Bender v. Portsmouth

[Cite as Bender v. Portsmouth, 2013-Ohio-2023.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
SCIOTO COUNTY
GREG BENDER, : Case No. 12CA3491
:
Plaintiff-Appellant, :
: DECISION AND
v. : JUDGMENT ENTRY
:
CITY OF PORTSMOUTH, et al., :
: RELEASED 5/13/13
Defendants-Appellees. :
______________________________________________________________________
APPEARANCES:
F. Harrison Green, F. HARRISON GREEN CO., L.P.A., Cincinnati, Ohio, for appellant.
Lawrence E. Barbiere and Scott A. Sollmann, SCHROEDER, MAUNDRELL,
BARBIERE & POWERS, Mason, Ohio, for appellee City of Portsmouth.
______________________________________________________________________
Harsha, J.
{¶1} Greg Bender filed suit against the City of Portsmouth and various John
Doe defendants alleging they negligently maintained an alley and water meter cover,
causing him to fall and sustain injuries. He appeals the trial court’s decision to grant
summary judgment to the City and contends the court erred when it found the City was
immune from his claim under R.C. Chapter 2744. He implicitly concedes that the City
qualifies for R.C. 2744.02(A)(1)’s general grant of immunity but argues that the
exception to immunity in R.C. 2744.02(B)(4) applies. The City argues in part that the
exception does not apply because there is no evidence Bender’s injury occurred on and
was due to a physical defect on the grounds of a building used in connection with a
governmental function. We agree. Bender submitted no summary judgment evidence
to establish this. To the contrary, at his deposition, Bender testified the injury happened
in an alley between a barber shop/parking lot and the former location of a house
Scioto App. No. 12CA3491 2
demolished by the City.
{¶2} In his reply brief, Bender claims for the first time that the immunity
exception in R.C. 2744.02(B)(3) applies. However, we will not address an argument
made for the first time on appeal in a reply brief, particularly when the City specifically
argued in its motion for summary judgment that R.C. 2744.02(B)(3) did not apply and
Bender ignored the argument in his memorandum contra.
{¶3} Accordingly, the City is entitled to immunity as a matter of law. This
conclusion renders Bender’s other arguments moot so we do not address them.
I. Facts
{¶4} Bender filed a complaint against the City, “John Doe” property owner, and
“John Doe” City worker, alleging they were “in possession [of], had control [of], and
maintained an alley and water meter cover at or near 1219 McConnell Avenue,
Portsmouth, Ohio.” He claimed they had a duty to keep the “alleyway in good and safe
repair and condition” but breached that duty by permitting a “cover to a water meter to
exist in an unsafe condition.” As a result, he claimed he fell and suffered injuries. In an
amended complaint, he added “John Doe” contractor as a defendant and made the
same allegations against this defendant.
{¶5} The City filed a motion for summary judgment alleging that it was immune
from Bender’s claims under R.C. 2744.02(A)(1) and that the only exception that
arguably applied – R.C. 2744.02(B)(3) – did not apply in this case. Alternatively, the
City argued that Bender’s claims failed on the merits for various reasons. In his
memorandum contra, Bender argued that the exception to immunity in R.C.
2744.02(B)(4) applied and that genuine issues of material fact existed regarding the
Scioto App. No. 12CA3491 3
merits of his negligence claim. In its reply, the City noted that Bender failed to dispute
its contention that the immunity exception in R.C. 2744.02(B)(3) did not apply. The City
also argued that R.C. 2744.02(B)(4) did not apply as Bender contended.
{¶6} The trial court found that Bender failed to exercise ordinary care and that
the City was not negligent in creating the condition that led to the creation of the hole
Bender fell into. The court acknowledged Bender’s R.C. 2744.02(B)(4) argument but
found that although the City had to maintain waterlines and meters as a proprietary
function, it was immune from liability under the facts. After the court granted the City’s
motion for summary judgment and dismissed the complaint, this appeal followed.
Bender only appeals the dismissal of his claims against the City, not the dismissal of his
claims against the various “John Doe” defendants.
II. Assignments of Error
{¶7} Bender assigns two errors for our review:
I. The Trial Court Erred in Granting Defendant[’]s Motion for
Summary Judgment As There Are Material Facts And Controversy
And More Than One Conclusion Can Be Reached Upon Those
Facts.
II. The Trial Court Failed To Properly Apply The Exceptions To
Immunity For A Municipality Under Ohio Revised Code Chapter
2744.
III. Standard of Review
{¶8} When reviewing a trial court’s decision on a motion for summary
judgment, we conduct a de novo review governed by the standard set forth in Civ.R. 56.
Comer v. Risko, 106 Ohio St.3d 185, 2005-Ohio-4559, 833 N.E.2d 712, ¶ 8. Summary
judgment is appropriate when the movant has established: 1.) there is no genuine issue
of material fact; 2.) reasonable minds can come to but one conclusion, and that
Scioto App. No. 12CA3491 4
conclusion is adverse to the nonmoving party, with the evidence against that party being
construed most strongly in its favor; and 3.) the moving party is entitled to judgment as a
matter of law. Bostic v. Connor, 37 Ohio St.3d 144, 146, 524 N.E.2d 881 (1988), citing
Harless v. Willis Day Warehousing Co., 54 Ohio St.2d 64, 66, 375 N.E.2d 46 (1978)
(per curiam). See Civ.R. 56(C).
