Columbus v. Sanders , 2012 Ohio 1514 ( 2012 )

[Cite as Columbus v. Sanders, 2012-Ohio-1514.]
COURT OF APPEALS
DELAWARE COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
CITY OF COLUMBUS : JUDGES:
:
: Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J.
Plaintiff-Appellee : Hon. John W. Wise, J.
: Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J.
-vs- :
: Case No. 11 CAE 05 0047
DARYL T. SANDERS, et al. :
:
:
Defendants-Appellants : OPINION
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Delaware County Court of
Common Pleas, Case No. 10 CVC 05
0705
JUDGMENT: AFFIRMED
DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: March 28, 2012
APPEARANCES:
For Appellants: For Appellee:
DAVID D. CONNOR ANDREW D.M. MILLER
CHRISTOPHER M. CONNOR City of Columbus, Department of Law
Connor, Evans & Hafenstein LLP City Hall, Room 200
501 S. High St. 90 W. Broad St.
Columbus, OH 43215 Columbus, OH 43215
[Cite as Columbus v. Sanders, 2012-Ohio-1514.]
Delaney, J.
{¶1} Defendants-Appellants Daryl T. Sanders and Barbara T. Sanders appeal
the January 13, 2011 judgment entry of the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas
granting a motion for judgment on the pleadings and dismissing Appellants’ amended
counterclaim. Plaintiff-Appellee is the City of Columbus.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
{¶1} The City is the owner in fee simple of real property bordering the
O’Shaughnessy Reservoir in Concord Township, Delaware County, Ohio (“the city
property”). Appellants own real property located at 9220 Shawnee Trail, Powell, Ohio.
The city property is adjacent to and abuts Appellants’ property and the
O’Shaughnessy Reservoir.
{¶2} On May 3, 2010, the City filed suit against Appellants in the Delaware
County Court of Common Pleas alleging Appellants trespassed upon a portion of the
city’s property on multiple occasions without authority to do so. While on the property,
Appellants cut down trees, cleared the city property, mowed the property, and stored
objects on the city property. Appellants impermissibly maintained the city property as
an extension of their own property. The City asserted claims for trespass to land,
violation of R.C. 901.51, and ejectment. The City sought compensatory damages,
statutory treble damages, punitive damages, an order ejecting Appellants from the city
property, and a preliminary and permanent injunction restraining Appellants from
trespassing on the city property.
{¶3} In its complaint, the City alleged it “occupies, possesses, uses, and
dedicates the [c]ity [p]roperty for purposes of wildlife habitation, filtration of pollutants
Delaware County, Case No. 11 CAE 05 0047 3
from neighboring properties, bank stabilization as part of raw water storage for
drinking water, and for potential recreational activities associated with reservoir
parklands.”
{¶4} Appellants answered the City’s complaint and filed a counterclaim, which
they later amended. In the first claim of their amended counterclaim, Appellants
alleged the City allowed the city property to become overgrown with vegetation and
overrun with insects and pests. The City refused to remove dead trees from the city
property. The City’s conduct in allowing the city property to be overrun affected
Appellants’ ability to enjoy their property and has discouraged prospective buyers from
purchasing Appellants’ property. Appellants further allege the City and its agents
misled them about the requirements for obtaining a boat-dock permit and effectively
caused them to be ineligible for a boat-dock permit, affecting the value of their
property.
{¶5} In their second claim, Appellants alleged the intentional, negligent,
and/or reckless actions or inactions of the City caused economic harm to Appellants
by reducing the value of Appellants’ property. The third claim stated the City caused a
substantial and unreasonable interference with the use and enjoyment of Appellants’
property. The fourth claim alleged the City caused Appellants economic harm in the
amount of $98,860.00 by unreasonably interfering with the health, safety, and property
rights of Appellants. Appellants alleged in the fifth claim through the extreme and
outrageous conduct of its agents, the City caused Appellants to suffer severe and
debilitating emotional distress. In the final claim, Appellants alleged the City violated
Delaware County, Case No. 11 CAE 05 0047 4
the Equal Protection Clause of the Ohio Constitution, Article I, Section 2 because the
City treated other property owners adjacent to the city property more favorably.
{¶6} The City moved for judgment on the pleadings pursuant to Civ.R. 12(C).
