitioned to a full-time position in 2011. He acted as the
company’s fleet manager and worked for Mr. Maloof, who functioned as the de facto head of the
company. In April 2015, Mr. Hamrick was placed on unpaid administrative leave for reasons
unknown to him. He soon learned, however, that Mr. Maloof had accused him of theft.
Specifically, Mr. Maloof had told others that Mr. Hamrick was selling propane tanks from his
home on the side and stealing propane, parts, copper, brass, and black iron. Mr. Hamrick never
returned to Thrifty Propane and, for the next several years, he was forced to accept different and
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temporary positions that paid significantly less than the salary he had been earning at Thrifty
Propane.
{¶3} Mr. Hamrick ultimately filed this suit against Mr. Maloof, Thrifty Propane, and
Carrie Benton, alleging defamation per se. He was unable to perfect service upon Thrifty Propane
or Ms. Benton, but successfully served Mr. Maloof. Specifically, a process server personally
served Mr. Maloof with the complaint at his residence. Because Mr. Hamrick was unable to
perfect service upon the other defendants, the trial court ultimately dismissed the case against them
without prejudice.
{¶4} Mr. Maloof did not file an answer or other responsive pleading. A jury trial was
scheduled before a magistrate, and notices of the trial were issued. On the day of trial, Mr. Hamrick
appeared with counsel, and it was the magistrate’s understanding that Mr. Maloof had not
appeared. Mr. Hamrick chose to try the case to the magistrate, and the magistrate dismissed the
jury pool. Shortly after Mr. Hamrick began testifying, however, the magistrate learned that Mr.
Maloof was present in the courtroom. The magistrate learned that Mr. Maloof had been present
the entire time and had not announced himself. As a result, a mistrial was declared, and a new
trial date was announced.
{¶5} Ten days before the rescheduled trial was set to occur, Mr. Hamrick filed a motion
for default judgment against Mr. Maloof. The magistrate set the matter for a motion hearing and
scheduled the hearing for the day of trial. On the morning of the scheduled hearing, an attorney
filed a notice of appearance on behalf of Mr. Maloof. He and Mr. Maloof then appeared at the
hearing and asked the magistrate for a continuance. Mr. Maloof claimed that a continuance was
warranted because he had just learned of the rescheduled trial date five days earlier. It was his
contention that the clerk of courts had initially mailed his notice of the rescheduled trial date to the
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wrong address. Yet, the magistrate rejected his contention, finding that he had been served at the
address where he lived and where a process server had successfully served him with the complaint.
The magistrate refused to continue the matter and granted a default judgment against him on the
issue of liability.
{¶6} Mr. Maloof filed objections to the magistrate’s decision as well as a motion for
leave to file an answer. The trial court held a hearing on his objections and, at its conclusion,
overruled the objections and adopted the magistrate’s decision. The court entered judgment
against Mr. Maloof on the issue of liability, issued discovery orders, and set the matter for a trial
on damages.
{¶7} Mr. Maloof subsequently served Mr. Hamrick with interrogatories, but Mr.
Hamrick failed to respond. Six days before the scheduled trial on damages, Mr. Maloof filed a
motion to compel and asked the court for a continuance. Though Mr. Hamrick immediately
supplied Mr. Maloof with his response to the interrogatories, he objected to two of the questions
contained therein. On the morning of trial, Mr. Maloof again asked for a continuance because Mr.
Hamrick had not provided him with certain information. The trial judge spoke with both parties
and ordered Mr. Hamrick to provide Mr. Maloof with the materials he sought. The judge then
ordered the trial postponed until the following day.
{¶8} The damages trial commenced the next day, and a jury awarded Mr. Hamrick
damages in the amount of $150,000. After the trial court entered judgment in that amount, Mr.
Maloof filed a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict and a motion for new trial. The
magistrate held a hearing on his motions and denied them. Mr. Maloof then filed objections to the
magistrate’s decision. Upon review, the trial court overruled his objections and left intact the
judgment in favor of Mr. Hamrick in the amount of $150,000.
