Patterson v. Godale ( 2014 )

[Cite as Patterson v. Godale, 2014-Ohio-5615.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
ELEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
LAKE COUNTY, OHIO
DAVID N. PATTERSON, : OPINION
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
CASE NOS. 2014-L-034
- vs - : and 2014-L-042
WILLIAM GODALE, :
Defendant-Appellant. :
Civil Appeals from the Lake County Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 13 CV 000652.
Judgment: Affirmed.
David Patterson, pro se, 33579 Euclid Avenue, Willoughby, OH 44094 (For Plaintiff-
Appellee).
William Godale, pro se, 8216 Mayfield Road, Chesterland, OH 44026 (For Defendant-
Appellant).
COLLEEN MARY O’TOOLE, J.
{¶1} William Godale appeals from the judgment of the Lake County Court of
Common Pleas, entered on a jury verdict, awarding David N. Patterson $12,423.75 on
his claim for breach of contract, quantum meruit, or unjust enrichment. That verdict was
offset by the jury’s award of $5,650 to Mr. Godale on his counterclaim for unjust
enrichment, for a net judgment of $6,773.75. Mr. Godale contends the trial court’s
judgment is against the manifest weight of the evidence, and premised on insufficient
evidence. He further contends the trial court abused its discretion by failing to grant him
a new trial. Finding no error, we affirm.
{¶2} January 3, 2013, Mr. Patterson filed his complaint in the Willoughby
Municipal Court, alleging breach of contract, quantum meruit, and unjust enrichment,
due to Mr. Godale’s failure to pay him for legal services rendered. Mr. Patterson is an
attorney of longstanding. Mr. Godale filed a motion to dismiss, which the municipal
court denied. Mr. Godale then answered, denying all of Mr. Patterson’s claims, and
counterclaiming for $100,000 for lost rentals on a 1991 Ford New Holland Skid Steer,
which he lent Mr. Patterson in 2007. The Skid Steer is a piece of equipment used to lift
and move heavy items, similar to a Bobcat. The matter was transferred to the Lake
County Court of Common Pleas.
{¶3} Extensive motion practice ensued. Difficulties in obtaining discovery
between the parties eventually required the trial court to appoint Attorney Walter J.
McNamara, III, as special master to supervise depositions. The matter came on for jury
trial February 24, 2014. The case was submitted to the jury February 26, 2014, and the
jury returned the same day with the verdict described above. The trial court entered
judgment February 28, 2014, and Mr. Godale timely appealed, that being 11th Dist.
Case No. 2014-L-034. Mr. Godale also moved the trial court for a new trial, which the
court denied. Mr. Godale timely appealed that judgment, which became 11th Dist. Case
No. 2014-L-042. This court consolidated the cases for all purposes.
{¶4} Mr. Patterson had represented Mr. Godale in a long running zoning
dispute with Chester Township, Geauga County, Ohio. In 2007, Mr. Godale contacted
Mr. Patterson to represent him in Godale v. Capital City Motor Coach, Summit C.P. No.
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CV-2006-03-1748. Mr. Patterson conducted a three day jury trial, resulting in a verdict
of $10,222.83 in Mr. Godale’s favor. Considerable post judgment motion practice
ensued, and Capital City attempted an appeal to the Ninth District.
{¶5} Mr. Patterson testified there was a written contract between himself and
Mr. Godale, encompassing a $2,500 retainer, and an hourly fee of $200 once that was
exhausted. He admitted he had no copy of the contract. He testified he returned the
file to Mr. Godale at some point, and believed the contract remained in the file. Mr.
Patterson entered as evidence his copies of the monthly billings on the case to Mr.
Godale. He and two of his office assistants, Kelly Schultz and Cynthia Clifton, testified it
was the office’s normal practice to bill cases monthly. Mr. Patterson testified
extensively about his experience as an attorney, and the work put into the Summit
County case. Ms. Schultz and Ms. Clifton each testified they could not specifically recall
the contract in question, but that it was the office’s normal practice to use one.
