Twymon v. Eagle Auto Parts, Inc. , 2022 Ohio 2360 ( 2022 )

[Cite as Twymon v. Eagle Auto Parts, Inc., 2022-Ohio-2360.]
COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
MICKEY TWYMON, :
Plaintiff-Appellee, : No. 11o993
v. :
EAGLE AUTO PARTS, INC., ET AL., :
Defendants-Appellants. :
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
JUDGMENT: REVERSED, VACATED, AND REMANDED
RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: July 7, 2022
Civil Appeal from the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Case No. CV-20-931093
Appearances:
Joseph B. Rose, III, for appellee.
Yelsky & Lonardo, LLC, and Mitchell J. Yelsky, for
appellant.
EILEEN A. GALLAGHER, J.:
In this accelerated appeal, defendant-appellant Eagle Auto Parts, Inc.
(“Eagle Auto Parts”) appeals from the trial court’s order denying its motion to vacate
default judgment entered in favor of plaintiff-appellee Mickey Twymon. For the
reasons that follow, we reverse the trial court’s decision, vacate the default judgment
and remand the case for further proceedings.
Procedural and Factual Background
On March 18, 2020, Twymon filed a complaint in the Cuyahoga
County Court of Common Pleas against Eagle Auto Parts and a John Doe defendant
(collectively, the “defendants”),1 alleging that nearly two years earlier, on March 22,
2018, Twymon had been bitten by a pit bull while attempting to purchase auto parts
at Eagle Auto Parts’ facility at 4063 East 116th Street in Cleveland. Twymon asserted
claims of negligence, gross negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress
and violation of Ohio’s dog bite statute, R.C. 955.28, against the defendants.
In his complaint, Twymon alleged that “while in the process of
purchasing auto parts,” he had been directed by “one of [Eagle Auto Parts’] agents”
to accompany an employee to a storage building to select the auto parts. He further
alleged that while he was inside the building he was, “without provocation,”
“viciously and violently attacked by Defendants’ Pitbull,” causing “puncture wounds
and bite marks to his leg.” Tymon further alleged that an Eagle Auto Parts employee
witnessed the attack and that employees informed Twymon “on scene” that the dog
should have been secured in its cage at the rear of the facility at the time it attacked
Twymon. Twymon also alleged that the defendants knew of the dog’s “viciousness”
1 Twymon described the John Doe defendant as the “owner, harborer, and/or
keeper” of the pit bull.
and that they breached a duty owed to him by keeping the dog in a “reckless and/or
negligent manner.”
The incident was reported as an “animal bite” to the Cleveland
Department of Public Safety, Division of Animal Care & Control (“Animal
Control”).2 Following the incident, Twymon sought medical treatment in the
emergency room at University Hospitals’ Cleveland Medical Center. There is no
information in the record as to what medical treatment he received, other than that
he was prescribed Amoxicillin-Clavulanate tablets.
As a result of the incident, Twymon claimed to have sustained
“injuries, which have caused pain and suffering, and, upon information and belief,
will continue to cause pain and suffering into the future and upon a permanent
basis” as well as “serious emotional distress” and unspecified “economic and
noneconomic damages.” For his injuries and other damages, Twymon sought to
recover compensatory damages in excess of $25,000, punitive damages, attorney
fees and his “costs and expenses.”
The caption of Twymon’s complaint listed two addresses for Eagle
Auto Parts: (1) Eagle Auto Parts, Inc., 4063 East 116th Street, Cleveland, Ohio
44105, and (2) Eagle Auto Parts, Inc., “c/o Statutory Agent: Diane A. Calta,” 1360
SOM Center Road, Cleveland, OH 44124. On March 23, 2020, the clerk for the
2 There is no information in the record as to what happened after the incident was
reported to Animal Control, including whether there was any investigation or follow up
by Animal Control, whether Animal Control took possession of the dog, whether Eagle
Auto Parts was cited or what happened to the dog after the incident.
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas sent a summons and complaint, via
certified mail return receipt requested, to (1) Eagle Auto Parts at 4063 East 116th
Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44105 and (2) Eagle Auto Parts, “c/o s/a: Diane A Calta,”
1360 SOM Center Rd., Cleveland, Ohio 44124. 1360 SOM Center Road is the
address of the offices of Diemert & Associates Co., L.P.A. (the “Diemert law firm”).
At the time she was appointed Eagle Auto Parts’ statutory agent in 2008, Calta was
employed by, or otherwise associated with, the Diemert law firm.
A return receipt was received for the summons and complaint sent via
certified mail in care of Calta, indicating that it was “delivered on 03/26/2020 at
12:28 p.m. in Cleveland, Ohio 44124.” It is unknown who signed the certified mail
delivery receipt. The “signature” on the return receipt is little more than a scribble.
The return receipt was entered on the trial court’s docket on April 1, 2020. The trial
court’s docket indicates that the summons and complaint sent via certified mail to
Eagle Auto Parts at 4063 East 116th Street was returned “unclaimed” on April 14,
2020 and as “attempted — not known unable to forward” on April 22, 2020. 3
Eagle Auto Parts did not file an answer or otherwise enter an
appearance in the case.
3 In considering the relevant facts and circumstances of this case, we are mindful
that service of the summons and complaint on Calta at 1360 SOM Center Road and the
attempted service of the summons and complaint on Eagle Auto Parts directly at 4063
East 116th Street occurred shortly after the issuance of Ohio’s COVID 19 stay-at-home
order, which became effective on March 23, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. and mandated that all
individuals stay at home unless engaged in essential work or activity.
On July 21, 2020, Twymon filed a motion for default judgment
pursuant to Civ.R. 55(A). In his default motion, Twymon asserted that Eagle Auto
Parts had been served with the summons and complaint via certified mail on April 1,
2020 and that Eagle Auto Parts was, therefore, required to file an answer or
otherwise plead on or before April 29, 2020,4 but had failed to do so. Twymon
requested that the trial court enter a default judgment against Eagle Auto Parts and
that the matter be set for trial for a determination of damages.
Twymon’s certificate of service for the motion for default indicates
that Twymon sent a copy of the motion to Eagle Auto Parts, via certified mail, return
receipt requested, in care of “S/A Diane A. Calta” at 1360 SOM Center Road,
Cleveland, OH 44124. Twymon did not send a copy of the motion directly to Eagle
Auto Parts at 4063 East 116th Street, the other address listed for Eagle Auto Parts in
the complaint. There is no return receipt in the record for the copy of the motion
sent to Calta.