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{¶9} Mr. Maloof now appeals from the trial court’s judgment and raises four assignments
of error for our review.
II.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR I
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FAILING TO GRANT APPELLANT
WILLIAM MALOOF LEAVE TO FILE HIS ANSWER AND IN GRANTING
PLAINTIFF DEFAULT JUDGMENT AS TO LIABILITY.
{¶10} In his first assignment of error, Mr. Maloof argues that the trial court erred when it
granted a default judgment against him on the issue of liability. According to Mr. Maloof, he
lacked proper notice of the default proceedings because he was not served with either the motion
for default judgment or the court’s notice of hearing on the motion for default judgment. He argues
that the default judgment against him is either void for lack of personal jurisdiction or subject to
vacatur because it violated his due process rights. For the following reasons, we reject his
argument.
{¶11} This Court generally reviews a trial court’s action regarding a magistrate’s decision
for an abuse of discretion. Fields v. Cloyd, 9th Dist. Summit No. 24150, 2008-Ohio-5232, ¶ 9.
“In so doing, we consider the trial court’s action with reference to the nature of the underlying
matter.” Tabatabai v. Tabatabai, 9th Dist. Medina No. 08CA0049-M, 2009-Ohio-3139, ¶ 18.
This Court applies the abuse of discretion standard when reviewing a trial court’s decision to grant
or deny a default judgment. Third Federal Savings & Loan v. Sutton, 9th Dist. Summit No. 28763,
2018-Ohio-2003, ¶ 11. An abuse of discretion implies the trial court’s decision is arbitrary,
unreasonable, or unconscionable. Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219 (1983).
{¶12} If “a party defending a claim has ‘failed to plead or otherwise defend,’ the court
may, upon motion, enter a default judgment on behalf of the party asserting the claim.” Ohio
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Valley Radiology Assocs., Inc. v. Ohio Valley Hosp. Assn., 28 Ohio St.3d 118, 120 (1986), quoting
Civ.R. 55(A). “The due process protections of Civ.R. 55 are triggered whenever the non-moving
party * * * has already made an appearance in the case at issue.” Bank of New York v. Smith, 9th
Dist. Summit No. 21534, 2003-Ohio-4633, ¶ 7. In those circumstances, “a defendant who has
appeared in the action must ‘be served with written notice of the application for [default] judgment
at least seven days prior to the hearing on such application.’” Picket v. Katz & Co. Salon, 9th Dist.
Summit No. 25851, 2011-Ohio-4396, ¶ 4, quoting Civ.R. 55(A). “Proper service of process is
required before a court can render a valid default judgment.” Hall v. Silver, 9th Dist. Summit No.
28798, 2018-Ohio-1706, ¶ 20.
{¶13} Mr. Maloof argues that the trial court erred when it granted a default judgment
against him because he was not served with Mr. Hamrick’s motion for default or the court’s notice
of the default hearing. He claims that he was entitled to notice because, while he never filed an
answer or responsive pleading, he appeared in the action. Specifically, he appeared at the
originally scheduled trial and, prior to the default judgment being entered, his attorney filed a
notice of appearance. Because the court entered a default judgment against him in the absence of
proper service, Mr. Maloof argues, its judgment is void.
{¶14} Initially, we note that Mr. Maloof’s captioned assignment of error includes an
argument that the trial court erred when it denied his motion for leave to file an answer.1 In the
body of his brief, however, Mr. Maloof has focused strictly on the issues of notice, service of
process, and the court’s decision to enter a default judgment. He has not set forth any argument
regarding his motion for leave. See App.R. 16(A)(7). Nor has he broached the subject of excusable
1
As previously noted, Mr. Maloof filed a motion for leave to answer after the magistrate entered
a default judgment against him.
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neglect. See, e.g., J.P. v. M.H., 9th Dist. Lorain No. 18CA011450, 2020-Ohio-13, ¶ 20-23. While
an assignment of error acts as a roadmap to guide our review, “it is not the function of this Court
to construct a foundation for [an appellant’s] claims.” Estate of Gravis v. Coffee, 9th Dist. Summit
No. 28815, 2019-Ohio-2806, ¶ 24. We may disregard an assignment of error when an appellant
has not set forth any argument in support of that assignment. See, e.g., State v. Ivery, 9th Dist.
