Wilson v. Rowe , 2016 Ohio 523 ( 2016 )

[Cite as Wilson v. Rowe, 2016-Ohio-523.]
COURT OF APPEALS
KNOX COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
BALEIGH WILSON : JUDGES:
:
Petitioner-Appellee : Hon. John W. Wise, P.J.
: Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J.
: Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J.
-vs- :
: Case No. 15-CA-14
:
MICHAEL D. ROWE :
:
:
Respondent-Appellant : OPINION
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Knox County Court of
Common Pleas, Case No. 15ST04-0130
JUDGMENT: AFFIRMED
DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: February 11, 2016
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellee: For Defendant-Appellant:
BALEIGH WILSON, PRO SE ANDREW T. SANDERSON
10 Kenyon St. BURKETT & SANDERSON, INC.
Mount Vernon, OH 43050 73 North Sixth St.
Newark, OH 43055
Knox County, Case No. 15-CA-14 2
Delaney, J.
{¶1} Respondent-appellant Michael D. Rowe appeals from the Full Hearing Civil
Stalking Protection Order issued by the Knox County Court of Common Pleas on July 30,
2015. Petitioner-appellee Baleigh Wilson did not file a brief.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
{¶2} The following facts are adduced from the hearings of June 22 and July 30,
2015, upon appellee’s petition for a civil protection order.
{¶3} In early 2015, a Facebook post appeared in reference to allegedly abused
dogs in Knox County. The post contained information about dogs left out in the cold and
advised readers to contact police, mayors, and dog wardens to rescue the dogs. The
post also listed residence addresses where the dogs could be found. One address listed
was that of Shawn Brown, the former stepfather of Doug Wilson (“Doug”). Doug is
married to Baleigh Wilson (“Baleigh”) and they have three children under the age of five.
Doug and Baleigh live two doors down from Brown.
{¶4} The Facebook posting created a buzz in the community and Baleigh
testified the neighborhood was inundated with people driving around Brown’s house to
check on the dog. Appellant was admittedly one of those people. After reading the
Facebook post, appellant called the dog warden to check Brown’s dog’s status and was
told the dog was now kept inside the house. Appellant drove past Brown’s house to check
for himself. On February 3, 2015, around 12:00 or 1:00 p.m., appellant drove past
Brown’s address. He didn’t see the dog on the front porch and so drove through an alley
behind Brown’s house to check the status of a second dog. He didn’t see any dogs
Knox County, Case No. 15-CA-14 3
outside. Appellant acknowledged he looked through a gap in Brown’s privacy fence to
see into the backyard.
{¶5} Baleigh and Doug were admittedly frustrated by people driving around the
block and making threats. On February 3rd, they observed appellant circle the block
twice. Baleigh and Doug were in their vehicle and saw appellant leave the alley and turn
onto Miami. Doug and Baleigh were also on Miami. They pulled over to the right side of
the road and flagged appellant down. Doug went to appellant’s passenger-side window
and told him he didn’t have to worry about Brown’s dog because it was taken care of and
to stop circling the neighborhood. Doug then returned to his own car.
{¶6} Appellant testified that during this exchange, Doug threatened to “throw a
brick through his window” and when Doug returned to his car appellant thought he was
retrieving a brick or other weapon. Doug denied making the threat.
{¶7} As Doug returned to the car, Baleigh got out of the passenger side and told
appellant to keep moving. Appellant pulled a gun that he had concealed at his waist and
pointed it at Baleigh. Appellant said he felt threatened and that the Wilsons were “in his
space.”
{¶8} Baleigh started screaming when she saw the gun and Doug yelled for
appellant to put the gun down. Shawn Brown came out of his house and got in between
appellant and Baleigh; Brown purportedly told appellant he was an Iraqi war vet and
“could take him down if [he] wanted to do so.” Brown yelled for appellant to put the gun
down. Doug called 911 and police arrived within 5 or 10 minutes. Police instructed
appellant to place the gun on the hood of his vehicle and he complied.