On July 21, 2020, the trial court issued an order scheduling a
telephonic default hearing for September 1, 2020. The trial court ordered Twymon’s
counsel to inform “all opposing counsel and unrepresented parties,” via certified
mail, of the date, time and court phone number for the hearing, at least seven days
4 This is not, in fact, correct.
Due to the Ohio Supreme Court’s tolling order related
to the COVID-19 pandemic, Eagle Auto Parts’ answer was not yet due at the time Twymon
filed his motion for default judgment. Because the emergency period was in effect when
Eagle Auto Parts was served, Eagle Auto Parts would have had 28 days after the tolling
period ended to file an answer, i.e., 28 days after July 30, 2020. See In re Tolling of Time
Requirements Imposed by Rules Promulgated by the Supreme Court & Use of Tech., 158
Ohio St.3d 1447, 2020-Ohio-1166, 141 N.E.3d 974.
prior to the hearing. The trial court also ordered that Twymon file, at least five days
prior to the hearing (1) an affidavit of damages and military service, (2) a proposed
judgment entry and (3) a copy of the letter Twymon’s counsel sent to the defendant
notifying it of the default hearing.
The default hearing was continued three times at Twymon’s request.
In each of his motions for continuance, Twymon asserted that although a “concerted
effort has been made by counsel to obtain all relevant records from University
Hospital[s] regarding Mr. Twymon’s treatment as a result of his injuries, he has been
unable to do so and hereby requests additional time.” The certificate of service for
each motion indicates that a copy of the motion was sent to Eagle Auto Parts, via
“USPS mail,” in care of “S/A Diane A. Calta” at 1360 SOM Center Road, Cleveland,
OH 44124. Copies of the motions were not sent to Eagle Auto Parts directly. There
is no evidence in the record as to what happened to these motions after they were
sent to 1360 SOM Center Road. The default hearing was ultimately rescheduled for
December 17, 2020.
There is nothing in the record that indicates that any of the trial
court’s July 21, 2020, September 14, 2020, October 15, 2020 or November 19, 2020
orders scheduling (or rescheduling) the default hearing were sent to Eagle Auto
Parts (either in care of Calta or directly). The trial court’s docket reflects only that
the orders were sent to Twymon or his counsel via “e-filing service email.”
On December 11, 2020, Twymon filed a copy of a letter, dated
December 8, 2020, advising Eagle Auto Parts of the date, time and telephone
number for the default hearing on December 17, 2020. The letter indicates that it
had been sent via certified mail, return receipt requested, to Eagle Auto Parts in care
of “S/A Diane A. Calta” at 1360 SOM Center Road, Cleveland, OH 44124. There is
no return receipt in the record for the letter sent to Calta. Accordingly, it is unknown
whether it was received at 1360 SOM Center Road.
Twymon also filed an “affidavit of damages” in which he averred as
follows:
1. I am the Plaintiff in the above captioned lawsuit which has been
filed against the Defendant, Eagle Auto Parts, Inc.
2. I have reviewed the Complaint filed on my behalf by my attorney
and declare that the allegations contained in the Complaint are
true.
3. As a direct and proximate result of the dog bite, I was required
to obtain medical treatment to my leg at University Hospitals,
the cost of said services is nine hundred thirty dollars ($930.00)
* * * and Walgreens Pharmacy, the cost of which is twenty-one
dollars and two cents ($21.02) * * *.
4. I suffered great pain and discomfort as a result of such injuries
and to date, a scar remains where I was viciously bitten. For such
pain and suffering, both physically and mentally, I have incurred
damages in the amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00).
5. I was further damaged to the extent, that in that I was born and
raised in Alabama, I had planned to drive there to be with my
family on Easter but was unable to do so due to my injuries.
6. To be fully compensated for the injuries inflicted by the
Defendant I seek the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars
($25,000.00) and my costs.
Copies of an invoice from University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center (the “UH
invoice”) and a receipt from Walgreens pharmacy (the “Walgreens receipt”) were
attached to the affidavit. The UH invoice listed charges of $930.00 for “Emergency
Department E&M Level 3” and $3.22 for Amoxicillin-Clavulanate tablets, with a
$0.00 balance following receipt of “Veterans Admin Hlth Insurance” payments or
adjustments. The Walgreens receipt reflected a charge of $21.02 for 14 Amoxicillin-
Clavulanate tablets.
Twymon’s affidavit was the sole evidence presented in support of his
claimed damages. Although Twymon’s counsel had thrice asserted that additional
time was needed for the default hearing to obtain “all relevant records from
University Hospital[s] regarding Mr. Twymon’s treatment as a result of his injuries,”
no medical records were submitted in support of his injury claim.
Following the default hearing,5 the trial court granted Twymon’s
motion for default judgment and entered judgment in his favor in the amount of
$25,000. In its December 17, 2020 judgment entry, the trial court stated, in relevant
part:
This matter came before the court for consideration on 12/17/2020
upon Mick[e]y Twymon’s complaint filed March 18, 2020, defendant
Eagle Auto Parts, Inc. being in default of an answer or other pleading
in response to said complaint.
Upon review of plaintiff’s complaint, plaintiff’s affidavit of
damages with exhibits and a copy of the written communication to
defendant from plaintiff, dated December 8, 2020 setting forth the date
and time of the hearing, the court finds that the allegations set forth in
plaintiff’s complaint are well taken and as a result, plaintiff has
sustained damages and for good cause it is:
5
No transcript from the default hearing is in the record. During oral argument,
counsel stated that the default hearing was not an evidentiary hearing.
Therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed that there is due and
owing to plaintiff Mickey Twymon from defendant Eagle Auto Parts,
Inc. the sum of 25,000.00, to be paid forthwith.
The trial court sent copies of the judgment entry, via regular mail, to
Eagle Auto Parts at 4063 East 116th Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44105, and in care of
“s/a: Diane A. Calta” at 1360 SOM Center Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44124. Eagle Auto
Parts received the copy of the judgment entry sent to it at its 4063 East 116th Street
address.
On January 26, 2021, Eagle Auto Parts filed a motion to vacate the
default judgment “in accordance with [Civ.R.] 60(B)(1) and (5).” Eagle Auto Parts
contended that the default judgment should be vacated because (1) its motion was
timely, (2) it had never been properly served with the complaint6 and (3) it had a
meritorious defense to the complaint.
Eagle Auto Parts contended that it “was never properly served” with
the complaint because (1) the address listed for Eagle Auto Parts in the complaint —
4063 East 116th Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44105 — was an auto parts storage
warehouse that is not open to the public and not its principal place of business and
6 Although Eagle Auto Parts filed its motion to vacate default judgment “in
accordance with Civ.R. 60(B)(1) and (5),” we note that “a default judgment rendered by a
court without obtaining proper service over the defendant is void.” Corrao v. Bennett,
2020-Ohio-2822, 154 N.E.3d 558, ¶ 16 (8th Dist.), citing Khatib v. Peters, 2017-Ohio-95,
77 N.E.3d 461, ¶ 30 (8th Dist.). A party who asserts improper service does not need to
meet the requirements of Civ.R. 60(B) because a court’s authority to vacate a void
judgment does not arise from Civ.R. 60(B); a court has inherent power to vacate a void
judgment. Patton v. Diemer, 35 Ohio St.3d 68, 518 N.E.2d 941 (1988), paragraph four of
the syllabus; Corrao at ¶ 16; King v. Water’s Edge Condominium Unit Owners’ Assn., 8th
Dist. Cuyahoga No. 109895, 2021-Ohio-1717, ¶ 20; see also Staff Notes to Civ.R. 60(B).