Summit No. 28551, 2018-Ohio-2177, ¶ 17. Because Mr. Maloof has not addressed the denial of
his motion for leave in the body of his brief, we decline to address that issue. See id. We limit our
review to his argument that the default judgment against him is void because he was not served
with notice of the default proceedings.
{¶15} Upon review, we must conclude that Mr. Maloof’s argument fails in several
respects. First, the record reflects that he did not preserve his argument in the lower court. See
Civ.R. 53(D)(3)(b)(iv). The magistrate specifically found that Mr. Maloof was served with all
motions and notices at his home address. Mr. Maloof confirmed his address at the default hearing,
and the magistrate determined that the docket reflected the service of all motions and notices to
that address. Mr. Maloof did not challenge the magistrate’s finding or its legal conclusion about
service in his objections to the magistrate’s decision. Accordingly, he forfeited that argument for
appellate review. See id. See also Phillips v. Hostetler, 9th Dist. Summit No. 28397, 2017-Ohio-
2834, ¶ 12.
{¶16} Second, even assuming Mr. Maloof did not forfeit his argument by failing to object,
he has not provided this Court with a complete record. See Owens v. Ford Motor Co. Ohio Truck
Plant Div., 9th Dist. Lorain No. 18CA011422, 2019-Ohio-3136, ¶ 6 (noting that it is the duty of
an appellant to ensure the appellate record is complete). The trial court held an oral hearing on
Mr. Maloof’s objections to the magistrate’s decision and his motion for leave to file an answer to
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the complaint. Yet, the record does not contain a transcript of that hearing. The trial court
indicated that it reached its decision, in part, based on the arguments of counsel. Without a
complete record of the proceedings, this Court is compelled to affirm the trial court’s decision.
See id. at ¶ 6-7.
{¶17} Finally, even assuming we were able to address Mr. Maloof’s argument based on
the partial record that is before us, the partial record refutes his contention that he was not served
with the motion for default judgment or notice of the hearing on default judgment. Both items
reflect that they were served upon him by regular mail at the address where he resided. Because
both items were served by regular mail, service was deemed complete upon their mailing. Civ.R.
5(B)(2)(c). Each item was mailed at least seven days before the scheduled default hearing, see
Civ.R. 55(A), and Mr. Maloof’s attorney acknowledged at the default hearing that Mr. Maloof had
received the court’s notice several days earlier. Thus, the record itself belies his claim that he was
not served with the motion for default judgment or the court’s notice of the hearing on the same.
For the foregoing reasons, Mr. Maloof has not shown that the trial court erred when it granted a
default judgment against him on the issue of liability. His first assignment of error is overruled.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR II
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FAILING TO GRANT APPELLANT
WILLIAM MALOOF A CONTINUANCE OF THE TRIAL DATE WHEN
PLAINTIFF FAILED TO RESPOND TO DISCOVERY UNTIL THE MORNING
OF TRIAL AND FAILED TO RESPOND IN FULL TO DISCOVERY AT ALL
ONLY PROVIDING A PARTIAL PRODUCTION.
{¶18} In his second assignment of error, Mr. Maloof argues that the trial court erred when
it denied his motion to continue the trial on damages. For the following reasons, we reject his
argument.
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{¶19} This Court reviews for an abuse of discretion a trial court’s decision to grant or
deny a continuance. R.H. v. J.H., 9th Dist. Medina No. 18CA0115-M, 2020-Ohio-3402, ¶ 6. An
abuse of discretion implies the trial court’s decision is arbitrary, unreasonable, or unconscionable.
Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d at 219. When applying the abuse of discretion standard, a reviewing
court is precluded from simply substituting its own judgment for that of the trial court. Pons v.
Ohio State Med. Bd., 66 Ohio St.3d 619, 621 (1993).
