Collias v. Redburn , 2012 Ohio 2128 ( 2012 )

[Cite as Collias v. Redburn, 2012-Ohio-2128.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
WYANDOT COUNTY
WILLIAM JAMES COLLIAS,
PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT, CASE NO. 16-11-10
v.
RON REDBURN, ET AL., OPINION
DEFENDANTS-APPELLEES.
Appeal from Wyandot County Common Pleas Court
Trial Court No. 09-CV-0071
Judgment Affirmed
Date of Decision: May 14, 2012
APPEARANCES:
Shane M. Leuthold for Appellant
John A. Fiocca, Jr. for Appellee, John Butcher
Ronald Redburn, Appellee
Larry P. Meyer for Appellee, Wyandot Co. Agricultural Society
Case No. 16-11-10
WILLAMOWSKI, J.
{¶1} Plaintiff-Appellant, William James Collias (“Collias”), appeals the
judgment of the Wyandot County Court of Common Pleas granting summary
judgment in favor of Defendant-Appellee, Wyandot County Agricultural Society
(“the WCAS”), and also dismissing Collias’ claims against Defendant-Appellee,
John Butcher (“Butcher”). On appeal, Collias contends that the trial court erred in
granting summary judgment in favor of the WCAS on the basis of immunity.
Collias also claims that the trial court should not have dismissed his claims against
Butcher for Collias’ failure to respond to discovery and his failure to substitute
Butcher’s Estate pursuant to Civ.R. 25. For the reasons set forth below, the
judgment is affirmed.
{¶2} On April 14, 2009, Collias filed this current action, claiming that he
suffered personal injury when he was a vendor at the Wyandot County Fair in
September of 2005. Collias alleges that he received an electrical shock due to
improper electrical connections when he opened the door to his trailer at the
fairgrounds. As a result of this shock, Collias maintains that he suffered severe
and debilitating injuries.
{¶3} In September of 2005, Collias set up his vendor’s trailer at the
Wyandot County Fair in Upper Sandusky, Ohio. Butcher was an electrician
working at the fair and he connected Collias’ trailer to the electrical panel/power
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source. Butcher also connected the trailer of another vendor, Defendant Ron
Redburn (“Redburn”), to the same electrical source. However, Collias alleges that
Redburn’s trailer’s electrical system was improperly wired and, as a result, when it
was connected to the electrical panel it “energized” Collias’ trailer causing it to
shock anyone or anything that touched it. This problem was discovered when
Collias’ dog and another worker received strong electrical shocks. The trailers
were then disconnected, and the problem was investigated.
{¶4} Collias claims that Redburn’s trailer was again hooked up to the
electrical control panel the following day. However, the problem apparently had
not been remedied and Collias claims it again caused an electric current to flow
through Collias’ trailer. Collias was shocked when he touched the door of his
trailer. The WCAS represents that Collias’ version of the sequence of events is
not supported by the evidence in the record. However, the details pertaining to
these facts are not material to the issues that were before the trial court and that are
in dispute in this appeal.
{¶5} Collias filed his original complaint against Redburn, Butcher, the
WCAS, and the Wyandot County Fair1 on September 13, 2007, in Wyandot
County Civil Case No. 07-CV-0170, alleging multiple counts of negligence
against the defendants and also requesting declaratory judgment finding that
1
The WCAS’s attorney represents that there is no such entity as the “Wyandot County Fair,” and that the
WCAS is the only entity involved in operating the fair.
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Butcher was an employee of WCAS and had acted maliciously, in bad faith, and in
a reckless, willful, and wonton manner. However, due to Collias’ failure to
comply with the defendants’ discovery requests, the trial court dismissed the
complaint against all defendants, without prejudice, on April 14, 2008.