(2) Calta had never notified Eagle Auto Parts of her “alleged receipt of [s]ervice of
[p]rocess.” Eagle Auto Parts also asserted that Calta’s failure to notify Eagle Auto
Parts of her alleged receipt of the complaint constituted sufficient “mistake,
inadvertence, surprise or excusable neglect” to warrant vacating the default
judgment under Civ.R. 60(B)(1) and that it had a meritorious defense to the
complaint because Twymon was a trespasser and had entered its auto parts storage
warehouse at 4063 East 116th Street “without any permission or authorization.”
In support of its motion, Eagle Auto Parts attached an affidavit from
its general manager, Carmine Agnello. In his affidavit, Agnello averred that Eagle
Auto Parts’ principal place of business is located at 4060 East 116th Street, that
service of process was never attempted at 4060 East 116th Street and that its facility
located at 4063 East 116th Street is an auto parts storage warehouse that “does not
receive mail” for Eagle Auto Parts. He further averred that “conspicuous” signs
were posted at the entrance of the auto parts storage warehouse advising visitors to
“Ring Bell For Part’s [sic] Pick Up [sic]. Please Be Patient,” warning visitors that
there was a “GUARD DOG ON DUTY and instructing visitors that “ALL VISITORS
MUST SIGN IN BEFORE ENTERING YARD” and that “ALL VISITORS MUST
WEAR” a hard hat, safety glasses and high visibility vest or shirt. Agnello averred
that, to his knowledge, Twymon never rang the bell for service, did not otherwise
comply with the signs and was, therefore, a trespasser. Agnello attached
photographs of the signs and “what someone would see upon entering the auto parts
storage warehouse” as exhibits to his affidavit.
With respect to service of the summons and complaint, Agnello
averred:
At no time did Eagle Auto Parts, Inc.’s statutory agent Diane [A.] Calta
notify me, or anyone else from Eagle Auto Parts, Inc., that Ms. Calta
was served with [the] Summons and Complaint. Upon [G]oogling
Diane Calta’s name, it appears to me that she is no longer employed as
an Attorney-at-Law for the Diemert Law Firm, at 1360 SOM Center
Road; and, at no time did anyone from Ms. Calta’s former law office
ever notify Eagle Auto Parts, Inc. that [s]he had been served with
Summons and Complaint.
Twymon opposed the motion, asserting that Calta (and thus Eagle
Auto Parts) had been properly served with the summons and complaint in
accordance with the Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure,7 that Eagle Auto Parts had failed
to rebut the presumption of proper service, that Eagle Auto Parts had failed to
present evidence, including an affidavit from Calta, establishing “excusable neglect”
or “any other reason justifying relief” under Civ.R. 60(B)(1) or (5) and that Eagle
Auto Parts had failed to demonstrate a meritorious defense if relief were to be
granted. In support of his opposition, Twymon submitted a photograph of Eagle
Auto Parts’ facility at 4063 East 116th Street and copies of certain business records
from the Ohio Secretary of State’s office, including the initial articles of
7 Twymon also claimed that service was perfected on Eagle Auto Parts at its 4063
East 116th Street address “by ordinary mail, docketed by the clerk’s office on April 1, 2020,
after the certified mail went unclaimed.” However, we see nothing in the record to
support this. The only entry on the trial court’s docket for April 1, 2020 references “USPS
Receipt No. 41486439 [d]elivered by USPS 03/26/2020.” USPS Receipt No. 41486439
is the certified mail receipt for the summons and complaint sent to 1360 SOM Center
Road in care of Calta.
incorporation for Eagle Auto Parts, dated June 5, 2008, appointing Diane A. Calta,
1360 SOM Center Road, Cleveland Ohio 44124, as its statutory agent.
On October 14, 2021, the trial court held a hearing on Eagle’s motion
to vacate default judgment.8 At the hearing, Eagle Auto Parts reiterated its
arguments that the default judgment should be vacated because “service ha[d] not
been perfected” and Eagle Auto Parts had a meritorious defense based on Twymon’s
status as a trespasser, his entry into a restricted area unaccompanied by any Eagle
Auto Parts employee and his failure to heed the posted signs warning visitors of the
presence of a guard dog on the premises. Eagle Auto Parts also questioned the
factual basis for the damages awarded Twymon, arguing that he had been
improperly “awarded a windfall,” and asserted that Eagle Auto Parts should have
“an opportunity to inspect his medical records and to find out exactly whether or not
his injuries are in line with the very large default judgment” he received.
With respect to service of the complaint at 1360 SOM Center Road,
Eagle Auto Parts’ counsel asserted that Calta had “exited the practice of law without
notifying [Eagle Auto Parts] that she was no longer on SOM Center,” that the law
office of out which she had previously worked or with which she had previously been
associated had no forwarding information for her and that, considering the remedial
purpose of Civ.R. 60(B) and the strong preference for deciding cases on their merits,
Eagle Auto Parts “should not be held responsible” for Calta’s “lack of meeting her
8 The hearing was held by videoconference pursuant to the parties’ agreement.
Counsel for the parties and Agnello attended the hearing.
best practices” to notify Eagle Auto Parts that she was “leaving the practice of law”
and that it needed to get a new statutory agent. Eagle Auto Parts maintained that
the only document it had received in the case was a copy of the default judgment
entry, which had been sent, by regular mail, to its auto parts storage warehouse at
4063 East 116th Street.
Twymon responded that the docket clearly established that Calta,
Eagle Auto Parts’ statutory agent, was properly served with the summons and
complaint on March 26, 2020, that Eagle Auto Parts had not presented any legal
authority that a statutory agent’s failure to notify a party of a received complaint
warranted relief under Civ.R. 60(B) and that if Eagle Auto Parts wanted relief under
Civ.R. 60(B)(1) or (5), it should have produced an affidavit from Calta confirming
that (1) she did not notify Eagle Auto Parts of her receipt of the complaint and (2)
explaining why she failed to notify Eagle Auto Parts of her receipt of the complaint.
Twymon further asserted that he was a business invitee, not a trespasser, that Eagle
Auto Parts did not dispute that its pit bull attacked Twymon and that, pursuant to
R.C. 955.28(B), Eagle Auto Parts was liable for the injuries caused by the pit bull.
Twymon did not address his damages award at the hearing on the motion to vacate.
At the conclusion of the hearing, the trial court denied Eagle Auto
Parts’ motion to vacate the default judgment, stating:
[T]he Court is going the make the following findings:
I really can’t find that service was improper. The evidence all
points to the fact that the statutory agent was served. That in and of
itself is proper service.
I suppose there is maybe some evidence of some kind of neglect
in that Mr. Agnello claims he never received notice from the statutory
agent, but * * * it is a little self-serving.
There’s no information from the attorney, the attorney’s office
how it could be neglected or why it should be excused. It’s got to be
excusable neglect.
