Citibank v. Hyslop , 2014 Ohio 844 ( 2014 )

[Cite as Citibank v. Hyslop, 2014-Ohio-844.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
Citibank, N.A., Successor to Citibank, :
(South Dakota), N.A.,
:
Plaintiff-Appellee, No. 12AP-885
: (M.C. No. 2011 CVF 46604)
v.
: (REGULAR CALENDAR)
Bruce A. Hyslop,
:
Defendant-Appellant.
:
D E C I S I O N
Rendered on March 6, 2014
Javitch, Block & Rathbone, LLC, Audra T. Funk, and
Melissa A. Hager, for appellee.
Bruce A. Hyslop, pro se.
APPEAL from the Franklin County Municipal Court.
BROWN, J.
{¶ 1} This is an appeal by defendant-appellant, Bruce A. Hyslop, from an entry of
the Franklin County Municipal Court granting summary judgment in favor of plaintiff-
appellee, Citibank, N.A. ("Citibank"), in Citibank's action seeking recovery for alleged
non-payment due on a credit card account.
{¶ 2} On December 12, 2011, Citibank filed a complaint against appellant, alleging
default on a credit card account. Attached to the complaint was a copy of a credit card
billing statement, listing the account member as Bruce A. Hyslop for an account ending in
9842, and showing a balance due of $8,300.41. Citibank indicated it did not attach a copy
No. 12AP-885 2
of the remaining account records because "(a) copies were sent monthly to the
Defendant(s), and are or were in Defendant(s)' possession, custody or control; (b) said
records were archived by Plaintiff; and/or (c) said account records may be voluminous."
{¶ 3} On February 6, 2012, appellant filed an answer, admitting that "at some
time in the past he has had a credit card account with Plaintiff," and that "he is or may be
in default of some repayment obligation to Plaintiff." On April 20, 2012, appellant filed a
motion for judgment on the pleadings or, alternatively, a motion for a definite statement.
Citibank subsequently filed a response to appellant's motion. By entry filed June 15, 2012,
the trial court denied appellant's motion for judgment on the pleadings and for a definite
statement, holding that Citibank's complaint "is properly pled and is sufficient for
Defendant to provide an Answer to the Complaint as per Rules 8(A) and 10(D)."
{¶ 4} On July 9, 2012, Citibank filed a motion for summary judgment. Attached
to the motion were copies of monthly account statements, as well as the affidavit of
Mary E. Crum, the document control officer for Citibank. On July 31, 2012, appellant
filed an affidavit in opposition to Citibank's motion for summary judgment, asserting that
Citibank had failed to produce any document reflecting an agreement between the parties.
On August 16, 2012, Citibank filed a reply. By entry filed September 12, 2012, the trial
court granted summary judgment in favor of Citibank.
{¶ 5} On appeal, appellant sets forth the following two assignments of error for
this court's review:
[I.] The trial court erred in granting summary judgment
against Defendant-Appellant as there are genuine issues of
material fact.
[II.] The trial court committed prejudicial error in failing to
require that Citibank, N.A. demonstrate by what right it holds
and/or is the real Party in interest in this action.
{¶ 6} Under the first assignment of error, appellant challenges the trial court's
grant of summary judgment in favor of Citibank, arguing that Citibank failed to attach a
copy of the cardholder agreement to its complaint as required by Civ.R. 10(D). Appellant
also contends there was insufficient evidence to verify that he incurred charges or made
payments on the account.
No. 12AP-885 3
{¶ 7} Pursuant to Civ.R. 56(C), summary judgment shall be granted if the filings
in the action, including the pleadings and affidavits, "show that there is no genuine issue
as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of
law." This court's review of a trial court's decision granting summary judgment is de
novo. Bonacorsi v. Wheeling & Lake Erie Ry. Co., 95 Ohio St.3d 314, 2002-Ohio-2220,
¶ 24. In order to prevail on a motion for summary judgment, "the moving party has the
initial burden to affirmatively demonstrate that there is no genuine issue of material fact
to be resolved in the case, relying on evidence in the record pursuant to Civ.R. 56(C)."
Renzi v. Hillyer, 11th Dist. No. 2012-L-041, 2012-Ohio-5579, ¶ 10, citing Dresher v. Burt,
75 Ohio St.3d 280, 292 (1996). If the moving party satisfies this burden, "the nonmoving
party then bears the reciprocal burden to set forth specific facts which prove there
remains a genuine issue to be litigated, pursuant to Civ.R. 56(E)." Id.{¶ 8} In its summary judgment decision, the trial court found that the credit card
statements and the affidavit of Mary Crum, attached to Citibank's motion for summary
judgment, "show that [appellant] was issued and used the credit card which is the subject
of this litigation." Finding that Citibank had established the existence of a valid debt, the
court further considered the materials submitted by appellant, including his own affidavit.
