Staub v. Miller , 2018 Ohio 3603 ( 2018 )

[Cite as Staub v. Miller, 2018-Ohio-3603.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
GREENE COUNTY
KIMBERLY S. STAUB :
:
Petitioner-Appellant : Appellate Case No. 2018-CA-2
:
v. : Trial Court Case No. 2017-SP-3
:
KATHEE MILLER : (Domestic Relations Appeal)
:
Respondent-Appellee :
:
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OPINION
Rendered on the 7th day of September, 2018.
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JAY A. ADAMS, Atty. Reg. No. 0072135, 36 North Detroit Street, Suite 102, Xenia, Ohio
45385
Attorney for Petitioner-Appellant
MICHELLE J. GEARHARDT, Atty. Reg. No. 0023329, 211 Kenbrook Drive, Suite 5,
Vandalia, Ohio 45377
Attorney for Respondent-Appellee
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WELBAUM, P.J.
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{¶ 1} This case is before us on the appeal of Petitioner-Appellant, Kimberly Staub,
from a judgment granting the Civ.R. 60(B) motion filed by Respondent/Appellee, Kathee
Miller. Staub’s single assignment of error is that the trial court erred in granting the
motion for Civ.R. 60(B) relief.
{¶ 2} We conclude that this matter is moot because the trial court dismissed
Staub’s request for a protection order after a hearing, and Staub failed to appeal from the
judgment of dismissal. Accordingly, there is no relief we can order, and the appeal must
be dismissed as moot. However, even if we could consider the judgment dismissing the
protection order, Miller demonstrated excusable neglect.
I. Facts and Course of Proceedings
{¶ 3} On February 14, 2017, Staub filed a petition seeking a civil stalking protection
order (“SPO”) against Miller. An ex parte order was granted the same day, precluding
Miller from having contact with Staub and prohibiting Miller from being within 500 feet of
Staub.
{¶ 4} The two women involved in this case have had a long history of acrimony.
Staub is married to Miller’s ex-husband, and Staub had previously filed a petition in 2014,
seeking a civil stalking protection order against Miller. In the current case, after granting
several continuances, the trial court set a full protection hearing for September 8, 2017,
at 1:00 p.m. During the morning before the scheduled hearing, the parties reached an
agreement. However, due to miscommunication between the attorneys, Miller and her
attorney were not present at the scheduled hearing time. Instead, they believed they
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were supposed to appear at 1:30 p.m. to sign an agreed entry dismissing the case.
{¶ 5} At around 1:00 p.m., the trial court held a very brief hearing, during which
only Staub testified. The court indicated at the time that it would grant a five-year
protection order. Staub and her attorney then left the courthouse. Miller arrived in court
at 1:20 p.m.; her attorney appeared shortly thereafter, as she had gone to the wrong
courthouse. After Miller’s attorney appeared in court and attempted to explain the
settlement and the reasons for not appearing on time, the trial court gave counsel until
4:00 p.m. that day to file a signed entry.
{¶ 6} At that point, however, Staub refused to sign the agreement and indicated
that she would “abide by” the court’s decision to grant the SPO. Because no agreed
entry had been filed, the court filed the five-year SPO on September 11, 2017. On
September 25, 2017, Miller filed a motion to enforce the settlement agreement. The
same day, Miller also filed a Civ.R. 60(B) motion for relief from judgment, and the court
scheduled a hearing on that matter for November 21, 2017. In the meantime, on October
5, 2017, Miller filed a notice of appeal from the judgment granting the SPO. The appeal
was docketed in our court as Case No. 2017-CA-54.
{¶ 7} On October 16, 2017, Staub filed a motion asking the trial court to vacate the
hearing on the motion for relief from judgment. Staub’s motion was based on the fact
that Miller had appealed from the judgment granting the SPO. Conversely, Miller then
filed a motion with our court, asking that we allow the Civ.R. 60(B) motion hearing to
proceed. On November 17, 2017, we granted Miller’s motion, which we construed as a
motion to remand, and we remanded the case to the trial court to resolve the Civ.R. 60(B)
motion. See Staub v. Miller, 2d Dist. Greene No. 2017-CA-54 (Nov. 17, 2017).