{¶6} Mr. Godale testified he never signed a contract with Mr. Patterson. He
testified he never received the monthly billings. He testified it was his understanding
that Mr. Patterson would pursue the judgment against Capital City Motor Coach, and
satisfy his fees from that. Mr. Patterson testified he gave Mr. Godale a certified copy of
the judgment entry and the names of attorneys in Indiana. Capital City Motor Coach is
an Indiana corporation. Mr. Patterson testified that Mr. Godale was to collect the
judgment himself.
{¶7} In the fall of 2007, Mr. Godale lent Mr. Patterson the Skid Steer for use on
Mr. Patterson’s farm. Mr. Godale testified he did so in thanks for Mr. Patterson’s work
on the Summit County case, and that he expected the machine to be returned in a few
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months. It was not, and eventually, Mr. Godale became involved in various disputes
with Mr. Patterson’s tenant on the farm, Kristen Ropp. Ms. Ropp testified the machine
was there when she commenced her tenancy, and that since Mr. Godale never
presented her proof of ownership, she retained the Skid Steer. At one point, Mr.
Patterson came to the farm after Ms. Ropp called the police on Mr. Godale. Both men
wrote complaints against each other. Over objection, the trial court allowed Mr. Godale
to enter into evidence the complaint written that day by Mr. Patterson. In it, he averred
Mr. Godale had given him the Skid Steer as compensation for his work on the Summit
County case. Mr. Patterson testified he wrote that in anger, but it was not true.
{¶8} Mr. Godale assigns three errors. The first is: “The trial court judgment is
against the manifest weight of the evidence.” He presents a single issue for review:
{¶9} “Is a trial court judgment rendered by a jury against the manifest weight of
evidence for a claim of breach of contract when the complaining party does not have a
contract, confirmation of a meeting of the minds, when there is nothing more than an
allegation bills were sent to the other party who has no knowledge about them?
{¶10} “The answer is no!”
{¶11} Mr. Godale argues the fundamental elements of a contract were not
proved by Mr. Patterson. He notes that no actual copy of the contract was introduced at
trial; that Mr. Patterson and his assistants could not specifically recollect the contract;
and, that he denied ever entering into a contract.
{¶12} “Initially, we note that the Supreme Court of Ohio has clarified the analysis
used to determine whether judgments in civil cases are against the manifest weight of
the evidence. Eastley v. Volkman, 132 Ohio St. 3d 328, 2012-Ohio-2179, ¶12-23, * * *.
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In Eastley, the Supreme Court noted that most of Ohio’s appellate courts applied the
analysis set forth in C.E. Morris Co. v. Foley Constr. Co., 54 Ohio St. 2d 279, * * *.
Eastley at ¶14. In C.E. Morris, the court held: ‘Judgments supported by some
competent, credible evidence going to all the essential elements of the case will not be
reversed by a reviewing court as being against the manifest weight of the evidence.’
C.E. Morris at the syllabus. As the court in Eastley observed, this is the standard
applicable to determining the sufficiency of the evidence underpinning a judgment. Id.
at ¶14. The court held that the proper analysis for determining challenges to the
manifest weight of the evidence is the same in civil and criminal cases, and that State v.
Thompkins, 78 Ohio St. 3d 380, * * * (1997) applies to both. Id. at ¶17-20. The court
quoted with approval the following language used by the Ninth Appellate District:
{¶13} “‘“‘The (reviewing) court (* * *) weighs the evidence and all reasonable
inferences, considers the credibility of witnesses and determines whether in resolving
conflicts in the evidence, the (finder of fact) clearly lost its way and created such a
manifest miscarriage of justice that the (judgment) must be reversed and a new trial
ordered.’” (Alterations made in Tewarson) Tewarson v. Simon, 141 Ohio App. 3d 103,
115, * * *(* * *) (9th Dist.2001) * * *, quoting Thompkins, 78 Ohio St. 3d at 387, (* * *),
quoting State v. Martin, 20 Ohio App. 3d 172, 175, * * *(* * *) (1st Dist.1983).’ (Parallel
citations omitted.) Eastley at ¶20.
{¶14} “The court in Eastley further observed that in weighing the evidence in civil
cases, courts of appeals must make every presumption in favor of the finder of fact, and
construe the evidence, if possible, to sustain the judgment of the trial court. Id. at ¶21,
quoting Seasons Coal Co., Inc. v. Cleveland, 10 Ohio St. 3d 77, 80, * * * (1984).”