Knox County, Case No. 15-CA-14 4
{¶9} Appellant testified he did not pull his weapon until Brown also appeared on
the scene and he felt threatened by three against one. He acknowledged he could have
gone around the Wilsons’ car and avoided them altogether but he stopped because he
wanted to “see what was going to happen.” (T. 38). The trial court questioned why, once
the confrontation started, appellant didn’t get in his car and leave instead of pulling a gun,
but appellant said he just “reacted;” also, Doug’s car door was open and the road was icy
and appellant didn’t want to hit him.
{¶10} Appellant was criminally charged with two counts of aggravated menacing
for the gun incident and reportedly entered a no-contest plea to a single count of minor
misdemeanor disorderly conduct.
{¶11} On March 6, 2015, appellant reportedly drove past the Wilson house
repeatedly, honking his horn. The Wilsons made a police report. Appellant denied this
incident and said the browsing history on his home computer supports his contention that
he and his wife were watching a movie during the time period Doug alleged they drove
by.
{¶12} On March 31, 2015, Doug was driving on Miami when appellant and his wife
walked by. Appellant waved at Doug. Appellant admitted this occurred; he testified he
had a pretrial in his criminal case that day but he and his wife frequently walk in that
neighborhood. Appellant acknowledged he did wave at Doug but said it was a friendly
gesture because Doug allowed them to cross the street in front of his car.
{¶13} On April 4, 2015, Doug saw appellant while he was driving and appellant
yelled at him that Doug should get an attorney. Appellant denied this incident.
Knox County, Case No. 15-CA-14 5
{¶14} On April 17, 2015, Baleigh was driving on Beech Street when appellant
pulled out behind her on a motorcycle. Appellant’s wife was his passenger on the
motorcycle and they followed Baleigh down the road until they stopped at a traffic light.
Appellant started repeatedly yelling at Baleigh, “I’m a liar and I’m a Christian.” Baleigh
testified appellant’s wife told him to stop. Baleigh pulled into a Kroger’s parking lot and
called the police to document the incident. Appellant was still yelling while Baleigh was
on the phone with police.
{¶15} Appellant acknowledged this incident but claimed he was in the midst of a
disagreement with his wife when he was yelling that he was “a Christian and a liar.” He
saw Baleigh pull into the Kroger parking lot and he and his wife proceeded on their way
to dinner.
{¶16} Appellant denied that he saw either of the Wilsons at any other time. He
testified, though, that he was in the neighborhood frequently over a period of weeks
gathering evidence because his attorney told him to get photos and videos of the scene
of the February 3 incident.
{¶17} Baleigh filed a pro se motion for a civil stalking protection order on behalf of
herself, Doug, and their three children. An ex parte order was granted on April 23, 2015
and expired on May 25, 2015. The parties appeared before the trial court for a full hearing
on June 22, 2015 and appellant’s attorney presented the trial court with a signed
agreement that purported to resolve the matter without a hearing. Appellant’s attorney
drafted the settlement agreement. The written document, signed by all of the parties,
stated in part appellant would not walk, drive, or otherwise pass in front of the Wilsons’
house. The trial court pointed out that the order was unenforceable and appellant’s
Knox County, Case No. 15-CA-14 6
attorney responded the parties could file again for protection orders if the agreement was
breached.
{¶18} Baleigh stated she agreed to the settlement agreement because she knew
appellant intended to file his own petition for a civil stalking protection order against the
Wilsons and she feared the trial court would not take the matter seriously, thus this was
possibly the best resolution she could hope for.
{¶19} The trial court stated it was concerned about the February 3 incident
because appellant pulled a gun. The trial court said it would not accept the settlement
agreement because it purported to resolve the matter with an unenforceable order. When
the trial court indicated its intent to proceed with the hearing upon the civil stalking
protection order, appellant requested a continuance. The trial court permitted a
continuance of two weeks and extended the ex parte civil protection order in the
meantime.