{¶20} “In determining whether to grant or deny a motion for a continuance, the trial court
must balance ‘any potential prejudice to a [party against] concerns such as a court’s right to control
its own docket and the public’s interest in the prompt and efficient dispatch of justice.’” Dus v.
Dus, 9th Dist. Summit No. 18770, 1998 WL 733724, *2 (Oct. 21, 1998), quoting State v. Unger,
67 Ohio St.2d 65, 67 (1981). A trial court should consider
the length of the delay requested; whether other continuances have been requested
and received; the inconvenience to litigants, witnesses, opposing counsel and the
court; whether the requested delay is for legitimate reasons or whether it is dilatory,
purposeful, or contrived; whether the defendant contributed to the circumstance
which gives rise to the request for a continuance; and other relevant factors,
depending on the unique facts of each case.
Unger at 67-68. “‘[N]ot every denial of a continuance constitutes a denial of due process.’” R.H.
at ¶ 8, quoting State v. Broom, 40 Ohio St.3d 277, 288 (1988).
{¶21} Mr. Maloof sought a continuance six days before the scheduled trial on damages.
He made his request as part of a motion to compel, which he filed because Mr. Hamrick had not
responded to discovery. Mr. Maloof notified the court that he had served Mr. Hamrick with
interrogatories the previous month, but Mr. Hamrick had not responded. He argued that the
answers to the interrogatories were vital to his ability to prepare for trial, as he needed Mr. Hamrick
“to actually list damages caused by the alleged [defamation].” He asked the trial court to continue
the trial “until such a time as [Mr. Hamrick] has answered the interrogatories.”
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{¶22} On the morning of trial, Mr. Maloof’s counsel notified the court that Mr. Hamrick
had answered his interrogatories but had objected to two important questions. Specifically, he had
objected to the questions that asked him to identify the specific amount of damages he sought and
to provide “some sort of accounting for those damages * * *.” Mr. Maloof’s counsel indicated
that he required answers to those questions. He asked the court to continue the trial “until such a
time as [Mr. Hamrick] answer[ed] [them].”
{¶23} The trial court spoke with Mr. Hamrick’s counsel and, as a result, his counsel orally
advised the defense that Mr. Hamrick would be seeking $500,000 in damages. He also advised
the defense that Mr. Hamrick would be testifying as to his wage loss. The trial court chastised Mr.
Hamrick’s counsel at length for failing to respond to the interrogatories in a timely manner and for
objecting when he finally did respond. Even so, the court indicated that it was not inclined to
continue the matter as it was an old case, a pool of fifty jurors was waiting for the trial to
commence, and it was the second time a jury had been convened to try the case. The court asked
Mr. Maloof’s counsel what additional information he required, and he indicated that the defense
wanted an accounting of Mr. Hamrick’s damages. Mr. Hamrick’s counsel then outlined the
amount Mr. Hamrick had been earning when he lost his job and the reduced earnings that he had
managed elsewhere for the next four years. Mr. Hamrick’s counsel also produced his client’s tax
records and provided them to Mr. Maloof. When the court asked Mr. Maloof what else he needed,
his counsel answered that “[t]hose were the main things * * *.” The court then indicated that the
trial would be continued until the following morning. Before concluding for the day, the court had
each party identify the witnesses they intended to call. Mr. Hamrick’s counsel indicated that the
only witnesses he would be calling were Mr. Hamrick and his wife. When the trial commenced
the following morning, Mr. Maloof gave no indication that he was not ready to proceed.
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{¶24} Mr. Maloof argues that the trial court abused its discretion when it denied his
motion for a continuance. According to Mr. Maloof, the court placed him in the “precarious
position of moving forward with trial without discovery responses.” He argues that he was not
adequately prepared for trial and, given the age of the case, there was no reason it could not have
been postponed. Because the court required him to proceed without discovery responses, he avers,
the trial was fundamentally unfair.
{¶25} Upon review, the record does not support Mr. Maloof’s claim that the trial court
denied him a continuance. He asked the court to continue the trial until he received certain
information from Mr. Hamrick. The court ensured that he received that information before trial.
