McNair v. Brecksville , 96 N.E.3d 1078 ( 2017 )

[Cite as McNair v. Brecksville, 2017-Ohio-7401.]
Court of Appeals of Ohio
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
No. 104706
EBEN O. MCNAIR, IV
PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT
vs.
CITY OF BRECKSVILLE, ET AL.
DEFENDANTS-APPELLEES
JUDGMENT:
AFFIRMED
Civil Appeal from the
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Case No. CV-15-850799
BEFORE: Laster Mays, J., Boyle, P.J., and S. Gallagher, J.
RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: August 31, 2017
-i-
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT
Anand N. Misra
The Misra Law Firm, L.L.C.
3659 Green Road, Suite 100
Cleveland, Ohio 44122
Robert S. Belovich
9100 South Hills Road, Suite 325
Broadview Heights, Ohio 44147
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEES
Shana Samson
Mark B. Marong
David J. Matty
Matty Henrikson & Greve L.L.C.
55 Public Square, Suite 1775
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
For Virginia Price
Mark B. Marong
David J. Matty
Matty Henrikson & Greve L.L.C.
55 Public Square, Suite 1775
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
For Regional Income Tax Agency
Amy L. Arrighi
Amber E. Greenleaf Duber
Regional Income Tax Agency
P.O. Box 470537
Broadview Heights, Ohio 44147
ANITA LASTER MAYS, J.:
{¶1} Plaintiff-appellant, Eben O. McNair, IV (“McNair”), appeals the trial
court’s grant of motions for judgment on the pleadings in favor of defendants-appellees
Virginia Price (“Price”), Regional Income Tax Agency (“RITA”) and the city of
Brecksville (“Brecksville”), rejecting McNair’s challenge that a city tax ordinance is
unlawful. We affirm the trial court’s decision.
I. Background and Facts
{¶2} Brecksville is a home rule municipality organized under a city charter
(“Charter”) pursuant to Ohio Constitution, Article XVIII, Section 3, known as the Home
Rule Amendment (“Amendment”). The Amendment vests municipalities with the
authority to “exercise all powers of local self government and to adopt and enforce within
their limits such local police, sanitary, and other similar regulations, as are not in conflict
with general laws.” Id.{¶3} At the October 21, 2014 meeting of the Brecksville City Council, Ordinance
4890 was introduced, “amending Section 1519.02 of the Taxation Code to reduce the
allowable Municipal Income Tax Credit for a limited period of time and declaring an
emergency” (“Ordinance”). The Ordinance reduced the tax credit for Brecksville
residents who were paying employment taxes on income earned in their city of
employment from 100 percent to 87.50 percent, effective January 1, 2015. The stated
purpose of the Ordinance is to “effectively fund the necessary functions of the city of
Brecksville.”
{¶4} McNair is a Brecksville resident whose law offices are located in
Cleveland. Prior to enactment of the Ordinance, McNair did not pay Brecksville income
taxes due to the 100 percent credit.
{¶5} The meeting minutes state that the Ordinance “was read in its entirety.”
The second reading was conducted November 4, 2014 and unanimously passed to third
reading. The third reading was tabled at the November 18, 2014 meeting. On
December 16, 2014, after considerable public comment, the Ordinance passed by a
four-to-three vote.
{¶6} On August 26, 2015, McNair directed a letter to Brecksville Law Director
David Matty (“Matty”) informing him that the Ordinance was not properly enacted as an
emergency measure and requesting that enforcement efforts cease. On September 2,
2015, Matty declined to suspend enforcement, citing the last sentence of the Ordinance’s
emergency clause that states the “Ordinance shall be in full force and effect immediately
upon its adoption by Council and approval by the Mayor, otherwise, from and after the
earliest period allowed by law.”
{¶7} On September 8, 2015, McNair filed a taxpayer’s action for declaratory
judgment and class action relief against Brecksville, Price, and RITA. McNair sought
Civ.R. 23 class certification based on commonality of law and fact as to whether the
Ordinance was lawfully enacted, whether the underlying tax may be lawfully collected,
and as to any affirmative defenses that may be asserted by appellees.
{¶8} McNair proffered six claims: (1) declaratory judgment regarding
construction or validity of a municipal ordinance and declaration of rights, status, or other
legal relations (R.C. 2721.03); (2) declaratory judgment for return of money collected,
pursuant to R.C. 733.59 and R.C. 2721.01 et seq.; (3) unlawful taking of property without
compensation (Ohio Constitution, Article I, Section 19); (4) unjust enrichment; (5)
enforcement injunctive relief; and (6) liability for public money received or collected
(R.C. 9.39). Brecksville and Price admitted to the tax imposition and collection with the
affirmative defenses lack of standing and statute of limitations. RITA admitted to the
agency relationship with Brecksville.