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{¶ 8} The trial court held an evidentiary hearing on November 21, 2017, and after
hearing testimony, concluded that it would set aside the SPO. On December 11, 2017,
the court then filed a judgment entry granting Miller’s Civ.R. 60(B) motion. In addition,
the court set a final hearing for February 23, 2018, to consider the requested SPO. After
being informed that the trial court had granted the motion for relief from judgment, we
dismissed the appeal in Case No. 2017-CA-54 as moot. See Staub v. Miller, 2d Dist.
Greene No. 2017-CA-54 (Feb. 8, 2018).
{¶ 9} In the meantime, Staub filed a notice of appeal from the judgment granting
Miller’s Civ.R. 60(B) motion. Staub’s notice of appeal was filed on January 3, 2018, and
was docketed as Case No. 2018-CA-02 (the current appeal). On January 8, 2018, the
trial court denied Staub’s request for a stay of its judgment pending appeal. We also
denied Staub’s motion for a stay and stressed that the trial court had jurisdiction both to
hold the February 23, 2018 hearing and to issue a decision. See Staub v. Miller, 2d Dist.
Greene No. 2018-CA-02 (Feb. 8, 2018). Subsequently, we rejected Staub’s motion for
reconsideration of our decision denying the motion for a stay. See Staub v. Miller, 2d
Dist. Greene No. 2018-CA-02 (March 14, 2018).
{¶ 10} In early April 2018, Miller filed a motion to dismiss this appeal because the
trial court had denied the request for the SPO on March 20, 2018. Miller attached a copy
of the trial court's decision to her motion to dismiss. On April 26, 2018, we overruled
Miller’s motion to dismiss, but we said that Miller could make arguments about mootness
in her brief. Miller did raise the issue of mootness in her brief, which was filed on June
18, 2018. Staub then filed a reply brief on June 28, 2018.
{¶ 11} Because the issue of mootness has been raised and addressed by both
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parties, we will consider that point first.
II. Mootness
{¶ 12} According to the Supreme Court of Ohio, “[t]he role of courts is to decide
adversarial legal cases and to issue judgments that can be carried into effect.” Cyran v.
Cyran, 152 Ohio St. 3d 484, 2018-Ohio-24, 97 N.E.3d 487, ¶ 9. “Under the mootness
doctrine, American courts will not decide cases in which there is no longer an actual legal
controversy between the parties. * * * Thus, when parties ‘lack a legally cognizable
interest in the outcome,’ a case becomes moot.” Id., quoting Powell v. McCormack, 395
U.S. 486, 496, 89 S. Ct. 1944, 23 L. Ed. 2d 491 (1969).
{¶ 13} As was noted, on March 20, 2018, the trial court filed a decision dismissing
Staub’s request for an SPO. A review of our docket indicates that no appeal has been
taken from the trial court’s judgment of dismissal, and the time for doing so has long since
expired. “App.R. 4 governs the timing of appeals and must be carefully followed because
failure to file a timely notice of appeal under App.R 4(A) is a jurisdictional defect.” In re
H.F., 120 Ohio St. 3d 499, 2008-Ohio-6810, 900 N.E.2d 607, ¶ 17. Accord U.S. Bank
Natl. Assn. v. Crutcher, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 25338, 2013-Ohio-2011, ¶ 5.
{¶ 14} Although Staub did appeal from the trial court’s decision to grant the Civ.R.
60(B) motion, there was no guarantee that we would reverse the trial court’s decision on
appeal. Staub could have protected her rights by also appealing the dismissal of her
request for the SPO. However, she failed to do so, and any appeal is barred. Because
the judgment of dismissal is now final, there is no relief that we could possibly afford, due
to the application of res judicata. See Chaney v. Bank One, Dayton, N.A., 2d Dist.