The meritorious defense may have some color of law. It is a little
dubious with respect to whether or not there is a criminal trespass
involved that would excuse the actions of the guard dog at that
business.
Dog-bite cases are pretty strongly — the statute is written to
protect the person bitten. That’s why I asked you about some kind of
criminal act that would excuse the dog’s action. There mere status of
someone on a business which may change is really not the same as a
criminal trespass.
So there’s not sufficient evidence here for me to grant the 60(B)
motion. So at this point I am going to deny it.
In its judgment entry, the trial court further explained its ruling as
follows:
The court heard argument from counsel for both parties. * * * This
court’s docket reflects that service was perfected on defendant via its
statutory agent on 03/26/2020. There was no evidence of excusable
neglect on behalf of defendant’s statutory agent. The evidence showed
defendant’s statutory agent was legally served and defendant failed to
answer or otherwise respond to plaintiff’s complaint. Accordingly,
defendant’s motion to vacate is denied and this court’s December 17,
2020 judgment remains.
Eagle Auto Parts appealed, raising the following two assignments of
error for review:
Assignment of Error No. 1: The trial court abused its discretion and
erred as a matter of law when it denied appellant Eagle Auto Parts,
Inc.’s timely motion to vacate its December 17, 2020 default judgment.
Assignment of Error No. 2: The trial court abused its discretion and
erred as a matter of law when it found there was no evidence of
excusable neglect.
Eagle Auto Parts’ assignments of error are interrelated. Accordingly,
we address them together.
Law and Analysis
Civ.R. 55(B) states: “If a judgment by default has been entered, the
court may set it aside in accordance with Rule 60(B).”9 Civ.R. 60(B) provides, in
relevant part: “On motion and upon such terms as are just,” a trial court “may relieve
a party or his legal representative from a final judgment, order or proceeding for the
following reasons:”
(1) mistake, inadvertence, surprise or excusable neglect; (2) newly
discovered evidence which by due diligence could not have been
discovered in time to move for a new trial under Rule 59 (B); (3) fraud
(whether heretofore denominated intrinsic or extrinsic),
misrepresentation or other misconduct of an adverse party; (4) the
judgment has been satisfied, released or discharged, or a prior
judgment upon which it is based has been reversed or otherwise
vacated, or it is no longer equitable that the judgment should have
prospective application; or (5) any other reason justifying relief from
the judgment.
9 As noted above, Civ.R. 60(B) “deals with vacation of voidable judgments.” Staff
Notes to Civ.R. 60(B). A court also has the inherent power to vacate a void judgment
separate and apart from Civ.R. 60(B). See, e.g., Patton, 35 Ohio St.3d 68, 518 N.E.2d 941at paragraph four of the syllabus; King, 2021-Ohio-1717, at ¶ 20; Reliable Auto Fin., Inc. v.
Kelly, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 20AP-518, 2021-Ohio-2851, ¶ 13. The same abuse-of-
discretion standard of review applies to rulings on common-law motions to vacate and
Civ.R. 60(B) motions. See, e.g., Midland Funding, L.L.C. v. Cherrier, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga
No. 108595, 2020-Ohio-3280, ¶ 13, 16; Brookville Enters. v. Clarence J. Kessler Estate
HCF Mgmt., 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 29314, 2022-Ohio-1420, ¶ 20; Teeters v. Jeffries,
12th Dist. Clermont No. CA2021-02-007, 2021-Ohio-2985, ¶ 16.
Civ.R. 60(B) ‘“strikes a balance between the finality of judgments and
a perfect result “by vesting the courts with broad, but not unlimited authority to set
aside judgments.”’” Rodeno v. Mezenski, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 111030, 2022-
Ohio-1176, ¶ 17, quoting Ouellette v. Ouellette, 2020-Ohio-705, 152 N.E.3d 528, ¶ 10
(6th Dist.), quoting Knapp v. Knapp, 24 Ohio St.3d 141, 145, 493 N.E.2d 1353(1986). It is “a remedial rule to be liberally construed so that the ends of justice may
be served.” Kay v. Marc Glassman, 76 Ohio St.3d 18, 20, 665 N.E.2d 1102 (1996),
citing Colley v. Bazell, 64 Ohio St.2d 243, 249, 416 N.E.2d 605 (1980).
To prevail on a motion for relief from judgment pursuant to Civ.R.
60(B), the moving party must demonstrate that (1) the party has a meritorious
defense or claim to present if the relief is granted; (2) the party is entitled to relief
under one of the grounds stated in Civ.R. 60(B)(1)-(5) and (3) the motion is made
within a reasonable time. Internatl. Total Servs. v. Estate of Nichols, 8th Dist.
Cuyahoga No. 107751, 2019-Ohio-4572, ¶ 7, citing GTE Automatic Elec. v. ARC
Industries, 47 Ohio St.2d 146, 351 N.E.2d 113 (1976), paragraph two of the syllabus.
A party seeking relief under Civ.R. 60(B) is required to allege
“operative facts” that support the claim, but “is not required to support its motion
with evidentiary materials.” Kay at 20-21. The moving party must allege operative
facts with sufficient specificity so that the trial court can decide whether the moving
party is entitled to relief. Syed v. Poulos, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 99884, 2013-Ohio-
5739, ¶ 10. ‘“Broad, conclusory statements do not satisfy the requirement that a
Civ.R. 60(B) motion must be supported by operative facts that would warrant relief
from judgment.”’ Rodeno at ¶ 35, quoting Natl. Collegiate Student Loan Trust
2007-2 v. Tigner, 2d Dist. Montgomery Nos. 27841 and 28035, 2018-Ohio-4442, ¶
22; see also Syed at ¶ 10 (“Although a moving party is not required to submit
evidentiary material in support of the motion, he or she must do more than make
bare allegations of entitlement to relief.”).
We review a trial court’s ruling on a Civ.R. 60(B) motion for abuse of
discretion. Internatl. Total Servs. at ¶ 6, citing Bank of N.Y. v. Elliot, 8th Dist.
Cuyahoga Nos. 97506 and 98179, 2012-Ohio-5285, ¶ 25. A trial court abuses its
discretion where its decision is unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable.
Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219, 450 N.E.2d 1140 (1983). A decision
is unreasonable when “no sound reasoning process” supports that decision. AAAA
Ents. v. River Place Community Urban Redevelopment Corp., 50 Ohio St.3d 157,
161, 553 N.E.2d 597 (1990). An abuse of discretion also occurs when a court “‘applies
the wrong legal standard, misapplies the correct legal standard, or relies on clearly
erroneous findings of fact.’” Franciscan Communities, Inc. v. Rice, 8th Dist.
Cuyahoga No. 109889, 2021-Ohio-1729, ¶ 33, quoting Thomas v. Cleveland, 176
Ohio App.3d 401, 2008-Ohio-1720, 892 N.E.2d 454, ¶ 15 (8th Dist.).
