Jones v. Diamond Warranty Corp. ( 2011 )

[Cite as Jones v. Diamond Warranty Corp., 2011-Ohio-6744.]
COURT OF APPEALS
STARK COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
ERIC JONES : JUDGES:
: Hon. William B. Hoffman, P.J.
Plaintiff-Appellee : Hon. Sheila G. Farmer, J.
: Hon. Julie A. Edwards, J.
-vs- :
:
DIAMOND WARRANTY CORP. : Case No. 2011CA00044
:
Defendant-Appellant : OPINION
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Canton Municipal
Court, Case No. 2010CVF0016
JUDGMENT: Affirmed
DATE OF JUDGMENT: December 27, 2011
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant
RICHARD P. GIBBS EMILY R. YODER
1001 South Main Street 3737 Embassy Parkway
North Canton, OH 44720 Suite 100
P.O. Box 5521
Akron, OH 44334
Stark County, Case No. 2011CA00044 2
Farmer, J.
{¶1} On October 30, 2009, appellee, Eric Jones, purchased a 2002 GMC
Yukon from Maxwell's Auto Sales, LLC. Appellee also purchased a used car warranty
from appellant, Diamond Warranty Corporation. Approximately one month later, the
vehicle's transmission failed and needed repair. Appellee submitted the claim to
appellant. Following a vehicle inspection, appellant determined the repairs were not
covered under the warranty and denied the claim.
{¶2} On January 4, 2010, appellee filed a complaint against Maxwell's and
appellant, claiming breach of contract and violations of the Consumer Sales Practices
Act (hereinafter "CSPA"). A jury trial commenced on December 9, 2010. The jury
found in favor of appellee, and awarded appellee $3,434.21 as against Maxwell's and
$5,302.61 ($1,868.41 breach of warranty and $3,434.20 CSPA) as against appellant.
{¶3} Thereafter, appellee filed motions for attorney fees and treble damages. A
hearing was held on January 28, 2011. By final judgment filed February 4, 2011, the
trial court awarded appellee $15,000.00 as against Maxwell's and appellant, jointly and
severally, for violations of the CSPA. The trial court also awarded appellee $40,837.50
for attorney fees and $2,381.39 for expenses.
{¶4} Appellant filed an appeal and this matter is now before this court for
consideration. Assignments of error are as follows:
I
{¶5} "THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN AWARDING PLAINTIFF/APPELLEE
ATTORNEY FEES AND COSTS."
Stark County, Case No. 2011CA00044 3
II
{¶6} "THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FINDING DEFENDANT/APPELLANT,
DIAMOND WARRANTY CORP., AND DEFENDANT, MAXWELL'S AUTO SALES, LLC,
JOINTLY AND SEVERALLY LIABLE."
I
{¶7} Appellant claims the trial court erred in awarding appellee treble damages
and attorney fees under R.C. 1345.09(F)(2). We disagree.
{¶8} In reaching its final judgment, the trial court relied on Civ.R. 49 (B) which
states the following:
{¶9} "(B) General verdict accompanied by answer to interrogatories
{¶10} "The court shall submit written interrogatories to the jury, together with
appropriate forms for a general verdict, upon request of any party prior to the
commencement of argument.***The interrogatories may be directed to one or more
determinative issues whether issues of fact or mixed issues of fact and law.
{¶11} "**
{¶12} "When the general verdict and the answers are consistent, the appropriate
judgment upon the verdict and answers shall be entered pursuant to Rule 58. When
one or more of the answers is inconsistent with the general verdict, judgment may be
entered pursuant to Rule 58 in accordance with the answers, notwithstanding the
general verdict, or the court may return the jury for further consideration of its answers
and verdict or may order a new trial."
{¶13} As a primary step, we shall address the appropriateness of the trial court's
use of Civ.R. 49(B). We conclude, as did the trial court, that the initial step is to
Stark County, Case No. 2011CA00044 4
determine if the interrogatories are clear and unambiguous. This was the only avenue
available to the trial court, save a new trial, because during the reading of the verdict, no
specific challenge was made thereby forestalling a return of the issue to the jury.
{¶14} The issue of inconsistency centers on the general verdict rendered by the
jury on Counts 1 and 2:
{¶15} "We the jury, being duly sworn, find that the Plaintiff did prove that
Defendant Diamond Warranty Corp. breached a contract with the Plaintiff and should be
awarded damages in the amount of $1868.41.
{¶16} "We the jury, being duly sworn, find that the Plaintiff did prove that
Defendant Diamond Warranty Corp. committed a violation of the Consumers Sales
Practices Act and should be awarded damages in the amount of $3434.20.
Furthermore, we find that Defendant Diamond Warranty Corp. did make a bona fide
error."
{¶17} In answering Interrogatory Nos. 7 and 8, the jury found appellant
committed unconscionable acts, i.e., lack of training of agents, vague guidelines, and
lack of inspection guidelines. In Interrogatory No. 3, the jury found appellant did not
commit an unfair or deceptive act. Parallel to this interrogatory was Interrogatory No. 10
wherein the jury found appellant did not knowingly commit an unfair or deceptive act.