The trial court concluded that the facts set forth by appellant failed to show a genuine
issue of material fact remaining to be litigated.
{¶ 9} In general, "[a]n action on an account is appropriate where the parties have
conducted a series of transactions for which a balance remains to be paid." Dept. Stores
Natl. Bank v. McGee, 7th Dist. No. 12 MA 103, 2013-Ohio-894, ¶ 16. Actions seeking to
collect on a credit card balance "constitute actions 'on an account.' " Id., quoting Capital
One Bank v. Toney, 7th Dist. No. 06 JE 28, 2007-Ohio-1571, ¶ 34. It has been noted that
"[t]he purpose of an action on an account is 'to avoid the multiplicity of suits necessary if
each transaction between the parties (or item on the account) would be construed as
constituting a separate cause of action.' " Citibank v. Lesnick, 11th Dist. No. 2005-L-103,
2006-Ohio-1448, ¶ 8, quoting Am. Sec. Serv., Inc. v. Baumann, 32 Ohio App.2d 237, 242
(10th Dist.1972).
{¶ 10} In order to establish a prima facie case for money owed on an account, a
plaintiff must demonstrate:
No. 12AP-885 4
[T]he existence of an account, including that the account is in
the name of the party charged, and it must also establish (1) a
beginning balance of zero, or a sum that can qualify as an
account stated, or some other provable sum; (2) listed items,
or an item, dated and identifiable by number or otherwise,
representing charges, or debits, and credits; and (3)
summarization by means of a running or developing balance,
or an arrangement of beginning balance and items that
permits the calculation of the amount claimed to be due.
McGee at ¶ 16.
{¶ 11} This court has previously noted that "credit card agreements are contracts
whereby the issuance and use of a credit card creates a legally binding agreement." Bank
One, Columbus, N.A. v. Palmer, 63 Ohio App.3d 491, 493 (10th Dist.1989). Thus, "a
creditor need not produce a signed credit card application to prove the existence of a
legally binding agreement because the credit card agreement created one." Discover
Bank v. Poling, 10th Dist. No. 04AP-1117, 2005-Ohio-1543, ¶ 17. Further, "[t]o constitute
an account, 'it is not necessary that every transaction that has transpired between the
parties be included during the entire existence of their business relationship.' " Ohio
Receivables, LLC v. Dallariva, 10th Dist. No. 11AP-951, 2012-Ohio-3165, ¶ 30, quoting
Wolf Automotive v. Rally Auto Parts, Inc., 95 Ohio App.3d 130, 134 (10th Dist.1994).
{¶ 12} In the present case, a review of the evidence submitted by Citibank indicates
that the billing statement attached to the complaint included appellant's name (as
"Account Member"), the last four digits of the account number (9842), the name on the
credit card, and the balance due ($8,300.41). Citibank also submitted, as part of its
motion for summary judgment, copies of monthly credit card statements reflecting
account activity beginning September 30, 2009, and continuing through September 5,
2011. Those statements similarly list appellant's name and address and a partially
redacted account number.
{¶ 13} In addition, Citibank submitted the affidavit of its document control officer,
Crum. In the affidavit, Crum avers in part:
The statements set forth in this affidavit are true and correct
based on my personal knowledge and review of the business
records described herein.
No. 12AP-885 5
I am employed by Citibank. My job title is Document Control
Officer. * * * As a custodian of records, I have knowledge of,
and access to, account information and records concerning
the defendant’s Citibank account number currently ending in
9842.
Citibank's records regarding the Account contain the name
and billing address of the defendant, the Account number
(and predecessor account numbers, if any), the Account's
history, which may include charges made, interest and/or fees
assessed, payments and/or credits received, and the
minimum payment due and the total outstanding balance due
on the Account. * * * Exhibit A attached hereto and
incorporated herein are copies of the Account statement
transaction detail for the period from 9/3/2009 to 9/5/2011
that was sent to the defendant.
The Account Information reflects that charges were made on
the Account to purchase goods and services and/or obtain
cash advances. Defendant was provided periodic billing
statements for the Account when there was Account activity,
which described the charges on the Account, along with
interest, fees, payments, credits and the amount due on the
Account.
