Eubanks v. Simons ( 2018 )

[Cite as Eubanks v. Simons, 2018-Ohio-519.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
CLARK COUNTY
DORIS EUBANKS AND MARTHA :
ROSE :
: Appellate Case No. 2017-CA-50
Plaintiffs-Appellees :
: Trial Court Case No. 16-CVI-2984
v. :
: (Civil Appeal from
JUDITH SIMONS AND SHAWN : Municipal Court)
SIMONS :
:
Defendants-Appellant
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OPINION
Rendered on the 9th day of February, 2018.
...........
DORIS EUBANKS AND MARTHA ROSE, 1833 W. Main Street, Springfield, Ohio 45504
Plaintiffs-Appellees, Pro Se
JUDITH SIMONS AND SHAWN SIMONS, 120 S. Russell Street, Apt. D, Urbana, Ohio
43078
Defendants-Appellant, Pro Se
.............
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HALL, J.
{¶ 1} Shawn Simons appeals pro se from the trial court’s judgment entry finding
him liable to plaintiffs-appellees Doris Eubanks and Martha Rose for damage to their
automobiles.1
{¶ 2} In his sole assignment of error, Simons contends the trial court’s judgment is
not supported by legally sufficient evidence. Specifically, he claims the record contains
no evidence that he was driving a vehicle that struck and damaged the appellees’
unoccupied, parked cars. Simons asserts that he was not driving, that no one saw him
driving, and that he did not receive a citation. Absent any evidence that he was driving
the vehicle that hit the appellees’ cars, Simons argues that the trial court erred in finding
him liable for damages.
{¶ 3} The record reflects that the appellees filed an amended small-claims
complaint against Shawn and Judith Simons for the damage to their vehicles. (Doc. #8).
The case proceeded to trial before a magistrate on April 11, 2017. (Doc. #14). All parties
appeared without counsel and presented evidence. (Id.). After hearing the evidence, the
magistrate determined that the claim against Judith Simons should be dismissed. The
magistrate also found the appellees entitled to judgment against Shawn Simons in the
amount of $5,420 plus costs. (Id.). No objections were filed. Thereafter, the trial court
dismissed the claim against Judith Simons and entered judgment for $5,420 in favor of
the appellees and against Shawn Simons. This appeal followed.
1 Although Judith Simons’ name appears in the caption on appeal, she did not join in
the notice of appeal. (Doc. #16). In fact, the notice of appeal states that she is not a
party to the appeal because she was found not liable below. We have retained her
name in the caption only because she was identified as a party in the caption of the
judgment from which Shawn Simons has appealed.
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{¶ 4} Having reviewed the record, we note that Shawn Simons has not caused to
be prepared or filed a transcript of the proceedings before the magistrate. He also has
failed to file an acceptable alternative under App.R. 9. Although he twice has attempted
to file his own affidavit as a statement of the evidence, we rejected those affidavits on
both occasions, finding the requirements of the rule not satisfied. (See Sept. 14, 2017
Decision and Entry and November 7, 2017 Decision and Entry). On the second occasion,
we noted that Simons still had not filed a transcript of the proceedings or an acceptable
affidavit in lieu of a transcript in compliance with App.R. 9. That being so, we deemed the
record complete and ordered briefing to proceed.
{¶ 5} Because Simons has not provided us with a transcript of the proceedings or
an acceptable substitute under App.R. 9, we have nothing to review and therefore cannot
conclude that the trial court erred in finding him liable to the appellees. It is the duty of the
appellant to provide a transcript or acceptable substitute because the appellant is required
to show the error he claims the trial court made. Wolf v. Rothstein, 2016-Ohio-5441, 61
N.E.3d 1, ¶ 6 (2d Dist.). Under these circumstances, we must presume regularity of the
proceedings below and affirm the trial court’s judgment. Namenyi v. Tomasello, 2d Dist.
Greene No. 2013-CA-75, 2014-Ohio-4509, ¶ 26-29.
{¶ 6} In his brief Simons claims that no traffic citation was issued for the collisions.
But this is a civil case that rises or falls on its own merits and whether a citation was
issued arising from an accident doesn’t matter because that is not admissible. Wolfe v.
Baskin, 137 Ohio St. 284, 28 N.E.2d 629 (1940); Barge v. House, 94 Ohio App. 515, 110
N.E.2d 425 (2d Dist.1952). Furthermore we cannot accept as fact his statements in his
brief that he appeared at the scene after the accident because there is no transcript to
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verify what evidence was actually presented at trial.
{¶ 7} The assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 8} Judgment in favor of Doris Eubanks and Martha Rose and against Shawn
Simons for $5,420.00 and court costs is affirmed.
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FROELICH, J. and TUCKER, J., concur.
Copies mailed to:
Doris Eubanks
Martha Rose
Judith Simons
Shawn Simons
Hon. Robert E. Messham, Jr.