Indeed, the court postponed the trial for a day so that he could review it. Mr. Maloof did not object
to the one-day continuance. Nor did he indicate that he was unprepared for trial when he came
before the court the next day. On its face, the record negates his claim that the court forced him
to proceed without discovery responses because it refused to continue the trial.
{¶26} Even if we were to construe Mr. Maloof’s argument as a challenge to the duration
of the continuance the court allowed, we would be unable to conclude that the court abused its
discretion by limiting the continuance to a single day. See R.H., 2020-Ohio-3402, at ¶ 6. Again,
Mr. Maloof’s request for a continuance was contingent upon him receiving information from Mr.
Hamrick, and he received that information in advance of trial. The trial court required Mr.
Hamrick to outline his request for damages and the evidence he planned to introduce to substantiate
that request. When the court asked Mr. Maloof whether there was anything else that he needed,
he indicated that those items were the “main things” he had needed. In limiting the continuance
to a single day, the court considered the potential prejudice to Mr. Maloof, the age of the case, the
history of the case, and the fact that a jury pool had already been convened. See Unger, 67 Ohio
11St.2d at 67-68. Moreover, as noted, Mr. Maloof did not object to the length of the continuance the
court ordered or indicate that he was unprepared to proceed when he appeared the following day.
In light of the foregoing circumstances, we cannot conclude that the trial court acted unreasonably,
arbitrarily, or unconscionably when it ordered the trial to proceed after a continuance of a single
day. See Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d at 219; Pons, 66 Ohio St.3d at 621. Thus, Mr. Maloof’s second
assignment of error is overruled.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR III
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FAILING TO GRANT APPELLANT
WILLIAM MALOOF’S MOTION FOR RELIEF FROM JUDGMENT FILED
POST TRIAL.
{¶27} In his third assignment of error, Mr. Maloof argues that the trial court erred when
it denied him relief from judgment. Specifically, he argues that the jury’s damage award is not
sustained by the weight of the evidence. For the following reasons, we reject his assignment of
error.
{¶28} Mr. Maloof has framed his argument on appeal as one challenging the trial court’s
decision to deny him relief from judgment pursuant to Civ.R. 60(B). He has set forth the five
grounds for relief contained in Civ.R. 60(B)(1)-(5) and the elements a movant must satisfy to
prevail upon a motion for relief from judgment. See GTE Automatic Elec., Inc. v. ARC Industries,
Inc., 47 Ohio St.2d 146 (1976), paragraph two of the syllabus. Yet, the record reflects that he
never filed a Civ.R. 60(B) motion for relief from judgment or otherwise moved for relief pursuant
to that rule. He only filed a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict and a motion for new
trial. “‘Arguments that were not raised in the trial court cannot be raised for the first time on
appeal.’” Lloyd v. Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corp., 9th Dist. Summit No. 28908, 2019-
Ohio-4883, ¶ 13, quoting JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. v. Burden, 9th Dist. Summit No. 27104,
12
2014-Ohio-2746, ¶ 12. Because Mr. Maloof did not file a Civ.R. 60(B) motion in the lower court,
he cannot argue that he was entitled to relief from judgment under that rule. See Lloyd at ¶ 13.
{¶29} Mr. Maloof also argues that he was entitled to judgment notwithstanding the verdict
because the jury’s damage award was not sustained by the weight of the evidence. He argues that
there was insufficient evidence to support a finding that Mr. Hamrick’s damages “were 100% the
direct result” of any alleged defamation. According to Mr. Maloof, Mr. Hamrick did not prove
that he was fired because he was defamed. He also argues that the jury disregarded evidence
tending to show that, following his termination from Thrifty Propane, Mr. Hamrick bore a certain
percentage of responsibility for his reduction in income. He claims that the jury lost its way when
it awarded $150,000 in damages, ignored Mr. Hamrick’s duty to mitigate, and failed to reduce the
damage award “for the income paid by [Mr. Maloof] and the income earned by [Mr. Hamrick] in
subsequent employment.”