***
As reflected in the Account Information, defendant did
eventually fail to make required payments on the Account.
As a result of defendant's failure to make proper payments on
the Account, defendant is presently in default on the Account.
The attached Account Statement does not reflect any
outstanding disputes on the Account.
As of the date of this affidavit, the Account balance of
$8,300.41 is due and owing.
{¶ 14} As noted, appellant contends the trial court ignored the provisions of Civ.R.
10(D)(1), which states in part: "When any claim or defense is founded on an account * * *
a copy of the account * * * must be attached to the pleading. If the account * * * is not
attached, the reason for the omission must be stated in the pleading." Appellant argued
No. 12AP-885 6
before the trial court that no proper account was attached, pursuant to Civ.R. 10(D)(1),
because Citibank failed to include a copy of the cardholder agreement. We disagree.
{¶ 15} Ohio courts, including this court, have held that "the Civ.R. 10(D)(1)
requirement may be satisfied even where documents attached to a complaint do not
strictly meet the definition of an account." Hudson & Keyse, LLC v. Carson, 10th Dist.
No. 07AP-936, 2008-Ohio-2570, ¶ 14. Thus, in cases involving a suit concerning a credit
card balance, i.e., an action on an account, courts have not required a credit card issuer to
attach a copy of the agreement to the complaint. Citibank v. Eckmeyer, 11th Dist. No.
2008-P-0069, 2009-Ohio-2435, ¶ 19 (plaintiff-bank's attachment of account to
complaint, identifying defendant's name, account number, the interest rate and amount
purported due satisfied requirements of Civ.R. 10(D)(1)). See also Huntington Natl. Bank
v. Twining, 8th Dist. No. 60222 (Feb. 21, 1991) (in action on account, plaintiff's
attachment to the complaint of eight credit card statements, each indicating the balance
due, satisfied the requirements of Civ.R. 10(D) and established the account and amount
due).
{¶ 16} As indicated above, in support of its motion for summary judgment,
Citibank submitted the affidavit of its custodian of records, as well as approximately two
years of consecutive account statements, beginning September 2009 and ending
September 2011. The statements reflect purchases and payments made under the
account, as well as finance charges, interest, and the balance due. According to the
averments of Crum, Citibank's custodian of records, (1) she has access to appellant's
Citibank account ending in 9842, (2) her affidavit is based on her personal knowledge and
review of those business records, (3) charges were made on the account to purchase
goods, (4) appellant failed to make required payments, (5) the account is presently in
default, and (6) the account balance of $8,300.41 is due.
{¶ 17} Upon review, we agree with the trial court that the materials submitted by
Citibank in support of its motion for summary judgment were sufficient to establish a
prima facie case for money owed on an account. Citibank, N.A. v. Katz, 8th Dist. No.
98753, 2013-Ohio-1041, ¶ 12 (affidavit and account statements sufficient to meet
Citibank's burden of establishing a prima facie case for money owed on an account where
such materials "established the existence of the credit card account; the purchases,
No. 12AP-885 7
advances, and payments made on the account; the finance charges applied * * *; the
amounts due on the account each month; [defendant's] default; and the final balance
owed on the account"). See also McGee (Affidavit of bank representative, as well as
attachments including ten consecutive account statements showing purchases and
payments, and a beginning and ending balance, established that credit card holder was in
default for purposes of bank's summary judgment motion); Citibank (South Dakota) N.A.
v. Ogunduyile, 2d Dist. No. 21794, 2007-Ohio-5166, ¶ 12 (copies of monthly account
statements and affidavit of bank representative authenticating statements submitted in
support of motion for summary judgment sufficient to establish prima facie case for
money owed on account).
{¶ 18} Because Citibank met its burden of establishing no genuine issue of material
fact, the burden then shifted to appellant to set forth specific facts to show there remains a
genuine issue to be litigated. Renzi at ¶ 10. In response to Citibank's motion for summary
judgment, appellant submitted his own affidavit and also attached, as exhibits, copies of
email correspondence from "CitiCards." In his affidavit, appellant averred that Citibank
had failed to "produce any document which reflects that there is any agreement between"
the parties and he "denie[d] any such agreement exists." He further alleged there was no
verification that he made any charge under the account; while noting that "[r]egular
payments appear to have been made on the claimed account," appellant averred "there
are no items attached to reflect who made such payments."