{¶6} One year later, on April 14, 2009, Collias again filed his Complaint,
Wyandot County Civil Case No. 09-CV-0071, against the same defendants.2
Butcher and WCAS filed motions to compel discovery and filed motions for
sanctions to dismiss pursuant to Civ.R. 37 if Collias failed to comply with
discovery orders. On September 11, 2009, without conducting a hearing, the trial
court granted WCAS’s motion for sanctions and dismissed Collias’ complaint
against all parties, with prejudice.
{¶7} Collias appealed this decision. On May 24, 2010, this Court reversed
the judgment of the trial court and remanded for further consideration. See Collias
v. Redburn, et al., 3d Dist. No. 16-09-18, 2010-Ohio-2296 (hereinafter, “Collias
I”). We held that “[a]lthough the trial court could reasonably impose sanctions
pursuant to Civil Rule 37 due to the untimeliness [of Collias’ discovery
responses], a hearing should have been held on the matter before judgment
2
Defendant Redburn is not a party to this appeal. The case and trial against Redburn has been stayed
pending the outcome of this appeal against the WCAS and Butcher. The WCAS also filed a cross-claim
against Redburn, stating that the terms of the vendor contract obligate Redburn to defend, indemnify and
hold harmless the WCAS. Part of Collias’ complaint against the WCAS contends that the WCAS failed to
ascertain that Redburn had the required insurance before it issued a vendor’s permit to Redburn and
allowed him to locate his trailer on the premises. Redburn’s Answer denies that there was anything wrong
with his equipment and claims that Butcher incorrectly connected the wires. (May 19, 2009 Answer of Ron
Redburn)
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granting dismissal with prejudice was entered since the record indicates that
Collias did eventually comply with the [discovery] order.” Id. at ¶ 8. We further
stated that “[a]lthough this Court is sympathetic to WCAS and Butcher’s
frustration, the record does not contain sufficient evidence that the answers given
were inadequate or the reasons for the prior dismissal.” Id.
{¶8} Upon remand, a telephone pretrial was held on July 28, 2010, during
which it was disclosed that Butcher had died. Butcher’s attorney then filed a
Notice of Suggestion of Death.3 (Feb. 10, 2011 Judgment Entry, p. 3) On October
26, 2010, pursuant to this Court’s directive, the trial court held a hearing on the
motions for discovery sanctions. (Id., p. 4) Although Collias responded to the
requests for discovery one day prior to the hearing, the defendants claimed there
were still deficiencies. (Id.) At this time, Collias was also reminded of the need to
substitute the Estate of Butcher as a defendant, and his counsel indicated that he
planned to do so “pretty quick.” (Id.) The discovery issues remained unresolved,
and in a November 30, 2010 judgment entry, the trial court advised Collias that he
had ten days in which to respond to the defendants’ allegations of insufficient
responses to their respective discovery requests. (Id., p. 5)
{¶9} On December 22, 2010, the WCAS moved for summary judgment on
the grounds that it was a political subdivision and entitled to immunity; that
3
Collias represents that Butcher had died on September 4, 2009, and that his attorney was remiss in not
filing the suggestion of death sooner.
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Butcher was not an employee, but rather an independent contractor whose
methods and means were not under the control of WCAS; and, that Butcher’s
services were performed in a proper manner and there was no evidence that he was
negligent. Collias was granted an extension of time to file his response. After a
non-oral hearing on the motions, the trial court granted summary judgment in
favor of the WCAS on April 15, 2011.
{¶10} While the motion for summary judgment was pending, on January
18, 2011, Collias finally moved for an Order to substitute the Estate of John
Butcher, deceased, for Defendant John Butcher. Butcher’s counsel filed a motion
opposing the order, stating that it was untimely pursuant to Civ.R. 25(A)(1), and
that the estate could not be substituted because it was already closed and had not
been re-opened.
{¶11} On February 10, 2011, the trial court filed its judgment entry,
denying Collias’ motion to substitute the Estate of John Butcher, and ruling on the
long-pending motions for the Civ.R. 37 discovery sanctions. The trial court held
that the motion to substitute the estate was untimely and had missed the ninety-day
statutorily imposed requirement. The trial court also granted the discovery
sanctions pursuant to Civ.R. 37, noting that the history of the case clearly
demonstrated that Collias had been given notice that dismissal was a possibility.