{¶30} The record reflects that Mr. Maloof filed a motion for judgment notwithstanding
the verdict, as well as other post-judgment motions, and the magistrate held a hearing on his
motions. Following the hearing, the magistrate issued a decision denying his motion for judgment
notwithstanding the verdict, as “there [were] no adequate grounds to set aside the jury verdict.”
Mr. Maloof objected to the magistrate’s decision, cited the evidence introduced at trial, and
maintained that the jury had lost its way in determining damages. Upon review, the trial court
overruled his objections and denied his motion.
{¶31} “[T]his Court reviews a trial court’s grant or denial of a judgment notwithstanding
the verdict de novo.” Jackovic v. Webb, 9th Dist. Summit No. 26555, 2013-Ohio-2520, ¶ 15. See
also Tabatabai, 2009-Ohio-3139, at ¶ 18 (noting that trial court’s action on magistrate’s decision
reviewed with reference to the nature of the underlying matter). A judgment notwithstanding the
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verdict “is proper if upon viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the non-moving party
and presuming any doubt to favor the nonmoving party reasonable minds could come to but one
conclusion, that being in favor of the moving party.” Williams v. Spitzer Auto World Amherst,
Inc., 9th Dist. Lorain No. 07CA009098, 2008-Ohio-1467, ¶ 9. A verdict cannot be set aside under
Civ.R. 50(B) on the grounds that it is against the weight of the evidence. Stamper v. Belle Tire
Distribs., Inc., 9th Dist. Medina No. 18CA0034-M, 2019-Ohio-4220, ¶ 8. Nor can a Civ.R. 50(B)
motion be used to challenge the amount of a jury’s damage award. Designers Choice, Inc. v.
Attractive Floorings, LLC, 9th Dist. Lorain No. 19CA011576, 2020-Ohio-4617, ¶ 9. The rule
“provides the means to challenge the jury’s verdict, not [its] award of damages.” Jemson v. Falls
Village Retirement Community, Ltd., 9th Dist. Summit No. 20845, 2002-Ohio-4155, ¶ 17. “[A]
claim that the evidence fails to support the damages award is appropriately raised in a motion for
new trial.” Alonso v. Thomas, 9th Dist. Lorain No. 19CA011483, 2021-Ohio-341, ¶ 64.
{¶32} Upon review, we cannot conclude that the trial court erred when it denied Mr.
Maloof’s motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. A Civ.R. 50(B) motion was not the
appropriate mechanism through which he could challenge the jury’s damage award. Designers
Choice, Inc. at ¶ 9. Notably, the trial court entered a default judgment against Mr. Maloof on the
issue of liability, so there was no jury verdict for him to contest on that issue. See Summit at St.
Andrews Home Owners Assn. v. Kollar, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 11 MA 49, 2012-Ohio-1696, ¶
13. “[His] assertion that the evidence [did] not support the [jury’s] award of damages [was] better
placed in [an] argument for a new trial * * *.” Jemson at ¶ 17. Thus, the trial court did not err
when it overruled his objections and adopted the magistrate’s decision to deny his Civ.R. 50(B)
motion.
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{¶33} Mr. Maloof’s third assignment of error also contains a brief argument that he was
entitled to a new trial. We decline to address his argument at this time, however, as it is the crux
of his fourth assignment of error and will be addressed therein. See Discussion, infra. His third
assignment of error is overruled.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR IV
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FAILING TO GRANT APPELLANT
WILLIAM MALOOF’S MOTION FOR A NEW TRIAL.
{¶34} In his fourth assignment of error, Mr. Maloof argues that the trial court erred when
it denied his motion for a new trial. We do not agree.