Here, there is no dispute that Eagle’s motion to vacate, filed less than
six weeks after the default judgment entry, was filed within a reasonable time. At
issue is whether Eagle Auto Parts’ motion and supporting materials set forth
sufficient operative facts showing that (1) Eagle Auto Parts has a meritorious defense
and (2) Eagle Auto Parts is entitled to relief from judgment based on one of the
grounds stated in Civ.R. 60(B).
Meritorious Defense
Eagle Auto Parts argues that it showed it had a meritorious defense
based on (1) Twymon’s status as a trespasser at the time the dog bite occurred, i.e.,
that Twymon “never had a license, right, privilege or permission to enter [Eagle Auto
Parts’] unmanned and unattended auto parts storage warehouse,” and (2) the lack
of evidence supporting Twymon’s “exorbitant and excessive $25,000.00 default
judgment arising from one emergency department encounter, with uninsured and
unreimbursed medical expenses of $21.01.”
With respect to the meritorious defense requirement, “a movant’s
burden is only to allege a meritorious defense, not to prove that he will prevail on
that defense.” Rose Chevrolet, Inc. v. Adams, 36 Ohio St.3d 17, 20, 520 N.E.2d 564(1988). ‘“[T]he burden on the moving party is only to allege operative facts which
would constitute a meritorious defense if found to be true.”’ Baker Motors, Inc. v.
Baker Motors Towing, Inc., 183 Ohio App.3d 223, 228, 2009-Ohio-3294, 916
N.E.2d 853, ¶ 16 (8th Dist.), quoting Fouts v. Weiss-Carson, 77 Ohio App.3d 563,
565, 602 N.E.2d 1231 (11th Dist.1991); see also Urban v. Folan, 9th Dist. Summit
No. 29826, 2021-Ohio-3452, ¶ 18 (To satisfy meritorious defense requirement, the
moving party must ‘“allege supporting operative facts with enough specificity to
allow the court to decide that the movant has a defense he could have successfully
argued at trial.’”), quoting Climbing Higher Ent., Inc. v. Forney, 9th Dist. Summit
No. 21142, 2002-Ohio-6295, ¶ 13.
In this case, we need not decide whether Twymon set forth sufficient
operative facts to constitute a meritorious defense based on Twymon’s status as a
trespasser because apart from whether Twymon was a trespasser, Eagle Auto Parts
showed that it had a meritorious defense based on the damages awarded to
Twymon.
‘“In a tort action, or in any action for unliquidated damages, the
default of the defendant does not admit the amount of the damages, and the plaintiff
must prove his damages.’” Baker v. Hope Moulding Co., 3d Dist. Hardin No. 6-81-
10, 1982 Ohio App. LEXIS 15251, 10 (Mar. 25, 1982), quoting 47 American
Jurisprudence 2d 206; see also Brooks v. RKUK, Inc., 5th Dist. Stark No.
2021CA00048, 2022-Ohio-266, ¶ 54 (‘“Ohio law requires the presentation of proof
of damages for an unliquidated claim before any can be awarded.’”), quoting
Faulkner v. Integrated Servs. Network, Inc., 8th Dist. Cuyahoga Nos. 81877 and
83083, 2003-Ohio-6474, ¶ 26; Berube v. Richardson, 2017-Ohio-1367, 89 N.E.3d
85, ¶ 10 (8th Dist.) (“Generally, proof of damages is required for an unliquidated
claim, such as a claim of negligence.”), citing Buckeye Supply Co. v. N.E. Drilling
Co., 24 Ohio App.3d 134, 136, 493 N.E.2d 964 (9th Dist.1985).
Civ.R. 55(A) states, in relevant part:
If, in order to enable the court to enter judgment or to carry it into
effect, it is necessary to take an account or to determine the amount of
damages or to establish the truth of any averment by evidence or to
make an investigation of any other matter, the court may conduct such
hearings or order such references as it deems necessary and proper and
shall when applicable accord a right of trial by jury to the parties.
“Although trial courts have broad discretion under Civ.R. 55 to award
damages by default based on affidavits in lieu of live testimony, default judgments
are generally granted on unpaid accounts and breaches of contract where an amount
of liquidated damages is easily ascertainable from the controlling documents.”
Kaferle v. MKT Holdings, L.L.C., 8th Dist. Cuyahoga Nos. 105990 and 106620,
2018-Ohio-4208, ¶ 18-20. Where, however, “the plaintiff presents a claim for
unliquidated damages * * * additional proof of damages is required.” Id., citing
Buckeye Supply at 136.
Once a right to damages has been established, that right cannot be
denied because damages are incapable of being calculated with mathematical
certainty. See, e.g., Brooks, 2022-Ohio-266, at ¶ 55. However, a plaintiff is not
entitled to recover for, and a trial court may not award — even following a default —
damages that are speculative or otherwise not supported in the record. See, e.g.,
Barilla v. Keaton, 9th Dist. Lorain No. 14CA010659, 2015-Ohio-1244, ¶ 6 (“Even if
a defendant has failed to appear, the determination of damages in a tort action
‘must be supported by evidence.’”), quoting Molz v. Gearhart, 4th Dist. Meigs No.
07CA16, 2009-Ohio-2824, ¶ 11.
In this case, the trial court awarded Twymon a default judgment in
the amount of $25,000. It did not hold an evidentiary hearing on the issue of
damages; rather, it awarded Twymon $25,000 in damages based on two receipts
documenting an emergency room visit and a prescription for antibiotics and
Twymon’s cursory, conclusory affidavit. The only information Twymon provided in
his affidavit regarding his injuries was that the dog bit one of his legs, that he still
has a scar and that he “suffered great pain and discomfort,” “mentally and
physically,” as a result of his injuries. No medical records or photographs
documenting the extent of Twymon’s injuries or the nature of the treatment he
received were presented.
Although in his affidavit Twymon claimed to have incurred only
$954.24 in medical expenses ($933.22 of which had been paid by insurance) and a
total of $10,000 for “pain and suffering, both physically and mentally,” he requested
$25,000 “[t]o be fully compensated for [his] injuries.” The only other damage or
loss Twymon claimed in his affidavit was the lost opportunity to spend Easter with
family, i.e., Twymon claimed that he had planned to drive to Alabama to be with his
family on Easter but that he was unable to do so due to his injuries. Twymon did
not explain why his injuries from a dog bite on March 22, 2018 precluded him from
driving him to Alabama to spend Easter with his family nearly two weeks later, and
he did not claim any specific losses or expenses attributable to that missed trip in
his damages affidavit or complaint.
There is insufficient evidence in the record to support the trial court’s
$25,000 damages award. Accordingly, Eagle Auto Parts presented sufficient
operative facts showing that it had a meritorious defense based on the excessive
damages awarded Twymon. See, e.g., Atkinson v. White, 2d Dist. Montgomery No.