Reading these interrogatories with the jury's general verdict on bona fide error,
appellant argues the trebling of damages and attorney fees are not available under R.C.
1345.11(A) which states the following:
{¶18} "In any case arising under Chapter 1345. of the Revised Code, if a
supplier shows by a preponderance of the evidence that a violation resulted from a
Stark County, Case No. 2011CA00044 5
bona fide error notwithstanding the maintenance of procedures reasonably adopted to
avoid the error, no civil penalties shall be imposed against the supplier under division
(D) of section 1345.07 of the Revised Code, no party shall be awarded attorney's fees,
and monetary recovery shall not exceed the amount of actual damages resulting from
the violation."
{¶19} However, as we noted, the jury found appellant committed unconscionable
acts in Interrogatory No. 7. The trial court's jury instructions specifically separated out
deceptive acts from unconscionable acts. Therefore, the jury properly considered two
types of violations of R.C. Chapter 1345, finding unconscionable acts but no deceptive
acts. To support this conclusion, Interrogatory Nos. 1 and 2 found Maxwell's Auto Sales
committed an unfair or deceptive act, i.e., "[g]ood as factory warranty." Interrogatory
Nos. 5 and 6 found unconscionable acts committed by Maxwell's, i.e., "[h]e was lead to
believe it had a valid warranty."
{¶20} A bona fide error is a mistake "made unintentionally; inadvertently; in good
faith." Black's Law Dictionary (6 Ed.1990) 177.
{¶21} It is interesting to note that in arguments to the jury, appellant did not
delineate a bona fide error to meet the requirements of the exception, i.e., the
"maintenance of procedures reasonably adopted to avoid the error."
{¶22} Appellant's defense at trial was to argue via its witness, Ryan Curry, the
vehicle inspector, that the subject warranty did not cover the transmission failure
because it was a pre-existing condition and the vehicle had been modified. T. at 141-
143. If the jury had found Mr. Curry's decision was the unconscionable act, it would
Stark County, Case No. 2011CA00044 6
have clearly fit within the good faith exception because Mr. Curry was an independent
contractor for appellant.
{¶23} Appellant's witnesses testified Maxwell's employees and agents were
properly trained, but the jury rejected the testimony in Interrogatory No. 8. In answering
Interrogatory No. 10 on the issue of "unfair and deceptive act or practice" by appellant,
the jury found it was not knowingly done. This answer was basically unnecessary given
the jury's decision in Interrogatory No. 3 wherein the jury found appellant had not
committed any unfair or deceptive acts.
{¶24} We are left with no definitive response from the jury on whether appellant's
unconscionable acts were knowingly done. Because the specific instances listed were
acts of omission as well as commission, the requirement of the exception in R.C.
1345.11 did not demonstrate "maintenance of procedures reasonably adopted to avoid
the error." Further, we conclude the general verdict was totally inconsistent with the
interrogatories.
{¶25} It is incumbent upon a claim pursuant to R.C. Chapter 1345 to determine if
the act found to be unconscionable was knowingly committed. See, R.C. 1345.09(F)(2).
The Supreme Court of Ohio addressed this element in Einhorn v. Ford Motor Company
(1990), 48 Ohio St.3d 27, 30, as follows:
{¶26} "This legislative purpose is better safeguarded by finding that 'knowingly'
committing an act or practice in violation of R.C. Chapter 1345 means that the supplier
need only intentionally do the act that violates the Consumer Sales Practices Act. The
supplier does not have to know that his conduct violates the law for the court to grant
Stark County, Case No. 2011CA00044 7
attorney fees. This reasoning is found in cases such as Brooks v. Hurst Buick–Pontiac–
Olds–GMC (1985), 23 Ohio App.3d 85, 23 OBR 150, 491 N.E.2d 345.
{¶27} "We find that the plain meaning of R.C. 1345.09(F)(2) dictates the Brooks
result and comports with the legislative intent. The language ' * * * knowingly committed
an act or practice that violates this chapter' requires that for liability to attach, a supplier
must have committed a deceptive or unconscionable act or practice. This conduct must
violate the Consumer Sales Practices Act. The statutory language does not state that
the supplier must act with the knowledge that his acts violate the law, as appellee
contends. 'Knowingly' modifies 'committed an act or practice' and does not modify
'violates this chapter.'
{¶28} "To find otherwise would deny attorney fees to consumers even though
the supplier might have blatantly violated the Consumer Sales Practices Act. Such a
conclusion flies in the face of the common-law maxim that ignorance of the law is no
excuse. Roberts & Martz, supra, at 957."
{¶29} Therefore, the issue is whether the lack of training and inspection
guidelines were intentional acts. By rejecting the testimony of Brady Bulger and Brian
Pica on the issue of training by inference, the jury found appellant's acts to have been
done pursuant to the Einhorn standard.
