Stachura v. Toledo

[Cite as Stachura v. Toledo, 2017-Ohio-8772.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
LUCAS COUNTY
Captain Carla Stachura, et al. Court of Appeals Nos. L-16-1310
L-16-1315
Appellees L-16-1316
v. Trial Court No. CI0201503463
City of Toledo, et al.
Defendant
[Robert Metzger—Appellant] DECISION AND JUDGMENT
[Michael Bell—Appellant]
[John Coleman—Appellant] Decided: December 1, 2017
*****
Terry J. Lodge, for appellees.
Adam Loukx, Law Director, and Merritt W. Green III,
Senior Attorney, for appellants.
*****
OSOWIK, J.
{¶ 1} This is a consolidated appeal from a December 5, 2016 judgment of the
Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, which denied appellants’ motion for partial
summary judgment centered upon the issue of appellants’ claim of sovereign immunity
eligibility. For the reasons set forth below, this court affirms the judgment of the trial
court.
{¶ 2} The city of Toledo, Michael Bell, John Coleman, and Robert Metzger
(“appellants”) set forth the following two assignments of error:
1. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED TO THE PREJUDICE OF
DEFENDANTS/APPELLANTS BY DENYING IMMUNITY
AFFORDED TO THEM PURSUANT TO R.C. §2744.03(A)(6).
2. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY ALLOWING
PLAINTIFFS/APPELLEES TO ARGUE THE EXECEPTIONS TO
GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEE IMMUNITY DISPITE [SIC] THEIR
FAILURE TO ALLEGE ANY OF THE EXCEPTIONS UNDER R.C.
§2744.03(A)(6) IN THEIR RE-FILED COMPLAINT.
{¶ 3} The following undisputed facts are relevant to this appeal. All appellees
formerly served as employees working in varying capacities in the Toledo Fire
Department (“TFD”). All appellees are female. All appellants were employed in
supervisory roles in TFD during the time period in question. All appellants are male.
{¶ 4} During the course of their employment with TFD, all of the appellees
experienced various instances of claimed unlawful gender discrimination committed
against them.
2.
{¶ 5} On November 21, 2005, appellees first filed a complaint in the Lucas
County Court of Common Pleas setting forth claims of gender based employment
maltreatment. The complaint enumerated multiple claims against appellants of alleged
acts of unlawful gender discrimination against appellees. On October 10, 2007, the trial
court granted summary judgment to appellants. On July 20, 2008, this court reversed and
remanded the case back to the trial court.
{¶ 6} On September 12, 2008, appellees amended their complaint to add former
TFD chief, Michael Wolever, as an additional named defendant. It also added a claim of
retaliation to the complaint. On November 2, 2011, appellants again filed a motion for
summary judgment primarily premised upon their claimed eligibility for immunity from
potential liability pursuant to the doctrine of sovereign immunity. On February 23, 2012,
the trial court denied the motion for summary judgment. On June 7, 2013, this court
affirmed the holding of the trial court.
{¶ 7} On July 24, 2015, appellees refiled their complaint adding another TFD
employee, John Coleman, as an additional named defendant. On July 29, 2016,
appellants filed a partial motion for summary judgment, again seeking summary
judgment dismissal based upon claimed entitlement to immunity from liability pursuant
to the doctrine of sovereign immunity given their capacity as government employees. On
September 21, 2016, appellees filed their briefs in opposition.
{¶ 8} On December 5, 2016, the trial court again denied appellants’ partial motion
for summary judgment. The trial court determined that there remained a genuine issue of
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material fact in dispute regarding whether appellants acted with malice, in bad faith, or
recklessly, so that the conduct would be considered outside the scope of their
employment and preclude immunity given the statutory exceptions to sovereign
immunity.
{¶ 9} In addition, the court held that the lack of “magic words” from the R.C.
2744.03(A)(6) exceptions in appellees’ complaint did not, as wrongly suggested by
appellants, mandate the granting of summary judgment to appellants. On December 27,
2016, this appeal ensued.
{¶ 10} Both assignments of error stem from the common legal premise that the
trial court erred in denying appellants’ partial summary judgment motion. As such, they
will be considered simultaneously.