{¶9} On November 19, 2015, Brecksville and Price filed a Civ.R. 12(C) motion
for judgment on the pleadings (“motion”) that was opposed by McNair. Dispositive
motions and class certification briefs were due by April 8, 2016. On that date, the court
granted the motion without opinion. McNair’s motion for reconsideration was denied
May 11, 2016. RITA also filed a motion that was granted on June 28, 2016, on the
ground that the judgment for Brecksville and Price resolved all claims against RITA.
{¶10} McNair appeals. We affirm the trial court’s judgment.
II. Assignments of Error
{¶11} McNair advances two assignments of error:
I. The trial court erred in granting the motion for judgment on the
pleadings filed by Brecksville and Price.
II. The trial court erred in granting the motion for judgment on the
pleadings filed by RITA.
III. Standard of Review
{¶12} A Civ.R. 12(C) motion for judgment on the pleadings is effectively a
delayed Civ.R. 12(B)(6) motion to dismiss. The motion poses questions of law, with a
de novo standard of review.
We review a ruling on a motion for judgment on the pleadings de novo,
based solely on the allegations of the pleadings. Judgment on the
pleadings is appropriate if, “after construing all material allegations in the
complaint, along with all reasonable inferences drawn therefrom in favor of
the nonmoving party, the court finds that the plaintiff can prove no set of
facts in support of its claim that would entitle it to relief.” Tenable
Protective Servs., Inc. v. Bit E-Technologies, L.L.C., 8th Dist. Cuyahoga
No. 89958, 2008-Ohio-4233, ¶ 12.
Bozeman v. Cleveland Metro. Hous. Auth., 8th Dist. Cuyahoga Nos. 92435 and 92436,
2009-Ohio-5491, ¶ 8, fn. 3.
IV. Law and Analysis
{¶13} We address the errors in combination for purposes of judicial economy.
We find that the errors lack merit.
A. Validity of Ordinance
{¶14} Article IV, Section 11, of the Charter provides in part:
Each ordinance or resolution providing for * * * an annual tax levy * *
* and any emergency ordinance necessary for the immediate preservation of
public peace, health or safety, shall take effect, unless a later date be
specified therein, upon its approval by the Mayor, or upon the expiration of
the time within which it may be vetoed by the Mayor, or upon its passage
after veto by the Mayor. * * * Each emergency measure shall contain a
statement of the necessity for such emergency action, and shall require the
affirmative vote of five (5) members of Council for its enactment.
The Ordinance passed on the third reading at the December 16, 2014 Council meeting
after substantial public comment: “Motion carried 4-Ayes, 3-Nays.” {¶15}
Pursuant to Article IV, Section 10 of the Charter:
All legislative action * * * may be taken by motion approved by at least
four (4) members of Council. An affirmative vote of at least four (4)
members of Counsel shall be required for the passage or enactment of every
ordinance or resolution. Every ordinance or resolution shall be fully and
distinctly read at three (3) different regular Council meetings unless five (5)
members of Council vote affirmatively to dispense with the rule, in which
event the ordinance or resolution shall be fully and distinctly read at least
once before passage. * * *
{¶16} The usual rules of statutory construction apply in interpreting Charter
provisions. Fisher v. Amberley Village, 2015-Ohio-2384, 37 N.E.3d 731, ¶ 32 (1st
Dist.), citing McQueen v. Dohoney, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-130196, 2013-Ohio-2424, ¶
42, citing State ex rel. Comm. for the Charter Amendment v. Westlake, 97 Ohio St.3d 100,
2002-Ohio-5302, 776 N.E.2d 1041, ¶ 28.
{¶17} A pivotal case cited by the parties in this dispute is Youngstown v. Aiello,
156 Ohio St. 32, 100 N.E.2d 62 (1951). Aiello challenged the validity of an ordinance
underlying his conviction for “one deemed to be a suspicious person,” alleging the
ordinance was not properly enacted. Id. at ¶ 34-35. The Aiello ordinance is identified as
an emergency measure; however, “the requirement of the statute essential to the
enactment of this ordinance as an emergency measure, permitting it to go into immediate
effect, was not followed.” Id. at ¶ 37.
{¶18} The trial court reversed Aiello’s conviction, finding that “the ordinance was
not properly enacted as an emergency measure” and was void as a result. Id. at ¶ 34.
The appellate court reversed that finding, and it was appealed to the Ohio Supreme Court.
{¶19} The Ohio Supreme Court agreed that the emergency enactment process
was not followed; therefore, it lacked validity as an emergency enactment. However, the
court did find that the legislation was valid as a regular ordinance:
In the respect indicated, the requirement of the statute essential to the
enactment of this ordinance as an emergency measure, permitting it to go
into immediate effect, was not followed. It, therefore, lacked validity as an
emergency enactment. It is to be observed, however, that such ordinance
was enacted March 7, 1928, and that there was no challenge of its validity
as an emergency measure by a referendum proceeding or otherwise.