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(Parallel citations omitted.) Avery Dennison Corp. v. TransAct Technologies, Inc., 11th
Dist. Lake No. 2012-L-132, 2013-Ohio-4551, ¶20-22.
{¶15} Regarding this first assignment of error, we note that Mr. Patterson’s
complaint sounded in quantum meruit and unjust enrichment, as well as breach of
contract.
{¶16} “Quantum meruit is an equitable remedy giving ‘rise to obligations
imposed by law, irrespective of the intentions of the parties, in order to prevent an
injustice when one party retains a benefit from another’s labors.’ (Internal quotations
and citations omitted.) In re Suchodolski, 9th Dist. Lorain No. 10CA009833, 2011-Ohio-
6333, ¶8, quoting In re Estate of Kirkland, 175 Ohio App. 3d 73, 2008-Ohio-421, ¶23, * *
* (2d Dist.). ‘Quantum meruit is generally awarded when one party confers some
benefit upon another without receiving just compensation for the reasonable value of
services rendered.’ (Emphasis sic.) Aultman Hospital Ass’n v. Community Mut. Ins.
Co., 46 Ohio St. 3d 51, 55, * * * (1989). To prevail on a claim of quantum meruit, a
plaintiff is required to show ‘(1) a benefit has been conferred by (the) plaintiff upon (the)
defendant; (2) the defendant had knowledge of the benefit; and (3) the defendant
retained the benefit under circumstances where it would be unjust to do so without
payment.’ In re Suchodolski at ¶8, quoting Bldg. Industry Consultants, Inc. v. 3M
Parkway, Inc., 182 Ohio App. 3d 39, 2009-Ohio-1910, ¶16, * * * (9th Dist).” (Parallel
citations omitted.) J. Bowers Constr. Co., Inc. v. Gilbert, 9th Dist. Summit No. 27044,
2014-Ohio-3576, ¶10.
{¶17} In this case, both parties agreed Mr. Godale asked Mr. Patterson to
represent him in the Summit County case. Mr. Patterson prepared for and conducted a
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three day jury trial, with considerable post judgment motion practice. He won the case.
Thus, he bestowed a benefit on Mr. Godale, of which the latter was certainly aware, and
for which Mr. Patterson did not receive compensation. Mr. Patterson testified about his
experience as an attorney; about the time and effort expended in the case; and about
his billing rates. A jury might easily find his claim valid on the basis of quantum meruit.
There is no indication it lost its way in awarding Mr. Patterson the fees sought. The
judgment of the trial court is not against the manifest weight of the evidence.
{¶18} The first assignment of error lacks merit.
{¶19} The second assignment of error is: “The trial court judgment is not
supported by the sufficiency of the evidence.” The issue presented for review is:
{¶20} “Is a trial court judgment rendered by a jury supported by sufficient
evidence for a breach of contract claim where there is no contract, no consideration, no
meeting of the minds?
{¶21} “The answer to the question is no!”
{¶22} Again, Mr. Godale asserts Mr. Patterson failed to present evidence on all
of the elements of a contract claim.
{¶23} A finding that a judgment is not against the manifest weight of the
evidence necessarily means the judgment is supported by sufficient evidence. State v.
Arcaro, 11th Dist. Ashtabula No. 2012-A-0028, 2013-Ohio-1842, ¶32. Having
determined the judgment in Mr. Patterson’s favor is not against the manifest weight of
the evidence, we further conclude it is supported by sufficient evidence.
{¶24} The second assignment of error lacks merit.
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{¶25} The third assignment of error is: “The trial court abused its discretion by
the denial of the motion for a new trial.” The issue presented for review is:
{¶26} “Does a trial court abuse its discretion by denying a timely motion for a
new trial in a breach of contract claim when there is no contract, consideration, meeting
of the minds, a failure to join indispensable parties, failure to allow the jury to see all of
the evidence. And when there is an established counterclaim for unjust enrichment,
and excessive verdict and request for remittiture (sic) as set forth in the trial court
motion that was denied?