On January 13, 2011, the trial court issued a thorough judgment entry granting the
City’s motion for judgment on the pleadings. The trial court found Appellants’
amended counterclaim raised no exception to sovereign immunity pursuant to the
Political Subdivision Tort Liability Act. The City’s use of the city property was a
governmental function and there were no exceptions to immunity under R.C.
2744.02(B).
{¶7} The trial court granted the City’s motion and dismissed the amended
counterclaim. The City voluntarily dismissed its complaint without prejudice against
Appellants, thereby rendering the January 13, 2011 judgment entry a final appealable
order.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
{¶8} Appellants raise one Assignment of Error:
{¶9} “I. THE DELAWARE COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS ERRED
IN GRANTING APPELLEE’S MOTION FOR JUDGMENT ON THE PLEADINGS. THE
FACTS OF THE PLEADINGS, IF CONSTRUED IN THE APPELLANT’S FAVOR AS
REQUIRED FOR MOTIONS FILED PURSUANT TO OHIO CIV.R. 12(C), ARE
SUFFICIENT TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE CITY OF COLUMBUS IS ENGAGING
IN A PROPRIETARY FUNCTION AND, AS SUCH, IS NOT IMMUNE FROM
LIABILITY UNDER R.C. § 2744.02(B)(2) OF OHIO’S POLITICAL SUBDIVISION
LIABILITY ACT.”
Delaware County, Case No. 11 CAE 05 0047 5
ANALYSIS
Standard of Review for Judgment on the Pleadings
{¶10} A motion for judgment on the pleadings presents only questions of law.
Luthy v. Dover, 5th Dist. No. 2011AP030011, 2011-Ohio-4604, ¶ 13, citing Dearth v.
Stanley, 2nd Dist. No. 22180, 2008-Ohio-487. In ruling on a motion for judgment on
the pleadings, the trial court must construe the material allegations in the complaint
and any reasonable inferences drawn therefrom in favor of the plaintiff. If it finds
plaintiff can prove no set of facts entitling plaintiff to relief, the court must sustain a
motion for judgment on the pleadings. Boske v. Massillon City School Dist., 5th Dist.
No. 2010-CA-00120, 2011-Ohio-580, ¶ 12, citing Hester v. Dwivedi, 89 Ohio St.3d
575, 2000-Ohio-230, 733 N.E.2d 1161. However, the complaint must allege sufficient
facts to support any conclusions, and unsupported conclusions are not presumed to
be true. Id.{¶11} Judgment on the pleadings may be granted where no material factual
issue exists. However, it is axiomatic that a motion for judgment on the pleadings is
restricted solely to the allegations contained in those pleadings. Giesberger v.
Alliance Police Department, 5th Dist. No. 2011CA00070, 2011-Ohio-5940, at ¶ 18,
citing Flanagan v. Williams, 87 Ohio App.3d 768, 623 N.E.2d 185 (4th Dist.1993).
{¶12} Our review of the trial court’s decision granting judgment on the
pleadings is de novo. See, State v. Sufronko, 105 Ohio App.3d 504, 644 N.E.2d 596(4th Dist.1995).
{¶13} When reviewing a matter de novo, this Court does not give deference to
the trial court’s decision. Eagle v. Fred Martin Motor Co., 157 Ohio App.3d 150, 2004-
Delaware County, Case No. 11 CAE 05 0047 6
Ohio-829, ¶ 11 (9th Dist.). “Under Civ.R. 12(C), dismissal is appropriate where a court
(1) construes the material allegations in the complaint, with all reasonable inferences
to be drawn therefrom, in favor of the nonmoving party as true, and (2) finds beyond
doubt, that the plaintiff could prove no set of facts in support of his claim that would
entitle him to relief.” State ex rel. Midwest Pride IV, Inc. v. Pontious, 75 Ohio St.3d
565, 570, 664 N.E.2d 931 (1996).
Sovereign Immunity and Governmental vs. Proprietary Functions
{¶14} The City alleges it is entitled to judgment on the pleadings because it is
immune from Appellants’ tort claims in regards to the city property. The issues raised
by the parties concern sovereign immunity pursuant to the Political Subdivision Tort
Liability and the exceptions to immunity set forth in R.C. 2744.02 and 2744.03.
{¶15} The Supreme Court of Ohio has developed a three-tiered analysis for
determining whether a political subdivision is immune from liability. Cater v.