Except in the respect essential to its going into effect as an emergency
ordinance it was validly enacted.
(Emphasis added.) Id. at ¶ 37, citing Vansuch v. State, 112 Ohio St. 688, 148 N.E. 232(1925).
{¶20} Appellees argue that Aiello supports their position that: the Ordinance in
this case was validly enacted, it became effective upon signature by the mayor, and the
only mechanism for challenging the Ordinance is by referendum. McNair counters that
the Aiello ordinance was determined to be valid because it was passed by the requisite
super-majority while the Ordinance in this case was not. McNair also argues that the
applicable statutes of limitation for challenging the legislation had expired in Aiello, but
are still valid in this case.
{¶21} We find that the Brecksville Ordinance was validly enacted as an
ordinance. While, on its face, the Ordinance states that it is an emergency measure, the
Ordinance was read three times at three meetings and was approved by a vote of four
council members in compliance with the requirements for nonemergency legislation
pursuant to Article IV, Section 10 of the Charter. While McNair is correct that Article IV,
Section 11 of the Charter requires a super-majority vote for emergency measures, there is
no such requirement for nonemergency measures.
{¶22} The analysis does not end here. The stated purpose of the Ordinance is to
raise funds for municipal operations by reducing the income tax credit, thus constituting
an annual tax levy wholly within Brecksville’s municipal powers. “[M]unicipalities have
within their general power of taxation the power to tax incomes.” Thompson v.
Cincinnati, 2 Ohio St.2d 292, 294, 208 N.E.2d 747 (1965), citing Angell v. Toledo, 153
Ohio St. 179, 91 N.E.2d 250 (1950); McConnell v. Columbus, 172 Ohio St. 95, 173
N.E.2d 760 (1961); and Benua v. Columbus, 170 Ohio St. 64, 162 N.E.2d 467 (1959).
See also R.C. Chapter 718 (municipal income taxes), Ohio Constitution, Article XVIII,
Section 13 (authority to levy taxes), and Article XVIII, Section 7 (municipal home rule).
{¶23} Article IV, Section 11, of the Charter specifically addresses the effective
date of an Ordinance for an annual tax levy:
Each ordinance or resolution providing for the appropriation of money or
for an annual tax levy, * * * and any emergency ordinance or resolution * *
* shall take effect, unless a later date be specified therein, upon its approval
by the Mayor or upon the expiration of the time within which it may be
vetoed by the Mayor or upon its passage after veto by the Mayor, as the
case may be.
Id. It is clear that not only may emergency legislation take effect immediately upon
approval by the mayor, the same is true of an ordinance for an annual tax levy such as the
Ordinance in this case. Id.{¶24} The Ordinance provides that it “shall be in full force and effect
immediately upon its adoption by this Council and approval by the Mayor, otherwise,
from and after the earliest period allowed by Law.” The mayor signed the Ordinance on
December 16, 2014.
{¶25} According to Article IV, Section 10 of the Charter, all ordinances and
resolutions required by law or the Charter to be published or posted must be posted or
published for 15 days prior to becoming effective, except that emergency legislation will
be effective immediately. Per Aiello, the Ordinance takes effect “in the same manner as
other regular ordinances.” Id. at 34, citing Vansuch v. State, 112 Ohio St. 688, 148 N.E.
232 (1925). “In the absence of any evidence to the contrary it is proper to assume that
such provision was complied with and that the ordinance was duly published and in due
time became effective as a valid ordinance.” Id. at 37.
{¶26} “Except in the respect essential to its going into effect as an emergency
ordinance[,]” the Ordinance in this case “was validly enacted.” Aiello at ¶ 37. Article
VIII, Section 2, of the Charter provides that the mechanism for challenging the validity of
the Ordinance is by referendum, to be exercised in accordance with the Constitution and
laws of Ohio.1
{¶27} We agree with the trial court’s determination that McNair is unable to
prove a set of facts supporting his claim that would result in entitlement to relief “after
construing all material allegations in the complaint, along with all reasonable inferences
drawn therefrom in favor of the nonmoving party.” Tenable Protective Servs., 8th Dist.
Cuyahoga No. 89958, 2008-Ohio-4233, ¶ 12.
{¶28} Further, as the result of our determination that the Ordinance was validly
enacted, the trial court’s determination as to RITA is also affirmed.
{¶29} Judgment affirmed.
It is ordered that appellee recover of appellants costs herein taxed.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the common
pleas court to carry this judgment into execution.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of
the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
1 We recognize that appellant was thwarted from challenging the ordinance
by way of referendum because of the confusion created by mislabeling the
legislation as an emergency. However, despite any reservations we may have, we
are constrained to affirm because the legislation was validly enacted.
_________________________________________
ANITA LASTER MAYS, JUDGE
MARY J. BOYLE, P.J., and
SEAN C. GALLAGHER, J., CONCUR