{¶20} The full hearing took place on July 30, 2015. At the conclusion of the
hearing, the trial court granted the civil stalking protection order on behalf of the Wilsons.
{¶21} Appellant now appeals from the civil stalking protection order issued July
30, 2015.
{¶22} Appellant raises two assignments of error:
ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
{¶23} “I. THE GRANTING OF THE MENACING BY STALKING CIVIL
PROTECTION ORDER WAS NOT SUPPORTED BY SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO
SUSTAIN THE SAME.”
Knox County, Case No. 15-CA-14 7
{¶24} “II. THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED HARMFUL ERROR IN REJECTING
THE SETTLEMENT OF THE PARTIES REGARDING THE DISMISSAL OF THE
REQUEST FOR A CIVIL STALKING PROTECTION ORDER.”
ANALYSIS
I.
{¶25} In his first assignment of error, appellant argues the civil stalking protection
order is not supported by sufficient evidence. We disagree.
{¶26} Appellant argues the record falls short of demonstrating a pattern of conduct
that created any fear of physical harm or mental distress to the Wilsons. We find sufficient
evidence in the record to support the Wilsons’ fear of physical harm.
{¶27} R.C. 2903.214 governs the filing of a petition for a civil stalking protection
order. R.C. 2903.214(C) provides: “A person may seek relief under this section for the
person, or any parent or adult household member may seek relief under this section on
behalf of any other family or household member by filing a petition with the court.” To be
entitled to a civil stalking protection order, the petitioner must show by a preponderance
of the evidence that the respondent engaged in menacing by stalking, a violation of R.C.
2903.211, against the person seeking the order. See Tumblin v. Jackson, 5th Dist.
Coshocton No. 06CA002, 2006–Ohio–3270, ¶ 17. R.C. 2903.211(A), menacing by
stalking, states that “[n]o person by engaging in a pattern of conduct shall knowingly
cause another to believe that the offender will cause physical harm to the other person or
cause mental distress to the other person.” R.C. 2903.211(D)(1) defines “pattern of
conduct” as two or more actions or incidents closely related in time, whether or not there
has been a prior conviction based on any of those actions or incidents.
Knox County, Case No. 15-CA-14 8
{¶28} “R.C. 2903.211(D)(1) does not require that a pattern of conduct be proved
by events from at least two different days. Arguably, a pattern of conduct could arise out
of two or more events occurring on the same date, provided that there are sufficient
intervals between them.” State v. Scruggs, 136 Ohio App.3d 631, 634, 737 N.E.2d 574(2nd Dist.2000). One incident is insufficient to establish a “pattern of conduct.” Id. The
statute does not define the term “closely related in time,” but case law suggests the trier
of fact should consider the evidence in the context of all circumstances of the case.
Middletown v. Jones, 167 Ohio App.3d 679, 856 N.E.2d 1003, 2006–Ohio–3465, ¶ 10
(12th Dist.). Trial courts may take every action into consideration, even if some actions in
isolation would not seem particularly threatening. Guthrie v. Long, 10th Dist. No. 04AP–
913, 2005–Ohio–1541, ¶ 12.
{¶29} The decision whether to grant a civil protection order lies within the sound
discretion of the trial court. Olenik v. Huff, 5th Dist. No. 02–COA–058, 2003–Ohio–4621,
¶ 21. Therefore, an appellate court should not reverse the decision of the trial court absent
an abuse of discretion. In order to find an abuse of discretion, this court must determine
that the trial court's decision was unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable and not
merely an error of law or judgment. Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219, 450
N.E.2d 1140 (1983).