Cleveland, 83 Ohio St.3d 24, 697 N.E.2d 610 (1998). The first tier is the broad
immunity conferred by R.C. 2744.02(A)(1), which states “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 of omission of the political subdivision or an employee of
the political subdivision in connection with a governmental or proprietary function.”
{¶16} The parties agree the City of Columbus is a political subdivision and
therefore entitled to the broad immunity provided by R.C. 2744.02(A)(1).
{¶17} “[B]efore judgment on the pleadings can be granted, it is necessary to
consider the applicable law and determine if there are any facts that would afford
Delaware County, Case No. 11 CAE 05 0047 7
[appellants] recovery based on the allegations in the [cross-]complaint.” Ganzhorn v.
R. & T. Fence Co., 11th Dist. No. 2010-P-0059, 2011-Ohio-6851, ¶ 27.
{¶18} The second tier contains five exceptions to immunity described in R.C.
2744.02(B). In this case, Appellants assert R.C. 2744.02(B)(2) applies: “* * *
[P]olitical 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.” Appellants assert the City’s use of the city
property, including maintenance or lack thereof, constitutes a proprietary function so
that the City is not immune.
{¶19} In reviewing the amended counterclaim for purposes of R.C.
2744.02(B)(2), the amended counterclaim alleges the following conduct by the City:
(1) the City’s refusal to remove dead trees from the city property, (2) the City’s failure
to prevent the overgrowth of vegetation and wildlife, and (3) the misleading statements
of an employee of the City about the law governing boat-dock permits at the
O’Shaughnessy Reservoir. The City counters this conduct and its use of the city
property constitutes a governmental function and the R.C. 2744.02(B)(2) exception to
immunity does not apply.
{¶20} We turn to the issue upon which this case rests: whether the City’s
ownership, maintenance, and management of the city property, or lack thereof,
constitute a governmental or proprietary function. “Accordingly, if a [political]
subdivision negligently causes damages while engaging in a governmental function its
immunity remains intact, but if it does so while engaging in a proprietary function its
Delaware County, Case No. 11 CAE 05 0047 8
immunity falters.” State ex rel. Nix v. Bath Twp., 9th Dist. No. 25633, 2011-Ohio-5636,
¶ 9, citing Bauer v. Brunswick, 9th Dist. No. 11CA0003-M, 2011-Ohio-4877, at ¶ 5.
{¶21} A “proprietary function” is a function that either (1) is specifically listed in
R.C. 2744.01(G)(2), which lists examples of proprietary functions, or (2) is not
described in R.C. 2744.01(C)(1)(a), (b), or (C)(2) and “promotes or preserves the
public peace, health, safety, or welfare and * * * involves activities that are customarily
engaged in by nongovernmental persons.” R.C. 2744.01(G)(1). Moore v. Lorain
Metro. Housing Auth., 121 Ohio St.3d 455, 2009-Ohio-1250, 905 N.E.2d 606, ¶ 11.
{¶22} By contrast, R.C. 2744.01(C) provides two routes to determine whether a
given function is governmental. First, the statute refers to the list in R.C.
2744.01(C)(2) of “specified” functions that the General Assembly has expressly
deemed governmental. In the alternative, a function is governmental if it meets one of
three independent standards, enumerated in R.C. 2744.01(C)(1)(a) through (c). Id. at
¶ 12.
The City’s Use of the City Property Constitutes a Governmental Function
{¶23} The City argues its use of the city property constitutes a governmental
function as defined under R.C. 2744.01(C)(2). We agree.
{¶24} Under R.C. 2744.01(C)(2)(u)(i), a “governmental function” includes “the
design, construction, reconstruction, renovation, repair, maintenance, and operation of
any school athletic facility, school auditorium, or gymnasium or any recreational area
or facility, including, but not limited to, any of the following: * * * [a] park, playground,
or playfield.”
Delaware County, Case No. 11 CAE 05 0047 9
{¶25} The City describes the use of the property as such in its complaint: “The
City occupies, possesses, uses, and dedicates the [c]ity [p]roperty for purposes of
wildlife habitation, filtration of pollutants from neighboring properties, bank stabilization
as part of raw water storage for drinking water, and for potential recreational activities
associated with reservoir parklands.” The City argues the city property at issue is a
recreational area and specifically, a park.