(Feb. 10, 2011 J.E., p. 11) The trial court found that “[w]hen given the
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opportunity to defend, [Collias] offered no evidence, no legitimate explanations,
nor any reasonable effort on his part to acquire the requested discovery
information.” (Id.) Accordingly, the trial court ordered that Collias’ complaint “is
hereby dismissed as a sanction for failing to once again comply with this Court’s
discovery orders; * * *.) (Id.)
{¶12} On September 6, 2011, the trial court issued two judgment entries
relating to the February 10, 20114 and the April 15, 2011 judgment entries, noting
that the judgments were final judgments as to fewer than all of the parties, but they
failed to contain the Civil Rule 54(B) certification language. Accordingly, the trial
court ordered the language be added to each of the two judgment entries, stating
that “there is no just reason for delay and the dismissal is a final appealable order.”
{¶13} It is from these judgments that Collias now appeals, raising the
following three assignments of error for our review.
First Assignment of Error
The trial court erred when it granted summary judgment in
favor of Appellee, Wyandot County Agricultural Society, on the
grounds of immunity.
Second Assignment of Error
The trial court erred when it granted Defendant/Appellant, John
Butcher’s motion to dismiss for failing to respond to discovery.
4
On February 15, 2011, the trial court issued a nunc pro tunc judgment entry to correct two errors on page
11 of its February 10th judgment entry. The nunc pro tunc judgment entry substituted “Civil Rule 25” for
the word “statute,” and it deleted the statement “This is a final appealable Order.”
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Third Assignment of Error
The trial court erred when it granted Appellee, John Butcher’s,
motion to dismiss for failing to substitute his Estate pursuant to
Ohio Civil Rule 25.
First Assignment of Error -- Summary Judgment in Favor of WCAS
{¶14} In the first assignment of error, Collias claims that the trial court
erred when it granted summary judgment in favor of the WCAS on the basis of
immunity. While Collias acknowledges that the WCAS qualifies as a political
subdivision for purposes of establishing immunity under R.C. 2744.02(A)(1), he
contends that this immunity is abrogated by R.C. 2744.02(B)(2), which renders a
political subdivision liable “for injury, death, or loss to person or property caused
by the negligent performance of acts by their employees with respect to
proprietary functions.” (Appellant’s Br., p. 5) He further argues that even if
Butcher was not an employee, the WCAS cannot be exempted from liability if
Butcher was an independent contractor, because Butcher was negligent, the work
was “inherently dangerous,” and the WCAS could not insulate itself from liability
because of the “non-delegable duty” doctrine. Collias further asserts that the
WCAS is not entitled to immunity because it was negligent for not hiring a chief
inspector to inspect all of the concessions and that the WCAS was negligent for
issuing a permit to a vendor (Redburn) who did not carry the required liability
insurance.
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{¶15} We review a decision to grant summary judgment de novo. Doe v.
Shaffer, 90 Ohio St.3d 388, 390, 2000-Ohio-186. Summary judgment is proper
where: (1) there is no genuine issue of material fact; (2) the moving party is
entitled to judgment as a matter of law; and (3) reasonable minds can reach but
one conclusion when viewing the evidence in favor of the non-moving party, and
the conclusion is adverse to the non-moving party. Civ.R. 56(C); Grafton v. Ohio
Edison Co., 77 Ohio St.3d 102, 105, 1996-Ohio-336{¶16} The Political Subdivision Tort Liability Act, as codified in R.C.
Chapter 2744, requires a three-tiered analysis to determine whether a political
subdivision should be allocated immunity from civil liability. Hubbard v. Canton
City School Bd. of Edn., 97 Ohio St.3d 451, 2002-Ohio-6718, ¶ 10.