{¶30} We further note that a judgment supported by some competent, credible
evidence will not be reversed by a reviewing court as against the manifest weight of the
evidence. C.E. Morris Co. v. Foley Construction Co., 54 Ohio St.2d 279, 280, 376 N.E.2d
578 (1978). A reviewing court must not substitute its judgment for that of the trial court
where there exists some competent and credible evidence supporting the judgment
Knox County, Case No. 15-CA-14 9
rendered by the trial court. Myers v. Garson, 66 Ohio St.3d 610, 614 N.E.2d 742 (1993).
The underlying rationale for giving deference to the findings of the trial court rests with
the knowledge that the trial judge is best able to view the witnesses and observe their
demeanor, gestures, and voice inflections, and use these observations in weighing the
credibility of the proffered testimony. Seasons Coal Co. v. City of Cleveland, 10 Ohio
St.3d 77, 80, 461 N.E.2d 1273 (1984).
{¶31} In this case, the Wilsons were placed in fear of physical harm when
appellant pointed a gun at them on February 3. We held in Coleridge v. Tomsho, 5th
Dist. No.2002CA00280, 2003–Ohio–650, that R.C. 2903.211 was written in the
disjunctive. Madison v. Wilborn, 5th Dist. Stark No. 2011CA00247, 2012-Ohio-2742, ¶
33. A petitioner can establish a fear of physical harm or mental distress. “Physical harm”
includes “any injury, illness, or other physiological impairment, regardless of its gravity or
duration.” R.C. 2901.01(A)(3).
{¶32} The trial court was alarmed by the circumstances of this case, especially by
appellant’s willingness to pull a gun when he could have avoided any confrontation
whatsoever. As we have frequently observed, “civil stalking protection order cases most
often turn on the credibility of the witnesses.” Madison v. Wilborn, 5th Dist. Stark No.2011
CA00247, 2012–Ohio–2742, ¶ 34; Kruszynski v. Kruszynski, 5th Dist. Fairfield No. 12–
CA–133, 2013–Ohio–3355, ¶ 21. We note in this case, however, beyond issues of
credibility, appellant’s admissions of his conduct toward the Wilsons support the findings
of the court below. Elkins v. Reed, 5th Dist. Stark No. 2013CA0091, 2014-Ohio-1217, ¶
36, appeal not allowed, 139 Ohio St.3d 1484, 2014-Ohio-3195, 12 N.E.3d 1230.
Knox County, Case No. 15-CA-14 10
{¶33} Based upon the record of the instant case and the remedial goal of R.C.
2903.214, we find the trial court could reasonably have inferred Baleigh and her husband
were afraid appellant would cause physical harm to one or both of them after the February
3 incident. This threat of physical harm, coupled with appellant’s continued apparent
inability or unwillingness to leave the Wilsons alone, permitted the trial court to reasonably
find appellant knowingly caused the Wilsons to fear he would physically harm one or both
of them. Short v. Walker, 12th Dist. Preble No. CA2000-08-009, 2001 WL 32808, *4 (Jan.
16, 2001), citing Lindsay v. Jackson, 1st Dist. Hamilton Nos. C-990786 and A-9905306,
unreported, 2000 WL 1268810 (Sept. 8, 2000) and Lain v. Ververis, 12th Dist. Preble
App. No. CA99-02-003, unreported, 1999 WL 893611 (Oct. 18, 1999); see also,
Kruszynski, supra, 2013-Ohio-3355 at ¶ 22.
{¶34} Appellant’s first assignment of error is overruled.
II.
{¶35} In his second assignment of error, appellant argues the trial court lacked
authority to reject the settlement agreement. We disagree.
{¶36} We first note the proposed settlement agreement has not been proffered
into the record. In reviewing assigned error on appeal we are confined to the record that
was before the trial court as defined in App.R. 9(A). This rule provides that the record on
appeal consists of “[t]he original papers and exhibits thereto filed in the trial court, the
transcript of proceedings, if any, including exhibits, and a certified copy of the docket and
journal entries prepared by the clerk of the trial court.” App.R. 9(B) also provides in part
“ * * *[w]hen portions of the transcript necessary for resolution of assigned errors are
omitted from the record, the reviewing court has nothing to pass upon and thus, as to
Knox County, Case No. 15-CA-14 11
those assigned errors, the court has no choice but to presume the validity of the lower
court’s proceedings, and affirm.” The appellant bears the burden of showing error by
reference to matters in the record. Knapp v. Edwards Laboratories, 61 Ohio St.2d 197,
199, 400 N.E.2d 384 (1980).