{¶35} Pursuant to Civ.R. 59, a new trial may be granted for any of the following reasons:
(1) Irregularity in the proceedings * * * by which an aggrieved party was prevented
from having a fair trial;
(2) Misconduct of the jury or prevailing party;
(3) Accident or surprise which ordinary prudence could not have guarded against;
(4) Excessive or inadequate damages, appearing to have been given under the
influence of passion or prejudice;
(5) Error in the amount of recovery, whether too large or too small, when the action
is upon a contract or for the injury or detention of property;
(6) The judgment is not sustained by the weight of the evidence; however, only one
new trial may be granted on the weight of the evidence in the same case;
(7) The judgment is contrary to law;
(8) Newly discovered evidence, material for the party applying, which with
reasonable diligence he could not have discovered and produced at trial;
(9) Error of law occurring at the trial and brought to the attention of the trial court
by the party making the application.
Civ.R. 59(A)(1)-(9). Additionally, a new trial may be granted “in the sound discretion of the court
for good cause shown.” Civ.R. 59(A). “Depending upon the basis of a motion for a new trial, this
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Court reviews the trial court’s decision to grant or deny the motion under either a de novo or an
abuse of discretion standard of review.” Calame v. Treece, 9th Dist. Wayne No. 07CA0073, 2008-
Ohio-4997, ¶ 13. See also Tabatabai, 2009-Ohio-3139, at ¶ 18.
{¶36} In moving for a new trial, Mr. Maloof did not cite any of the specific grounds
outlined in Civ.R. 59(A). He argued that he was entitled to a new trial because: (1) the jury’s
verdict was not sustained by the weight of the evidence; (2) Mr. Hamrick’s actions in providing
him with discovery “only hours” before trial affected his ability to prepare; and (3) Mr. Hamrick’s
counsel improperly appealed to the jury’s sympathy by criticizing him (Mr. Maloof) for not
testifying. He further argued that he was entitled to a new trial because “the jury was unduly
influenced by the statements that [he] committed this offense and made these statements when
there was never any testimony that established what was said, what the defamatory statements
were, and the combination of the allegations in the pleading was insufficient to support same
statements.”
{¶37} The magistrate denied Mr. Maloof’s motion for new trial, finding that he had failed
to satisfy any of the grounds set forth in Civ.R. 59(A) or otherwise demonstrate that good cause
existed for granting a new trial. Mr. Maloof then objected to the magistrate’s decision and
reiterated that he was entitled to a new trial for the reasons outlined above. The trial court overruled
his objections and adopted the magistrate’s decision to deny the motion for a new trial.
{¶38} Upon review, we cannot conclude that the trial court erred when it overruled Mr.
Maloof’s objections and denied his motion for a new trial. Several portions of Mr. Maloof’s
argument appeared to challenge the sufficiency of Mr. Hamrick’s evidence on the issue of liability
(i.e., whether he proved that any defamatory statements were made). That issue was not before
the jury, however, as it had already been determined by default judgment. Because Mr. Maloof
16
already had a default judgment against him, Mr. Hamrick was not required to prove liability at the
damages trial. Nor was he required to prove actual damages. His damages were presumed because
Mr. Hamrick was found liable for defamation per se. See Lopez v. Thomas, 9th Dist. Summit No.
27115, 2014-Ohio-2513, ¶ 10. The trial court specifically instructed the jury that Mr. Hamrick
had prevailed on the issue of liability, that they were to assume his reputation had been injured,
and that the purpose of the trial was to determine the extent of his damages. Thus, Mr. Maloof
was not entitled to a new trial based on Mr. Hamrick’s alleged failure to prove the elements of
defamation at trial.
{¶39} Mr. Maloof also failed to show that he was entitled to a new trial on the basis that
the jury’s damage award was either excessive or not sustained by the weight of the evidence. The
assessment of damages is a matter that lies “‘thoroughly within the province of the jury’” and will
not be disturbed “‘absent an affirmative finding of passion and prejudice or a finding that the award
is manifestly excessive.’” (Emphasis omitted.) Price v. KNL Custom Homes, Inc., 9th Dist.