{¶26} Appellants do not dispute the city property is used for recreational
purposes. They argue the city property is used for recreational purposes in addition to
other purposes, such as filtration of pollutants from neighboring properties, and
therefore the City cannot rely upon R.C. 2744.01(C)(2)(u)(i) for the definition of a
governmental function. Appellants do not cite authority for the proposition that the city
property cannot be defined as a “park” if the property serves multiple purposes for the
City.
{¶27} The City also contends the city property is public grounds. Under R.C.
2744.01(C)(2)(e), “the regulation of the use of, and the maintenance and repair of, * * *
public grounds” is a governmental function. Appellants raise no argument in their brief
the property in question is owned by the City and that it is public grounds.
{¶28} The amended counterclaim alleges the City negligently maintained the
city property, allowing overgrowth of vegetation, and the failure to remove dead trees.
The conduct alleged by Appellants in their amended counterclaim as to the city
property involves the City’s maintenance and operation of the city property. Drawing
all reasonable inferences in favor of the non-moving party, we find the character of the
city property and the conduct alleged in the amended counterclaim demonstrate the
Delaware County, Case No. 11 CAE 05 0047 10
City is engaged in a governmental function in relation to the operation and
maintenance of the city property, which can be defined as a park or public grounds.
Issuance of the Boat-Dock Permit is a Governmental Function
{¶29} Appellants also allege the City negligently mislead them regarding the
issuance of a boat-dock permit for the O’Shaughnessy Reservoir. The City argues the
issuance of a boat-dock permit also falls within the definition of a governmental
function. We agree.
{¶30} Under R.C. 2744.01(C)(2)(p), a governmental function includes “* * * the
issuance or revocation of building permits * * * in connection with buildings or
structures.” The City requires the issuance of a boat-dock permit from the City to build
a boat-dock on the O’Shaughnessy Reservoir. We find the conduct alleged by
Appellants is within the definition of a governmental function under R.C.
2744.01(C)(2)(p).
The City is Immune from the Claims of Negligence under R.C. 2744.02(B)(2)
{¶31} The amended counterclaim alleged the City’s negligent conduct in
maintaining the city property and negligent misstatements as to the boat-dock permit
caused Appellants harm. Appellants assert R.C. 2744.02(B)(2) applies as an
exception to the City’s sovereign immunity because the City was engaged in a
proprietary function in relation to the city property. Upon our de novo review, we find
the City was engaged in a governmental function as to the city property and the
issuance of the boat-dock permit. As such, we find there is no set of facts to support
Appellants claims of the City’s negligence.
Delaware County, Case No. 11 CAE 05 0047 11
{¶32} It is therefore unnecessary for this court to reach the third tier of
immunity analysis to determine whether immunity can be restored to the City under
R.C. 2744.03(A)(1) through (5).
Immunity from Intentional Torts
{¶33} Appellants’ amended counterclaim also contained allegations of
intentional tort by the City, such as the infliction of emotional distress. R.C.
2744.02(B) includes no specific exceptions for intentional torts. Ohio courts have
consistently held political subdivisions are immune under R.C. 2744.02 from
intentional tort claims. Sisler v. Lancaster, 5th Dist. No. 09-CA-47, 2010-Ohio-3039, ¶
27 (citations omitted).
CONCLUSION
{¶34} Upon our de novo review, we find pursuant to Civ.R. 12(C), Appellants
can prove no set of facts to support their claims for negligence or intentional tort for
the City’s actions in relation to the city property because the City is immune from
liability under the Political Subdivision Tort Liability Act.
{¶35} Appellants’ sole Assignment of Error is overruled.
Delaware County, Case No. 11 CAE 05 0047 12
{¶36} The decision of the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas granting
the City’s motion for judgment on the pleadings is affirmed.
By: Delaney, J.
Gwin, P.J. and
Wise, J. concur.
HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY
HON. W. SCOTT GWIN
HON. JOHN W. WISE
[Cite as Columbus v. Sanders, 2012-Ohio-1514.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR DELAWARE COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
CITY OF COLUMBUS :
:
:
Plaintiff-Appellee :
:
-vs- : JUDGMENT ENTRY
:
DARYL T. SANDERS, et al. :
:
: Case No. 11 CAE 05 0047
Defendants-Appellants :
For the reasons stated in our accompanying Opinion on file, the judgment of the
Delaware County Court of Common Pleas is AFFIRMED. Costs assessed to
Appellants.
HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY
HON. W. SCOTT GWIN
HON. JOHN W. WISE