First, R.C. 2744.02(A)(1) sets out a general rule that political
subdivisions are not liable in damages. In setting out this rule, R.C.
2744.02(A)(1) classifies the functions of political subdivisions into
governmental and proprietary functions and states that the general
rule of immunity is not absolute, but is limited by the provisions of
R.C. 2744.02(B), which details when a political subdivision is not
immune. Thus, the relevant point of analysis (the second tier) then
becomes whether any of the exceptions in R.C. 2744.02(B) apply.
Furthermore, if any of R.C. 2744.02(B)'s exceptions are found to
apply, a consideration of the application of R.C. 2744.03 becomes
relevant, as the third tier of analysis.
Greene Cty. Agricultural Soc. v. Liming, 89 Ohio St.3d 551, 556–557, 2000-Ohio-
486; Monteith v. Delta Productions, Inc., 3d Dist. Nos. 3-07-35, 3-07-36, 2008-
Ohio-1997, ¶ 15. Collias concedes that the WCAS was a political subdivision
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engaged in a governmental or proprietary function, fulfilling the first tier of the
analysis. The statute states that: “[e]xcept as provided in division (B) of this
section, a political subdivision is not liable in damages in a civil action for injury,
death, or loss to person or property allegedly caused by any act or omission of the
political subdivision or an employee of the political subdivision in connection with
a governmental or proprietary function.” R.C. 2744.02(A).
{¶17} The issue is whether any of R.C. 2744.02(B)’s exceptions to
WCAS’s political subdivision immunity are applicable. The exception under R.C.
2744.02(B)(2) states that “ * * * political subdivisions are liable for injury, death,
or loss to person or property caused by the negligent performance of acts by their
employees with respect to proprietary functions of the political subdivisions.”
(Emphasis added.) Although the parties dispute whether or not Butcher performed
his duties negligently, and whether or not the activities involved “proprietary
functions,” the evidence in the record that Butcher was an independent contractor
was not controverted. Even if we were to assume for the sake of discussion that a
proprietary function was involved, the WCAS has no liability for Butcher because
he was an independent contractor. See Monteith v Delta, supra, at ¶¶ 18 and 25;
Howell v. City of Canton, 5th Dist. No. 2007CCA0-0035, 2008-Ohio-5558, ¶¶ 39-
44; Weldon v. Prairie Township, 10th Dist. No. 10AP-311, 2010-Ohio-5562, ¶ 13.
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{¶18} Furthermore, Collias’ argument concerning a non-delegable duty is
not relevant to a political subdivision. WCAS’s immunity does not derive from
the common law, but rather from statute – R.C. Chapter 2744. There is no
exception in the application of R.C. Chapter 2744 for an inherently dangerous
activity. The statute must be given its plain meaning. The statutory immunity
exception requires negligence by an employee, and the definition of “employee”
does not include an independent contractor, nor does it hinge on the type of work
performed. See R.C. 2744.01(B). None of the cases cited by Collias involved a
political subdivision. “Nothing in R.C. Chapter 2744 creates an exception when
an independent contractor performs a nondelegable duty.” Trotwood v. S. Cent.
Constr., L.L.C., 192 Ohio App.3d 69, 2011-Ohio-237, ¶ 38 (2d Dist.) Therefore,
the nondelegable-duty doctrine does not abrogate statutory immunity for a
political subdivision. Id.{¶19} In addition, the decision to utilize the services of Butcher was an
exercise of judgment and discretion and the WCAS is immune from liability in the
absence of any evidence that the decision was exercised with the characteristics
enumerated in R.C. 2744.03(A)(5). That statute states that a “political subdivision
is immune from liability if the injury, death, or loss to person or property resulted
from the exercise of judgment or discretion in determining whether to acquire, or
how to use, equipment, supplies, materials, personnel, facilities, and other
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resources unless the judgment or discretion was exercised with malicious purpose,
in bad faith, or in a wanton or reckless manner.” Id.{¶20} Also, Collias’ complaint that the WCAS was negligent for failing to
hire an inspector under R.C. 1711.11 is misplaced. This section of the code is not
related to electrical inspections. Likewise, Collias’ assertion that the WCAS failed
to obtain proof of Redburn’s liability insurance in not related to the cause of the
alleged injury to Collias. The absence of such insurance does not create a cause of
action in Collias’ favor against the WCAS.