{¶27} “The answer is yes!”
{¶28} Mr. Godale argues Mr. Patterson failed to prove a contract. He argues
that Capital City Motor Coach and Joseph McGrath, who attempted to appear in this
matter on appeal (and was denied leave), were indispensable parties. He evidently
argues he established his claim for unjust enrichment against Mr. Patterson, and that
the judgment does not take this into account.
{¶29} Essentially, Mr. Godale is arguing he is entitled to a new trial on the
manifest weight of the evidence.
{¶30} The decision to grant or deny a motion for a new trial is reviewed for
abuse of discretion. McWreath v. Ross, 179 Ohio App. 3d 227, 2008-Ohio-5855, ¶69
(11th Dist.) Regarding this standard, we recall the term “abuse of discretion” is one of
art, connoting judgment exercised by a court which neither comports with reason, nor
the record. State v. Ferranto, 112 Ohio St. 667, 676-678 (1925). An abuse of discretion
may be found when the trial court “applies the wrong legal standard, misapplies the
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correct legal standard, or relies on clearly erroneous findings of fact.” Thomas v.
Cleveland, 176 Ohio App. 3d 401, 2008-Ohio-1720, ¶15 (8th Dist.)
{¶31} In McWreath, supra, at ¶70-75, this court observed:
{¶32} “As the Supreme Court of Ohio explained in Rohde [v. Farmer, 23 Ohio
St.2d 82 (1970)]:
{¶33} “‘(W)here the appeal is from the granting of a motion for new trial, and the
trial court's decision on the motion for new trial involves questions of fact, it has been
held that the appellate court should view the evidence favorably to the trial court’s action
rather than to the original jury’s verdict. 5 American Jurisprudence 2d 326, Section 887.
{¶34} “‘This rule of appellate review is predicated, in part, upon the principle that
the discretion of the trial judge in granting a new trial on the weight of the evidence may
be supported by his having seen and heard the witnesses and having formed a doubt
as to their credibility, or having determined from the surrounding circumstances and
atmosphere of the trial, that the jury’s verdict resulted in manifest injustice.’ Id. at 94.”
{¶35} “This court has similarly recognized that the trial judge is better situated
than a reviewing court to pass on questions of witness credibility and the surrounding
circumstances and atmosphere of the trial. Kitchen v. Wickliffe Country Place (July 13,
2001), 11th Dist. No. 2000-L-051, 2001 Ohio App. LEXIS 3191, at *8.
{¶36} “Furthermore, as the Supreme Court of Ohio stated recently, in Harris v.
Mt. Sinai Med. Ctr. (2007), 116 Ohio St. 3d 139, 147, 2007-Ohio-5587, * * *:
{¶37} “‘Where in the exercise of discretion a trial court decides to grant a new
trial and that decision is supported by competent, credible evidence, a reviewing court
must defer to the trial court. In such a case, the reviewing court may not independently
assess whether the verdict was supported by the evidence, because the issue is not
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whether the verdict in supported by competent, credible evidence, but rather whether
the court’s decision to grant the new trial is supported by competent, credible
evidence.’” (Parallel citation omitted.)
{¶38} Given these standards, we find no merit in the contention a new trial was
warranted. Even if Mr. Patterson failed to prove all the elements of contract, he did
prove all the elements of quantum meruit. Mr. Godale argued in his motion for a new
trial that Capital City Motor Coach was an indispensable party, since the judgment
rendered against it made responsible for costs of the action. We fail to see how this
makes Capital City responsible for paying Mr. Godale’s legal fees. The motion for new
trial did not assert Mr. McGrath was an indispensable party. We have no information
regarding his relation, if any, to this case. The jury heard extensive testimony regarding
the work done by Mr. Patterson for Mr. Godale, and concluded it justified an award of
the fees requested. Evidently, the learned trial court agreed. The judgment rendered in
the trial court decreased Mr. Patterson’s award by the award made to Mr. Godale.
{¶39} The third assignment of error lacks merit.
{¶40} The judgment of the Lake County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.
TIMOTHY P. CANNON, P.J.,
DIANE V. GRENDELL, J.,
concur.
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