18253, 2000 Ohio App. LEXIS 5664, 8 (Dec. 1, 2000) (“To the extent that [plaintiffs]
have not presented evidence in support of their alleged damages, Civ.R. 60(B) was
an appropriate means for challenging the amount of the trial court’s award, and
[defendants] had a meritorious defense to present regarding damages, insofar as the
trial court was obliged, but apparently did not, require [plaintiffs] to prove their
actual damages.”); cf. Whittle v. Davis, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2012-08-169, 2013-
Ohio-1950, ¶ 18-20 (trial court abused its discretion in awarding damages on default
judgment without a hearing where, although plaintiff submitted an affidavit in
support of the damages, the affidavit failed to provide sufficient details to support
the damages award); Kaferle, 2018-Ohio-4208, at ¶ 18-20 (trial court abused its
discretion in awarding default judgment in the amount of $458,413.78 on wrongful
death claim without a hearing; although affidavits submitted in support of damages
“describe[d] a few aspects of [the decedent’s] last few hours of life,” they were
“deficient in detail” and “provide[d] only broad, conclusory statements regarding his
pain and suffering and the plaintiffs’ loss of companionship and mental anguish”;
“[s]uch evidence is not sufficient to support an award of almost half a million
dollars”).
Excusable Neglect
In its motion to vacate default judgment, Eagle Auto Parts requested
that the trial court vacate the default judgment based on the “excusable neglect”
provision of Civ.R. 60(B)(1) and the “catch-all” provision of Civ.R. 60(B)(5) due to
(1) lack of proper service of the complaint, (2) its statutory agent’s failure to forward
the complaint to Eagle Auto Parts after service and (3) Eagle Auto Parts’ lack of
notice that the complaint had been filed. On appeal, Eagle Auto Parts abandons its
lack-of-proper-service argument, acknowledging that “service of process was
perfected on March 26, 2020,” and argues only that the trial court abused its
discretion in denying Eagle Auto Parts’ motion to vacate default judgment due to its
excusable neglect.
Eagle Auto Parts bases its excusable neglect argument on Calta’s
failure to advise Eagle Auto Parts that she was no longer at 1360 SOM Center Road,
Calta’s failure to advise Eagle Auto Parts that she had left private practice and no
longer intended to serve as its statutory agent and the failure of Calta, the Diemert
law firm or whomever actually received the summons and complaint at 1360 SOM
Center Road to notify Eagle Auto Parts that it had received the summons and
complaint. Eagle Auto Parts further asserts that its failure to answer the complaint
should have been deemed excusable neglect because upon its “first notice” of the
case, i.e., its receipt of the default judgment mailed to Eagle Auto Parts’ auto parts
storage warehouse at 4063 East 116th Street, Eagle Auto Parts “immediately
engaged legal counsel” and “filed its Civ.R. 60(B) motion.”
In response, Twymon asserts that Calta’s actions as its statutory agent
(and as an attorney) were imputed to Eagle Auto Parts and that the trial court
properly denied Eagle Auto Parts’ motion to vacate because Eagle Auto Parts
“present[ed] no evidence to rebut proper service” and “did not present an affidavit
from Calta alleging that her failure to notify [Eagle Auto Parts] of the complaint was
excusable neglect.”
As the Ohio Supreme Court has recognized, ‘“excusable neglect’ is an
elusive concept which has been difficult to define and to apply.” Kay, 76 Ohio St.3d
at 20, 665 N.E.2d 1102. It ‘“must be construed in keeping with the proposition that
Civ.R. 60(B)(1) is a remedial rule to be liberally construed, while bearing in mind
that Civ.R. 60(B) constitutes an attempt to “strike a proper balance between the
conflicting principles that litigation must be brought to an end and justice should be
done.’”” Russell v. McDonalds Inc., 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 109112, 2020-Ohio-
4300, ¶ 21, quoting Colley, 64 Ohio St.2d at 248, 416 N.E.2d 605, quoting 11 Wright
& Miller, Federal Practice & Procedure 140, Section 2851.
This court recently described “excusable neglect” as follows:
Excusable neglect has been defined in the negative. The inaction of a
defendant is not excusable neglect if it can be labeled as a “complete
disregard for the judicial system.” Kay v. Marc Glassman, 76 Ohio
St.3d 18, 20, 665 N.E.2d 1102 (1996). Cases finding excusable neglect
typically involve special circumstances that justify the neglect.
Dispatch Printing Co. v. Recovery Ltd. Partnership, 10th Dist.
Franklin No. 14AP-640, 2015-Ohio-1368, 31 N.E.3d 190, ¶ 13.
Neglectful conduct is not excusable if the party seeking relief could have
prevented the circumstances from occurring. Stuller v. Price, 10th
Dist. Franklin No. 02AP-29, 2003-Ohio-583, ¶ 52. While special or
unusual circumstances can justify neglect, if a party “could have
controlled or guarded against the happening of the special or unusual
circumstance, the neglect is not excusable.” Vanest v. Pillsbury Co.,
124 Ohio App.3d 525, 706 N.E.2d 825 (4th Dist.1997).
Delitoy v. I. Stylez Hair & Nails Design, Inc., 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 108833,
2020-Ohio-3370, ¶ 18. The determination of whether excusable neglect has
occurred ‘“must of necessity take into consideration all the surrounding facts
and circumstances.’” Griffey v. Rajan, 33 Ohio St.3d 75, 79, 514 N.E.2d 1122(1987), quoting Colley at 249.
Excusable neglect may exist when a party has “neither actual notice
nor knowledge of the lawsuit.” Rodgers v. Rocky River, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.
108059, 2019-Ohio-2006, ¶ 11; Dispatch Printing Co. v. Recovery Ltd. Partnership,
2015-Ohio-1368, 31 N.E.3d 190, ¶ 15 (10th Dist.). Courts have also found excusable
neglect where a failure to answer was due to a failure to forward, or other
mishandling of, a complaint. See, e.g., Clark v. Marc Glassman, Inc., 8th Dist.
Cuyahoga No. 78640, 2001 Ohio App. LEXIS 3826, 6-7, 10-11 (Aug. 30, 2001)
(defendant established excusable neglect where employee failed to forward
complaint to an appropriate corporate officer for response); Hopkins v. Quality
Chevrolet, Inc., 79 Ohio App.3d 578, 582-583, 607 N.E.2d 914 (4th Dist.1992)
(“relief from default judgment may be granted on the basis of excusable neglect
when service is properly made on a corporation but a corporate employee fails to
forward the summons and complaint to the appropriate person”); Perry v. Gen.
Motors Corp., 113 Ohio App.3d 318, 319, 321-324, 680 N.E.2d 1069 (10th Dist.1996)
(excusable neglect where corporate employee inadvertently sent the summons and
complaint to payroll department rather than to corporate counsel, preventing
response to complaint prior to entry of default judgment); Sycamore Messenger,
Inc. v. Cattle Barons, Inc., 31 Ohio App.3d 196, 197, 509 N.E.2d 977 (1st Dist.1986)
(excusable neglect found where service was properly made but defendant’s
bookkeeper failed to forward the summons and complaint to the appropriate person
and was subsequently fired); see also Keaton v. Purchase Plus Buyers Group, 145
Ohio App.3d 796, 803-805, 764 N.E.2d 1043 (4th Dist.2001) (remanding case for
an evidentiary hearing on the issue of excusable neglect where certified mail receipt
“ostensibly signed by the statutory agent” indicated that service of the summons and
complaint was made on company’s statutory agent but there was no affidavit from
the former statutory agent to indicate whether he signed for service and, if so, what
happened to the complaint after receipt).