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Montgomery No. 14855, 1995 WL 371152, *2 (July 23, 1995), citing First Alabama Bank
v. Parsons Steel, Inc., 747 F.2d 1367, 1371 (11th Cir.1984), rev'd on other grounds, 474
U.S. 518, 106 S. Ct. 768, 88 L. Ed. 2d 877 (1986) (“[t]he principle of res judicata makes
a final, valid judgment conclusive on the parties, and those in privity with them, as to all
matters, fact and law, that were or should have been adjudicated in the prior proceeding”).
In view of these facts, Staub’s appeal is moot.
{¶ 15} Accordingly, this appeal will be dismissed as moot.
III. Grant of Civ.R. 60(B) Motion
{¶ 16} Even if we were able to consider the appeal, Staub’s single assignment of
error is without merit. Specifically, Staub contends that the trial court erred in granting
the motion for relief from judgment.
{¶ 17} “To prevail on a motion brought under Civ.R. 60(B), the movant must
demonstrate that: (1) the party has a meritorious defense or claim to present if relief is
granted; (2) the party is entitled to relief under one of the grounds stated in Civ.R. 60(B)(1)
through (5); and (3) the motion is made within a reasonable time, and, where the grounds
of relief are Civ.R. 60(B)(1), (2) or (3), not more than one year after the judgment, order
or proceeding was entered or taken.” GTE Automatic Elec., Inc. v. ARC Industries, Inc.,
47 Ohio St. 2d 146, 351 N.E.2d 113 (1976), paragraph two of the syllabus.
{¶ 18} Trial court decisions on motions for relief from judgment under Civ.R. 60(B)
are reviewed for abuse of discretion. Griffey v. Rajan, 33 Ohio St. 3d 75, 77, 514 N.E.2d
1122 (1987). “An abuse of discretion means that the court's attitude is unreasonable,
arbitrary or unconscionable.” Beard v. Beard, 2d Dist. Greene No. 2012-CA-66, 2013-
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Ohio-3375, ¶ 12, citing Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St. 3d 217, 219, 450 N.E.2d 1140
(1983).
{¶ 19} After reviewing the record, including the September 8, 2017 transcript and
the transcript of the November 21, 2017 motion hearing, we find no abuse of discretion.
The ground that Miller raised was excusable neglect under Civ.R. 60(B)(1). Transcript
of November 21, 2017 Proceedings, p. 7. “The standard for differentiating between
excusable and inexcusable neglect is whether [the] movant acted with ‘complete
disregard for the judicial system and the rights of the appellee.’ ” Williamson v. Saranda
Consol. Ltd. Partnership, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 11507, 1989 WL 150791, *3 (Dec. 14,
1989), quoting GTE at 153. Accord State v. Yount, 175 Ohio App. 3d 733, 2008-Ohio-
1155, 889 N.E.2d 162, ¶ 11 (2d Dist.). Additionally, the neglect’s nature is ascertained
from the circumstances and facts surrounding the case. Id.
{¶ 20} According to the record, the parties reached an agreement to dismiss the
case. The parties and their attorneys were then going to meet at the court at 1:30 p.m.
(rather than 1:00 p.m.) to present the trial court with an agreed entry. Miller testified that
she heard a conversation between her attorney and opposing counsel indicating that the
case had been settled, that counsel for Staub was going to contact the court, and that the
parties were going to meet at the court at 1:30 p.m. to sign the judgment entry.
{¶ 21} Miller was ill that day with a toothache, and due to the change in time, went
to her dentist for an emergency visit at around 12:15 p.m. She scheduled this visit after
learning the case had settled. Nonetheless, after receiving treatment from her dentist,
Miller did arrive at court at 1:20 p.m., prior to the time she thought the parties were
supposed to meet.