{¶ 11} We note that appellate court review of disputed summary judgment rulings
is conducted on a de novo basis. This court utilizes the same summary judgment
standard as the trial court. Grafton v. Ohio Edison Co., 77 Ohio St. 3d 102, 105, 671
N.E.2d 241 (1996). Summary judgment is only proper when:
(1) no genuine issue as to material fact remain to be litigated; (2) the
moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law and (3) it appears
from the evidence that reasonable minds can come to but one conclusion,
and viewing such evidence most strongly in favor of the nonmoving party,
that conclusion is adverse to the party against whom the motion for
summary judgment is made.
4.
State ex rel. Parsons v. Flemings, 68 Ohio St. 3d 509, 1994 Ohio 172, 628 N.E.2d 1377
(1994). See also Civ.R. 56(C).
{¶ 12} The record reflects that appellees have consistently set forth multiple
claims of gender discrimination against appellants in connection to their employment at
TFD. The record further reflects that various forms of competing evidence have been
submitted during the lengthy history of this case.
{¶ 13} Throughout the course of this matter, appellants have consistently claimed
that they should be granted summary judgment prefaced on their position of being
entitled, without exception, to sovereign immunity protection from the claims pending
against them. We do not concur.
{¶ 14} Appellants’ position stems from a mistaken interpretation of Zumwalde v.
Madeira, 128 Ohio St. 3d 492, 946 N.E.2d 748, 2011-Ohio-1603, 946 N.E.2d 748, as
applied to the instant case. Appellants sweepingly suggest that Zumwalde stands for the
proposition that employees of a political subdivision, such as the city of Toledo, are
entitled to immunity from retaliation and gender discrimination claims automatically,
essentially as a matter of law, without limitation or exception. Relevant statutes and
precedent do not bear out this position.
{¶ 15} Despite the holding of Zumwalde, although individual employees may still
invoke immunity, the invoking employees are still subject to the potential applicability of
the statutory sovereign immunity exceptions set forth in R.C. 2744. As such, as
previously held by this court, “[P]otential liability can still be found against individual
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employees should the evidence establish a statutory exception.” Stachura v. City of
Toledo, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-12-1068, 2013-Ohio-2365, ¶ 13.
{¶ 16} The record reflects that the trial court did not err in holding that immunity
is not automatically granted to individual employees of a political subdivision when the
claims are based on gender discrimination and retaliation. The record reflects that there
are remaining genuine issues of material fact that a jury must decide in this case
regarding whether appellants acted with malice, in bad faith, or so recklessly in their
employment treatment of appellees that their conduct would fall within the immunity
exceptions established by R.C. 2744.03(A)(6)(b).
{¶ 17} As stated by the trial court in its December 5, 2016 summary judgment
ruling, “[W]hether an employee acted manifestly outside the scope of his employment,
and whether the employee acted with malicious purpose, in bad faith, or in a wanton or
reckless manner are generally questions of fact.” The court further stated that “If
reasonable minds could differ on these issues, then a court may not grant the employee
summary judgment based upon statutory immunity.” Citing Long v. Hanging Rock, 4th
Dist. No. 09CA30, 2011-Ohio-5137, ¶ 17.
{¶ 18} Finally, we do not concur with appellants’ assertion that appellees’
pleading was fatally vague and imprecise in connection with the immunity exceptions
listed in R.C. 2744.03(A)(6). The trial court properly concurred with our holding at ¶ 14
in Stachura, finding that this court was “[N]ot persuaded that appellees’ specificity of
pleading in their amended complaint was too imprecise with respect to the immunity
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exceptions of R.C. 2744.03(A)(6) such that immunity automatically attaches to the
individual appellants.”
{¶ 19} Wherefore, we find appellants’ assignments of error not well-taken. The
judgment of the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas is hereby affirmed. Appellants
are ordered to pay the costs of this appeal pursuant to App.R. 24.
Judgment affirmed.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to App.R. 27.
See also 6th Dist.Loc.App.R. 4.
Mark L. Pietrykowski, J. _______________________________
JUDGE
Arlene Singer, J.
_______________________________
Thomas J. Osowik, J. JUDGE
CONCUR.
_______________________________
JUDGE
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