“[A]n agent’s failure to appropriately forward a complaint does not,”
however, “automatically constitute excusable neglect.” Treasurer of Lucas Cty. v.
Mt. Airy Invs. Ltd., 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-18-1254, 2019-Ohio-3932, ¶ 27, citing T.S.
Expediting Servs., Inc. v. Mexican Industries, Inc., 6th Dist. Wood No. WD-01-060,
2002-Ohio-2268, ¶ 18. Where a failure to answer a complaint is the result of a
party’s “[i]nsufficient or negligent internal procedures” or the party could have
otherwise “controlled or guarded against” the circumstances that led to a party’s
failure to answer, courts have often declined to find excusable neglect. See, e.g.,
Middleton v. Luna’s Rest. & Deli, LLC, 5th Dist. Stark No. 2011 CA 00004, 2011-
Ohio-4388, ¶ 31, citing Laking Trucking, Inc. v. Coastal Tank Lines, Inc., 3d Dist.
Allen No. 1-83-3, 1984 Ohio App. LEXIS 8902, 8-11 (Feb. 9, 1984) (summons and
complaint received in a corporate mail room but inexplicably “lost or mislaid” after
being handled by mailroom employees did not constitute excusable neglect); Meyer
v. GMAC Mortg., 10th Dist. Franklin No. 06AP-877, 2007-Ohio-5009, ¶ 17-19
(defendant did not establish excusable neglect based on loan center employees’
failure to forward complaint to appropriate corporate department where there was
“no indication as to what actions employees at the loan center took upon receipt of
the complaint”); John W. Judge Co. v. United States Freight, LLC, 2d Dist.
Montgomery No. 27708, 2018-Ohio-2658, ¶ 2-6, 29 (failure to answer was not
excusable neglect where mother of defendant’s owner, who understood and spoke
little English and had little knowledge of the legal system, signed for certified mail
receipt served at address of defendant’s statutory agent and thereafter failed to
provide the complaint to anyone involved in the business).
Likewise, a party’s failure to answer a complaint is not excusable
neglect “when it is a result of the party’s own ‘carelessness, inattention, or willful
disregard of the process of the court.’” Russell, 2020-Ohio-4300, at ¶ 15, 22, 25-28
(defendant’s failure to respond to lawsuit was not excusable neglect where summons
and complaint were served by certified mail in care of the owner at business location
where incident occurred, defendant acknowledged that it lacked a procedure for
dealing with important court documents and subsequent communications from the
court were also ignored), quoting Emery v. Smith, 5th Dist. Stark Nos.
2005CA00051 and 2005CA00098, 2005-Ohio-5526, ¶ 16.
This is not a case in which Eagle Auto Parts’ failure to answer the
complaint can be appropriately characterized as a complete disregard for the judicial
system” or a result of its own “‘carelessness, inattention, or willful disregard of the
process of the court.’” Kay, 76 Ohio St.3d at 20, 665 N.E.2d 1102; Russell at ¶ 22,
quoting Emery at ¶ 16. “Where timely relief is sought from a default judgment and
the movant has a meritorious defense,” the Ohio Supreme Court has stated that
“doubt, if any, should be resolved in favor of the motion to set aside the judgment so
that cases may be decided on their merits.” GTE, 47 Ohio St.2d 146, 351 N.E.2d 113,
at paragraph three of the syllabus.
Following careful review of the record in this case, considering all of
the operative facts alleged by Eagle Auto Parts and the surrounding circumstances,
and being mindful that courts must find a proper balance between the principles
that litigation must be brought to an end and that justice should be done, we
conclude that special circumstances exist in this case establishing excusable neglect
on the part of Eagle Auto Parts and that the trial court abused its discretion in
denying Eagle Auto Parts’ motion to vacate default judgment.
Based on the operative facts set forth in Eagle Auto Parts’ motion to
vacate default judgment and Agnello’s supporting affidavit (and as further explained
at the hearing on Eagle Auto Parts’ motion to vacate), Eagle Auto Parts first learned
of Twymon’s lawsuit when it received the trial court’s December 17, 2020 default
judgment entry. Although Eagle Auto Parts has acknowledged that service was
perfected by certified mail delivery of the summons and complaint directed to Calta
(as its statutory agent) at 1360 SOM Center Road, it presented evidence that the
summons and complaint were never forwarded to Eagle Auto Parts and that Eagle
Auto Parts was not otherwise notified that a lawsuit had been filed against it.
Although it was Eagle Auto Parts’ responsibility to maintain a valid
statutory agent designated to receive service of process, there is nothing in the
record to indicate that Calta (or anyone else) had notified Eagle Auto Parts prior to
service of the summons and complaint in this case that Calta was no longer working
at 1360 SOM Center Road, that Calta had left private practice or that Calta otherwise
no longer intended to serve as its statutory agent. According to Ohio Secretary of
State records, Calta did not resign as Eagle Auto Parts’ statutory agent prior to the
service of the summons and complaint in this case. Agnello averred in his affidavit
that he learned that Calta was “no longer employed as an attorney for the Diemert
Law firm” only when he “googl[ed] her name” after receiving the default judgment
entry.
Twymon asserts that, to establish its entitlement to relief under Civ.R.
60(B)(1), Eagle Auto Parts needed to present an affidavit from Calta “alleging that
her failure to notify [Eagle Auto Parts] of the complaint in this case is excusable
neglect” and that the trial court, therefore, properly denied Eagle’s motion to vacate
default judgment. We disagree. Under the particular facts and circumstances here,
we do not believe the lack of an affidavit from Calta was fatal to Eagle Auto Parts’
request for relief from judgment.
First, although Eagle Auto Parts acknowledges that service was
perfected by certified mail delivery of the summons and complaint to Calta at 1360
SOM Center Road, there is nothing in the record to indicate that Calta ever
personally received the summons and complaint. It is undisputed that, at the time
the summons and complaint were served at 1360 SOM Center Road — the address
of the Diemert law firm — Calta was no longer working there. There is no indication
in the record that anyone from the Diemert law firm (or anyone else) forwarded the
summons and complaint to Calta.10
Although an affidavit from Calta could have perhaps shed light on
why Calta was still listed as the statutory agent for Eagle Auto Parts at that address
on March 26, 2020 — i.e., why she did not resign as statutory agent for Eagle Auto
Parts or change her address when she left 1360 SOM Center Road — given that Calta
was no longer working at 1360 SOM Center Road at the time the summons and
complaint was served at that address, Calta would have been unable to explain (1)
why someone signed for certified mail directed to her as statutory agent for Eagle
Auto Parts at that address, (2) who signed for the summons and complaint, (3) what
happened to the summons and complaint after it was received at 1360 SOM Center
Road or (4) why it was not forwarded to Eagle Auto Parts.11 Eagle Auto Parts set
forth sufficient operative facts explaining why it did not receive and timely answer
the complaint.