{¶21} Accordingly, we find that the trial court did not err in granting
summary judgment in favor of WCAS on the basis of its immunity as a political
subdivision. The first assignment of error is overruled.
Second Assignment of Error – Dismissal Pursuant to Civ.R. 37
{¶22} Collias’ second assignment of error submits that the trial court erred
when it granted Butcher’s motion to dismiss for failing to respond to discovery
orders pursuant to Civ.R. 37. Collias argues that the facts in the record do not
support the trial court’s sanction; that he did file notices of supplemental discovery
answers on February 9 and 16, 2011; and, that he was making an effort to resolve
the issue of providing the older records and records were “still trickling in” even
after the case was dismissed. Collias contends that he was providing information
and was not being evasive.
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{¶23} Civ.R. 37(B) provides various sanctions for failure to comply with
discovery, including the harshest sanction of dismissal of the action. Civ.R.
37(B)(2)(c). Ohio courts have long recognized that the interests of justice are
better served when courts address the merits of claims rather than using procedural
devices to resolve pending cases. Moore v. Emmanuel Family Training Center,
Inc., 18 Ohio St.3d 64, 70 (1985). In determining whether the sanction of
dismissal is warranted, the trial court should consider “the history of the case; all
the facts and circumstances surrounding the noncompliance, including the number
of opportunities and the length of time within which the faulting party had to
comply with the discovery or the order to comply; what efforts, if any, were made
to comply; the ability or inability of the faulting party to comply; and such other
factors as may be appropriate.” Foley v. Nussbaum, 2d Dist. No. 24572, 2011-
Ohio-6701, 31, quoting Russo v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., 36 Ohio App.3d
175, 178 (9th Dist.1987).
{¶24} Civ.R. 41(B)(1) permits a trial court to dismiss an action for failure
to comply with a court order, but only after notice to plaintiff's counsel.
Hillabrand v. Drypers Corp., 87 Ohio St.3d 517, 518, 2000-Ohio-468. The Ohio
Supreme Court has held that a dismissal with prejudice is proper only “when
counsel has been informed that dismissal is a possibility and has had a reasonable
opportunity to defend against dismissal.” Quonset Hut, Inc. v. Ford Motor Co.,
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80 Ohio St.3d 46 (1997), at the syllabus. “[T]he notice requirement of Civ.R.
41(B)(1) applies to all dismissals with prejudice, including those entered pursuant
to Civ.R. 37(B)(2)(c) for failure to comply with discovery orders.” (Emphasis sic.)
Ohio Furniture Co. v. Mindala, 22 Ohio St.3d 99, 101 (1986). “The purpose of
notice is to ‘provide the party in default an opportunity to explain the default or to
correct it, or to explain why the case should not be dismissed with prejudice.’”
Logsdon v. Nichols, 72 Ohio St.3d 124, 128 1995-Ohio-225 (citations omitted).
{¶25} A trial court has broad discretion when imposing discovery sanctions
and a reviewing court shall review these rulings only for an abuse of discretion.
Vaught v. Cleveland Clinic Found., 98 Ohio St.3d 485, 2003-Ohio-2181, ¶ 13.
The discovery rules give the trial court great latitude in crafting
sanctions to fit discovery abuses. A reviewing court's responsibility
is merely to review these rulings for an abuse of discretion. “‘The
term discretion itself involves the idea of choice, of an exercise of
the will, of a determination made between competing
considerations.’” State v. Jenkins (1984), 15 Ohio St.3d 164, 222,
15 OBR 311, 361, 473 N.E.2d 264, 313, quoting Spalding v.
Spalding (1959), 355 Mich. 382, 384-385, 94 N.W.2d 810, 811-812.