{¶30} Having found the unconscionable acts were knowingly done, the next
issue is how it jells with the good faith exception in R.C. 1345.11. Clearly the
"knowingly" unconscionable act does not fit with the good faith exception because the
jury specifically rejected the training practices in the interrogatory.
Stark County, Case No. 2011CA00044 8
{¶31} Upon review, we find the trial court did not err in awarding appellee treble
damages and attorney fees.
{¶32} Assignment of Error I is denied.
II
{¶33} Appellant claims the trial court erred in finding it was jointly and severally
liable for the damages as the jury found it was responsible for less than fifty percent of
the tortious conduct. We disagree.
{¶34} Appellant argues R.C. 2307.22(A) does not apply sub judice because the
action was a contract action, not a tort action. R.C.2307.22(A) states the following:
{¶35} "(A) Subject to sections 2307.23 and 2307.24 and except as provided in
division (B) of section 2307.70, division (B) of section 4507.07, section 4399.02, or
another section of the Revised Code that expressly establishes joint and several tort
liability for specified persons, joint and several tort liability shall be determined as
follows:
{¶36} "(1) In a tort action in which the trier of fact determines that two or more
persons proximately caused the same injury or loss to person or property or the same
wrongful death and in which the trier of fact determines that more than fifty per cent of
the tortious conduct is attributable to one defendant, that defendant shall be jointly and
severally liable in tort for all compensatory damages that represent economic loss.
{¶37} "(2) If division (A)(1) of this section is applicable, each defendant who is
determined by the trier of fact to be legally responsible for the same injury or loss to
person or property or the same wrongful death and to whom fifty per cent or less of the
tortious conduct is attributable shall be liable to the plaintiff only for that defendant's
Stark County, Case No. 2011CA00044 9
proportionate share of the compensatory damages that represent economic loss. The
proportionate share of a defendant shall be calculated by multiplying the total amount of
the economic damages awarded to the plaintiff by the percentage of tortious conduct as
determined pursuant to section 2307.23 of the Revised Code that is attributable to that
defendant.
{¶38} "(3) In a tort action in which the trier of fact determines that two or more
persons proximately caused the same injury or loss to person or property or the same
wrongful death and in which the trier of fact determines that fifty per cent or less of the
tortious conduct is attributable to any defendant against whom an intentional tort claim
has been alleged and established, that defendant shall be jointly and severally liable in
tort for all compensatory damages that represent economic loss.
{¶39} "(4) If division (A)(3) of this section is applicable, each defendant against
whom an intentional tort claim has not been alleged and established, who is determined
by the trier of fact to be legally responsible for the same injury or loss to person or
property or the same wrongful death, and to whom fifty per cent or less of the tortious
conduct is attributable shall be liable to the plaintiff only for that defendant's
proportionate share of the compensatory damages that represent economic loss. The
proportionate share of a defendant shall be calculated by multiplying the total amount of
the economic damages awarded to the plaintiff by the percentage of tortious conduct as
determined pursuant to section 2307.23 of the Revised Code that is attributable to that
defendant."
{¶40} In Interrogatory No. 43, the jury specifically found Maxwell's was an agent
of appellant's. R.C. 2307.24(B) states the following:
Stark County, Case No. 2011CA00044 10
{¶41} "Sections 2307.22 and 2307.23 of the Revised Code do not affect any
other section of the Revised Code or the common law of this state to the extent that the
other section or common law makes a principal, master, or other person vicariously
liable for the tortious conduct of an agent, servant, or other person. For purposes of
section 2307.22 of the Revised Code, a principal and agent, a master and servant, or
other persons having a vicarious liability relationship shall constitute a single party when
determining percentages of tortious conduct in a tort action in which vicarious liability is
asserted."
{¶42} We find R.C. 2307.24(B) controls in this case and the trial court's decision
on joint and several liability was based upon the jury's consideration in Interrogatory No.
43, as well as by implication in Interrogatory No. 8. Further, appellee's complaint is
based on contract, warranty, and the Consumer Sales Practice Act.
{¶43} Upon review, we find the trial court did not err in finding appellant was
jointly and severally liable for the damages.
{¶44} Assignment of Error II is denied.
Stark County, Case No. 2011CA00044 11
{¶45} The judgment of the Canton Municipal Court of Stark County, Ohio is
hereby affirmed.
By Farmer, J.
Hoffman, P.J. and
Edwards, J. concur.
s/ Sheila G. Farmer_______________
s/ William B. Hoffman______________
s/ Julie A. Edwards____________
JUDGES
[Cite as Jones v. Diamond Warranty Corp., 2011-Ohio-6744.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR STARK COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
ERIC JONES :
:
Plaintiff-Appellee :
:
-vs- : JUDGMENT ENTRY
:
DIAMOND WARRANTY CORP. :
:
Defendant-Appellant : CASE NO. 2011CA00044
For the reasons stated in our accompanying Memorandum-Opinion, the
judgment of the Canton Municipal Court of Stark County, Ohio is affirmed. Costs to
appellant.
s/ Sheila G. Farmer_______________
s/ William B. Hoffman______________
s/ Julie A. Edwards____________
JUDGES