{¶37} In this case, therefore, we do not have the terms of the settlement
agreement as it appeared before the trial court. However, the trial court referred to terms
of the agreement on the record in open court, including a provision appellant would not
walk, drive, or otherwise pass in front of the Wilsons’ house.
{¶38} Nevertheless, substantively we find the trial court did not err in refusing to
enforce the agreement. An oral settlement agreement entered into in the presence of the
court constitutes a binding contract. Spercel v. Sterling Industries, Inc., 31 Ohio St.2d 36,
285 N.E.2d 324 (1972), paragraph one of the syllabus; Mack v. Polson Rubber Co., 14
Ohio St.3d 34, 36, 470 N.E.2d 902 (1984). “[W]hen the parties agree to a settlement offer,
this agreement cannot be repudiated by either party, and the court has the authority to
sign a journal entry reflecting the agreement and to enforce the settlement.” Klever v.
Stow, 13 Ohio App.3d 1, 4, 468 N.E.2d 58 (9th Dist.1983). In this case, Baleigh’s
equivocation about her consent to the agreement, coupled with the trial court’s
disinclination to approve an unenforceable order, meant the court had no authority to sign
the agreement or to enforce that agreement as a contract binding upon both of the parties.
{¶39} The Ohio Supreme Court concluded that “it is not within the province of the
trial judge to enforce a purported settlement agreement when the substance or the
existence of that agreement is legitimately disputed.” Rulli v. Fan Co., 79 Ohio St.3d 374,
376, 1997-Ohio-380, 683 N.E.2d 337 (1997). Where possible, it is generally within the
Knox County, Case No. 15-CA-14 12
discretion of the trial judge to promote and encourage settlements to prevent litigation.
Id., citing In re NLO, Inc. (C.A.6, 1993), 5 F.3d 154. A trial judge cannot, however, force
parties into settlement. See id. The result of a valid settlement agreement is a contract
between parties, requiring a meeting of the minds as well as an offer and an acceptance
thereof. Id., citing Noroski v. Fallet, 2 Ohio St.3d 77, 79, 442 N.E.2d 1302 (1982). To
constitute a valid settlement agreement, the terms of the agreement must be reasonably
certain and clear. Id. These factors are absent from the proposed settlement agreement
in the instant case.
{¶40} Here, the trial court noted its uneasiness with the terms of the settlement
agreement because the proposed agreement was unenforceable. Appellant’s counsel,
the drafter of the agreement, acknowledged enforcement would require the Wilsons to
file a new petition for civil protection order. Baleigh Wilson, in court, stated she did not
agree with counsel’s statement that the agreement resulted from the parties’ agreement
“the matter had gone too far and both parties wanted it resolved;” instead, she feared the
settlement agreement might be the best outcome she could hope for if the trial court did
not take the matter seriously.
{¶41} The trial court questioned the underlying facts of the February 3 incident
and noted its concern about use of a firearm. Baleigh’s stated reluctance, combined with
the trial court’s discomfort with the unenforceability of the purported agreement, means
the trial court was well within its discretion to refuse to accept it. We note appellant has
not presented any case law supporting its argument that the trial court abused its
discretion in rejecting the terms of the settlement agreement under these circumstances.
{¶42} Appellant’s second assignment of error is overruled.
Knox County, Case No. 15-CA-14 13
CONCLUSION
{¶43} Appellant’s two assignments of error are overruled and the judgment of the
Knox County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.
By: Delaney, J. and
Wise, P.J.
Baldwin, J., concur.