In order to have an abuse of that choice, the result must be so
palpably and grossly violative of fact or logic that it evidences not
the exercise of will but the perversity of will, not the exercise of
judgment but the defiance of judgment, not the exercise of reason
but instead passion or bias. Id.Nakoff v. Fairview Gen. Hosp., 75 Ohio St.3d 254, 256, 1996-Ohio-159.
{¶26} This case has been pending for many years, during which time
Collias has been served with numerous discovery requests and orders to comply
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with those requests. The trial court has dismissed the case two times, once without
prejudice, and once with prejudice, for Collias’ failure to obey. However, in an
effort to be certain that Collias had proper notice and the benefit of every
opportunity to have his case tried on the merits, we ordered that the trial court
reinstate his case and give him another opportunity to comply with the discovery
requests. See Collias I.
{¶27} Pursuant to our decision in Collias I, the trial court sent notice that a
hearing on the Motion for Sanctions was to be held on September 1, 2010. Collias
asked for and was granted a continuance and the hearing was rescheduled to
October 26, 2010. The day before the hearing, Collias responded to Butcher’s
request for discovery that had originally been made in May of 2009. Because the
defendants did not have sufficient time to review the materials to determine
whether they were responsive, additional time was provided for such a review, and
then Collias was further granted additional time to respond when it was discovered
that the discovery was still not sufficiently responsive. He again failed to comply.
{¶28} In its judgment entry, the trial court discussed its findings as follows:
At the hearing on the Motion for Sanctions/Dismissal, [Collias]
offered no evidence and only generalized statements that [Collias]
was unable to obtain the material and was unwilling to explore
different avenues to obtain the information and documents. The
alleged incident upon which the Complaint was based occurred in
2005. Discovery from [Collias] has been sought since 2007.
[Collias] continues to promise compliance but given the years that
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have passed without full compliance, the Court may have little
confidence that it will be forthcoming. * * *
The court is aware that dismissal is a severe sanction, but it would
appear appropriate in light of the continued disobedience of [Collias]
of this Court’s Orders concerning discovery, the lack of effort on the
part of [Collias] to obtain the requested material and the continued
delay tactics employed by [Collias]. In light of Defendant Butcher’s
death, delay has also certainly prejudiced this Defendant’s case.
[Collias] had no reasonable explanation for his failure to respond to
the Defendants’ discovery requests on the Court’s Order to Compel.
[Collias] had no legitimate reason why he waited until the day before
the October hearing on sanctions to partially comply with the
discovery requests and the Court’s Order. * * * Further, [Collias’]
comments that additional information will be forwarded when
received offers the specter of a discovery process with no end in
sight.
(Feb. 10, 2011 J.E., pp. 8-10)
{¶29} Given the lengthy history of this case, it is evident that Collias has
had ample opportunity to respond to the long-standing requests for discovery and
that he has had sufficient notice of the possibility of dismissal if he continued to
ignore the trial court’s orders. We can discern no abuse of discretion in the trial
court’s dismissal of Collias’ case. The second assignment of error is overruled.
Third Assignment of Error – Substitution of Estate
{¶30} In the third and final assignment of error, Collias submits that the
trial court erred when it granted Butcher’s motion to dismiss for failing to
substitute his estate pursuant to Civ.R. 25. However, since our decision pertaining
to the second assignment of error, upholding the dismissal of the case against
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Butcher as a discovery sanction pursuant to Civ.R. 37, is dispositive of the case,
this assignment of error is moot and need not be addressed.
{¶31} Having found no error prejudicial to the Appellant herein in the
particulars assigned and argued, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Judgment Affirmed
PRESTON and ROGERS, J.J., concur.
/jlr
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