{¶ 19} The trial court, in addressing the materials submitted by appellant in
response to the motion for summary judgment, noted that appellant attached to his
response "five emails from CitiCards in 2012 which solicit [appellant] to view his Citi
Credit Card statement online," but "[n]one of these emails shows the account number and
all of them show a different account balance." The court further noted that "all three of
the emails sent May 30, 2012 refer to a PayPal email." The trial court concluded that the
materials submitted by appellant in his response "failed to demonstrate by affidavit or
other evidence that he did not enter into a contract with the credit card company and
failed to pay the balance due."
{¶ 20} As noted by the trial court, with respect to the email exhibits attached to
appellant's response, no account number is listed, and three of the five emails reference
No. 12AP-885 8
"PayPal." Upon review, we find no error with the trial court's determination that the
documents attached to appellant's affidavit do not create a genuine issue of material fact.
Nor do the averments in appellant's affidavit, including his claim that Citibank failed to
attach a copy of an agreement between the parties, and his conclusory assertion
challenging verification of payments, create a genuine issue of material fact.1 See
Discover Bank v. Damico, 11th Dist. No. 2011-L-108, 2012-Ohio-3022, ¶ 21
(unsubstantiated assertions in self-serving affidavit that balance on credit card account
was incorrect, without supporting statements or evidentiary material, insufficient to
establish that a genuine issue exists).
{¶ 21} Based upon this court's de novo review, the trial court did not err in
granting summary judgment in favor of Citibank. Accordingly, appellant's first
assignment of error is without merit and is overruled.
{¶ 22} Under the second assignment of error, appellant argues the trial court erred
in failing to require Citibank to demonstrate it is the real party in interest to bring this
action. Specifically, appellant contends that Citibank's complaint and account statement
indicate the account was not opened with Citibank (i.e., Citibank, N.A.), but rather with
Citibank (South Dakota) N.A. Appellant maintains there was no evidence before the trial
court demonstrating how Citibank properly succeeded to the claimed account.
{¶ 23} We find unpersuasive appellant's argument. Initially, as noted by Citibank,
appellant raises this issue for the first time on appeal. Further, the account statement
attached to Citibank's complaint informs the account holder: "Effective July 1, 2011,
Citibank (South Dakota) N.A., is merged into Citibank, N.A." Appellant does not appear
to challenge the fact of merger and, as noted above, did not raise this issue before the trial
court; rather, appellant cites Harvest Credit Mgt. VII v. Ryan, 10th Dist. No. 09AP-1163,
2010-Ohio-5260, a case not involving a merger but instead the purported assignment of
debt from one entity (the issuer) to another (the purchaser of a credit card account), and
the issue of whether documentation the appellee attached to its motion for summary
judgment "potentially sets forth two separate chains of title." Id. at ¶ 18.
1 We note that the record on summary judgment does not indicate any past disputes as to charges on the
account ending in 9842; according to the affidavit of Crum, the attached account statement "does not reflect
any outstanding disputes on the Account."
No. 12AP-885 9
{¶ 24} Under Ohio law, "[w]hen an existing bank takes the place of another bank
after a merger, no further action is necessary" to become a real party in interest.
Huntington Natl. Bank v. Hoffer, 2d Dist. No. 2010-CA-31, 2011-Ohio-242, ¶ 15, citing
Huntington Natl. Bank v. P.A.B., Inc., 10th Dist. No. 81AP-753 (Apr. 13, 1982). See also
Morris v. Invest. Life Ins. Co., 27 Ohio St.2d 26, 31 (1971) ("It is settled law that a merger
involves the absorption of one company by another, the latter retaining its own name and
identity, and acquiring the assets, liabilities, franchises and powers of the former. Of
necessity, the absorbed company ceases to exist as a separate business entity."). Once
absorbed, "[t]he merged company has the ability to enforce * * * agreements as if the
resulting company had stepped into the shoes of the absorbed company." Acordia of
Ohio, L.L.C. v. Fishel, 133 Ohio St.3d 356, 2012-Ohio-4648, ¶ 7. Here, by virtue of the
merger, there was "no further action * * * necessary" for Citibank to become the real party
in interest. Hoffer at ¶ 15.
{¶ 25} Accordingly, appellant's second assignment of error is without merit and is
overruled.
{¶ 26} Based upon the foregoing, appellant's first and second assignments are
overruled, and the judgment of the Franklin County Municipal Court is hereby affirmed.
Judgment affirmed.
SADLER, P.J., and DORRIAN, J., concur.
______________________