10 Eagle Auto Parts’ counsel represented at the hearing on the motion to vacate
that, in an attempt to reach Calta, he had also contacted the law office on SOM Center
Road out of which Calta was last believed to have worked and that they had no forwarding
information for Calta.
11 It is impossible to tell from the certified mail receipt who signed for the summons
and complaint at 1360 SOM Center Road; the name of the individual who signed for the
summons and complaint was not recorded on the return receipt, and the signature on the
return receipt is illegible. Accordingly, Eagle Auto Parts would have had no way of
reaching out to that individual to determine what happened to the summons and
complaint after it was served.
Moreover, although the trial court issued numerous orders in this
case before the default hearing, including four orders scheduling the default hearing,
the record does not reflect that the trial court sent any of those orders to Eagle Auto
Parts – either directly to Eagle Auto Parts or to Eagle Auto Parts in care of Calta as
its statutory agent. As noted above, the trial court’s docket reflects that the orders
were only sent to Twymon or his counsel via “e-filing service email.”
And although the trial court ordered Twymon to send a letter to Eagle
Auto Parts by certified mail, notifying Eagle Auto Parts of the default hearing at least
seven days prior to the hearing date, Twymon only sent the letter to Calta, as
statutory agent for Eagle Auto Parts, at 1360 SOM Center Road; it did not send the
letter directly to Eagle Auto Parts at the address listed in the complaint. There is no
indication in the record that that letter to Calta was, in fact, delivered to 1360 SOM
Center Road prior to the date of the default hearing, i.e., there is no return receipt in
the record. The record reflects that when the trial court did send notice to directly
Eagle Auto Parts, i.e., when it sent a copy of the default judgment on December 17,
2020 to Eagle Auto Parts at its 4063 East 116th Street address, Eagle Auto Parts
received it and acted promptly in response to it.
Timing of Motion for Default Judgment
Furthermore, an issue exists in this case as to whether the trial court
had authority to grant Twymon’s motion for default judgment. Civ.R. 55(A)
provides that “[w]hen a party against whom a judgment for affirmative relief is
sought has failed to plead or otherwise defend as provided by these rules, the party
entitled to a judgment by default shall apply in writing or orally to the court
therefore” and that a default judgment may then be entered against the defaulting
party (provided certain conditions are met). However, the rule does not authorize
the filing of a motion for default judgment prior to an actual default. See, e.g., Bank
of Am., N.A. v. Shultz, 2d Dist. Clark No. 2012-CA-70, 2013-Ohio-2567, ¶ 12-14
(“The default-judgment rule does not provide for a default-judgment motion to be
filed prematurely.”); Hartley v. Clearview Equine Veterinary Servs., 6th Dist.
Lucas No. L-04-1163, 2005-Ohio-799, ¶ 10 (Civ.R. 55(A) “does not provide for the
filing of a motion for default prior to an actual default.”); Farakhan v. Wade, 9th
Dist. Summit No. 28813, 2018-Ohio-1170, ¶ 7 (“After a default arises, Civ.R. 55(A)
permits the plaintiff to file a motion for default judgment and the trial court to grant
the same. * * * However, Civ.R. 55(A) does not allow for the filing of a motion for
default judgment before a default arises.”).
On March 26, 2020, when the summons and complaint were served
on Calta as statutory agent for Eagle Auto Parts, the Ohio Supreme Court’s COVID-
19 tolling order was in effect. Pursuant to the tolling order, Eagle Auto Parts would
have had 28 days in which to file an answer after the tolling period ended, i.e., 28
days after July 30, 2020.12 See In re Tolling of Time Requirements Imposed by
12 On its website, the Ohio Supreme Court set forth the following example as part
of its “Tolling Legislation FAQs”:
Q: HOW DOES TOLLING APPLY?
A: How tolling applies is fact dependent. The following examples of a
defendant’s answer are demonstrative: * * *
Rules Promulgated by the Supreme Court & Use of Tech., 158 Ohio St.3d 1447,
2020-Ohio-1166, 141 N.E.3d 974. However, Twymon’s motion for default judgment
was filed on July 21, 2020 — before the tolling period ended, before Eagle Auto Parts’
answer was due and before any default occurred.
This court has previously stated that “[a] motion for default
judgment filed prior to an actual default must be considered a nullity and denied.”
Jerninghan v. Rini, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 66764, 1995 Ohio App. LEXIS 573, 6
(Feb. 16, 1995); see also Smith v. Ramsey, 7th Dist. Noble No. 05 NO 329, 2006-
Ohio-4859, ¶ 7 (same); Shultz at ¶ 13-14 (motion for default filed prematurely is
“void”); Hartley at ¶ 10-11 (trial court properly vacated default judgment where the
judgment was void for lack of jurisdiction and motion for default judgment was filed
two days prior to any actual default); Farakhan at ¶ 7-9 (landlord’s motion for
default judgment against tenant was “filed prematurely and was a nullity, which
Example 2 – Defendant is served on March 23, 2020: Normally the
defendant’s answer would be due 28 days thereafter, on April 20, 2020.
However, because this deadline falls within the emergency period, it is tolled.
* * * Because the emergency period was in effect when the defendant was
served, the entirety of the 28 days is tolled, meaning the once the emergency
period ends, the defendant will have 28 days left to file an answer.
https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/tolling (accessed May 26, 2022).
Pursuant to the tolling order, the tolling period extended until July 30, 2020 or the
date the state of emergency ended, whichever was sooner. In re Tolling of Time
Requirements Imposed by Rules Promulgated by the Supreme Court & Use of Tech., 158
Ohio St.3d 1447, 2020-Ohio-1166, 141 N.E.3d 974. Executive Order 2020-01D, declaring
a state of emergency, was rescinded and the declaration of emergency ended on June 18,
2021. See Executive Order 2021-08D. Accordingly, the tolling period extended through
July 30, 2020.
should have been denied by the trial court” where it was filed 28 days after the date
of filing the complaint instead of 28 days after the date of service of the summons
and complaint, such that “there was no actual default under Civ.R. 55(A)”).
Accordingly, following a thorough consideration of the record, we
conclude that the trial court abused its discretion in denying Eagle Auto Parts’
motion to vacate default judgment. Eagle Auto Parts’ assignments of error are
sustained.
Judgment reversed, vacated, and case remanded.
It is ordered that appellant recover from appellee the costs herein taxed.
The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the
Cuyahoga County 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.
EILEEN A. GALLAGHER, JUDGE
KATHLEEN ANN KEOUGH, P.J., and
LISA B. FORBES, J., CONCUR