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{¶ 22} In the meantime, Staub’s attorney realized after arriving at her office that
the hearing had been set for 1:00 p.m., rather than 1:30 p.m. However, she did not alert
opposing counsel about her inadvertent mistake, nor did she tell the court. Staub and
her counsel arrived at court at 1:00 p.m. told the court that “the parties had worked out a
deal today about noon.” September 8, 2017 Transcript, p. 4.
{¶ 23} Staub’s attorney told the court that she had asked opposing counsel if she
wanted to call and let the court know that the parties were going to submit an agreement;
however, according to Staub’s attorney, opposing counsel said no. Id. Staub’s attorney
did not tell the court that the parties had agreed to meet at 1:30 p.m.
{¶ 24} At that point, the court told Staub that it was ready to go forward with the
hearing. Id. at p. 5. Again, Miller and her attorney were not present. After Staub briefly
testified, the court indicated that it would grant the SPO.
{¶ 25} As was noted, Miller arrived at the court at around 1:20 p.m., and saw Staub
and her attorney leaving. Miller’s attorney arrived shortly after 1:30 p.m., because she
had mistakenly gone to the wrong courthouse. When Miller’s attorney arrived, she spoke
to the trial court, explained why she was late, and stated that she had a message from
opposing counsel telling her to meet at court at 1:30 p.m. Id. at p. 21. She also told the
court that the parties had an agreement. The court then gave Miller’s counsel until 4:00
p.m. that day to submit the agreement. Id. at pp. 22-23. In addition, the court said that
if a problem between counsel existed, it was a matter for disciplinary proceedings. Id. at
p. 23.
{¶ 26} Although Miller’s attorney contacted Staub’s counsel that afternoon, Staub’s
counsel refused to sign an entry and said that her client “desires to abide by the Court’s
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decision.” Doc. #45, Motion for 60(B) Relief, Attachment A. As was noted, the court
granted the SPO when no entry was provided, and Miller then filed a motion to enforce
the settlement and a motion for relief from judgment.
{¶ 27} After hearing the testimony, the trial court granted the motion for relief from
judgment. The court concluded that Miller “had reasonably relied on her attorney’s
advice and there was sufficient confusion about a possible agreement.” Doc, #75, p. 2.
The court did not rely on representations that opposing counsel may or may not have
made. Instead, the court stressed that Miller had relied on her attorney’s notice that a
settlement had been reached and had also relied on her attorney’s advice that she did
not need to appear until 1:30 p.m. Id. at p. 3.
{¶ 28} As a general rule, an attorney’s unexcused neglect will be imputed to the
client “for purposes of Civ.R. 60(B)(1).” See GTE, 47 Ohio St. 2d at 153, 351 N.E.2d 113.
“However, neglect of an attorney imputed to a party may be excusable and entitled to
relief pursuant to Civ. R. 60(B)(1), the same as the party's neglect.” Republic-Franklin
Life Ins. Co. v. Jenkins, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 77AP-666, 1977 WL 200543, *2 (Nov. 3,
1977) (finding excusable neglect of attorneys justified setting aside judgment). Such is
the case here. As Williamson noted, there is a difference between excusable and
inexcusable neglect. Williamson, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 11507, 1989 WL 150791, at
*3. In the case before us, there was no conscious disregard of the judicial system. We
agree with the trial court that confusion existed, and the neglect was excusable.
{¶ 29} We have also stressed that generally, “we prefer cases to be concluded on
their merits rather than on mere procedural technicalities.” Studebaker v. Studebaker,
2d Dist. Miami No. 2007-CA-26, 2008-Ohio-5356, ¶ 14 (reversing trial court’s refusal to
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grant Civ.R. 60(B) relief based on excusable neglect).
{¶ 30} Accordingly, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by granting the motion
for relief from judgment.
IV. Conclusion
{¶ 31} Based on the reasoning set forth above, Staub’s appeal is dismissed as
moot.
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FROELICH, J. and TUCKER, J., concur.
Copies mailed to:
Jay A. Adams
Michelle J. Gearhardt
Hon. Steven L. Hurley