Summit No. 26968, 2015-Ohio-436, ¶ 46, quoting Moskovitz v. Mt. Sinai Med. Ctr., 69 Ohio St.3d
638, 654 (1994). Mr. Maloof made no attempt to satisfy the foregoing standard, and the record
itself cuts against any such finding. Mr. Hamrick testified that he was on track to earn $100,000
per year with Thrifty Propane beginning in 2015. He testified that, following his termination, he
earned far less from temporary work and was unable to find permanent, secure employment of that
nature. He introduced his tax records from 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018, and those records showed
that he earned far less money in those years. His wife also testified how his financial struggles
impacted their family and forced her to return to the workforce. Although Mr. Hamrick requested
$500,000 in damages, the jury awarded him less than one-third of that amount (i.e., $150,000).
The jury also chose not to award him any special damages. The record, therefore, does not support
17
Mr. Maloof’s argument that the jury lost its way, issued an excessive award, or disregarded Mr.
Hamrick’s duty to mitigate his damages.
{¶40} To the extent Mr. Maloof argues that he was entitled to a new trial due to a
discovery delay, he has not shown that the delay affected his substantial rights. See Civ.R. 61.
The trial court required Mr. Hamrick to divulge the information and documents Mr. Maloof sought,
confirmed that Mr. Maloof had the items he needed, and postponed the trial for a day so that he
could review that evidence. See Discussion, supra. The following day, Mr. Maloof gave the court
no indication that he was not prepared to go forward with the trial. Absent any actual showing of
prejudice, we cannot conclude that the trial court erred when it refused to award Mr. Maloof a new
trial. See Civ.R. 61.
{¶41} Finally, we reject Mr. Maloof’s argument that he was entitled to a new trial because
Mr. Hamrick’s counsel improperly appealed to the sympathy of the jury. During closing argument,
Mr. Hamrick’s counsel criticized Mr. Maloof for not taking the stand and for not apologizing to
Mr. Hamrick. Although the court allowed counsel to comment on Mr. Maloof’s failure to testify,
it briefly stopped his argument and instructed the jury that its job was not to determine punishment
or to consider any type of punitive damages. The court reiterated that Mr. Hamrick’s claim was
strictly for compensatory damages, and the court later instructed the jury on compensatory
damages.
{¶42} This Court has recognized that “the failure of the defendant in a civil action to
testify may properly be commented upon to the jury.” Whitlatch & Co. v. Stern, 9th Dist. Summit
No. 15345, 1992 WL 205071, *8 (Aug. 19, 1992). Because Mr. Maloof chose not to testify, Mr.
Hamrick’s counsel was free to comment on his choice. Even so, the court’s cautionary instruction
also acted to protect Mr. Maloof’s right to a fair trial, as it ensured that the jury would not award
18
damages for the purpose of punishing him. See Tesar Indus. Contrs., Inc. v. Republic Steel, 9th
Dist. Lorain Nos. 16CA010957, 16CA010960, 2018-Ohio-2089, ¶ 40. Upon review, Mr. Maloof
has not shown that the trial court erred when it denied his motion for a new trial. Accordingly, his
fourth assignment of error is overruled.
III.
{¶43} Mr. Maloof’s assignments of error are overruled. The judgment of the Medina
County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.
Judgment affirmed.
There were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
We order that a special mandate issue out of this Court, directing the Court of Common
Pleas, County of Medina, State of Ohio, to carry this judgment into execution. A certified copy of
this journal entry shall constitute the mandate, pursuant to App.R. 27.
Immediately upon the filing hereof, this document shall constitute the journal entry of
judgment, and it shall be file stamped by the Clerk of the Court of Appeals at which time the period
for review shall begin to run. App.R. 22(C). The Clerk of the Court of Appeals is instructed to
mail a notice of entry of this judgment to the parties and to make a notation of the mailing in the
docket, pursuant to App.R. 30.
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Costs taxed to Appellant.
THOMAS A. TEODOSIO
FOR THE COURT
CARR, P. J.
CALLAHAN, J.
CONCUR.
APPEARANCES:
MIKE CALLOW, Attorney at Law, for Appellant.
TOM LEROY ERB, Attorney at Law, for Appellant.
JOHN F. BURKE III, Attorney at Law, for Appellee.