{¶9} The burden of showing that no genuine issue of material fact exists falls
upon the party who moves for summary judgment. Dresher v. Burt, 75 Ohio St.3d 280,
294, 662 N.E.2d 264 (1996). To meet its burden, the moving party must specifically
refer to “the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, written admissions,
affidavits, transcripts of evidence, and written stipulations of fact, if any, timely filed in
the action,” that affirmatively demonstrate the non-moving party has no evidence to
support the non-moving party’s claims. Civ.R. 56(C). See Hansen v. Wal-Mart Stores,
Inc., 4th Dist. No. 07CA2990, 2008-Ohio-2477, ¶ 8. Once the movant supports the
motion with appropriate evidentiary materials, the non-moving party “may not rest upon
the mere allegations or denials of the party’s pleadings, but the party’s response, by
affidavit or as otherwise provided in [Civ.R. 56], must set forth specific facts showing
that there is a genuine issue for trial.” Civ.R. 56(E). “If the party does not so respond,
summary judgment, if appropriate, shall be entered against the party.” Id.IV. The City is Immune from Bender’s Claim
{¶10} Because it is dispositive of this appeal, we address Bender’s second
assignment of error initially. Bender contends the trial court failed to properly apply the
exceptions to immunity for a municipality under R.C. Chapter 2744. This Chapter
“addresses when political subdivisions, their departments and agencies, and their
Scioto App. No. 12CA3491 5
employees are immune from liability for their actions.” Lambert v. Clancy, 125 Ohio
St.3d 231, 2010-Ohio-1483, 927 N.E.2d 585, ¶ 8. “The issue of whether a political
subdivision is entitled to immunity from state-law claims under R.C. Chapter 2744
presents a question of law that we review de novo.” Sickles v. Jackson Cty. Hwy. Dept.,
196 Ohio App.3d 703, 2011-Ohio-6102, 965 N.E.2d 330, ¶ 18 (4th Dist.).
{¶11} Determining whether a political subdivision is immune from liability under
R.C. 2744.02 involves a three-tiered analysis. Lambert at ¶ 8. The first tier, R.C.
2744.02(A)(1), provides a general grant of immunity, stating in part that “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.” The second tier in the analysis focuses on the five exceptions listed in R.C.
2744.02(B) to the general grant of immunity. Lambert at ¶ 9. If any of the exceptions to
immunity apply, thereby exposing the political subdivision to liability, the third tier of the
analysis assesses whether any of the defenses to liability in R.C. 2744.03 apply to
reinstate immunity. Id.{¶12} Bender does not dispute the City’s contention that it qualifies for R.C.
2744.02(A)(1)’s general grant of immunity in this case. Therefore, the burden shifts to
him to demonstrate the existence of one of the exceptions in R.C. 2744.02(B). See
Summerville v. City of Columbus, 10th Dist. No. 04AP-1288, 2005-Ohio-5158, ¶ 17. In
his appellate brief, Bender relies upon R.C. 2744.02(B)(4), which provides:
(B) Subject to sections 2744.03 and 2744.05 of the Revised Code, a
political subdivision is liable in damages in a civil action for injury, death,
or loss to person or property allegedly caused by an act or omission of the
political subdivision or of any of its employees in connection with a
Scioto App. No. 12CA3491 6
governmental or proprietary function, as follows:
***
(4) Except as otherwise provided in section 3746.24 of the Revised Code,
political subdivisions are liable for injury, death, or loss to person or
property that is caused by the negligence of their employees and that
occurs within or on the grounds of, and is due to physical defects within or
on the grounds of, buildings that are used in connection with the
performance of a governmental function, including, but not limited to,
office buildings and courthouses, but not including jails, places of juvenile
detention, workhouses, or any other detention facility, as defined in
section 2921.01 of the Revised Code.
{¶13} The City argues that Bender submitted no summary judgment evidence to
show that his injury occurred within or on the grounds of, and was due to a physical
defect within or on the grounds of, a building used in connection with the performance of
a governmental function. We agree. In his appellate brief, Bender actually makes no
argument about this issue and instead focuses on whether maintenance of a water
meter pit and alley constitute a proprietary function. Moreover, at his deposition,
Bender testified the injury happened in an alley between a barber shop/parking lot and
the former location of a house demolished by the City. He never claimed or produced
any evidence that this area constituted the grounds of a building used in connection with
the performance of a governmental function. Therefore, the court correctly rejected his
contention that R.C. 2744.02(B)(4) applies.
{¶14} In his reply brief, Bender argues for the first time that the exception in R.C.
2744.02(B)(3) applies in this case. However, we will not address an argument made for
the first time on appeal in a reply brief, particularly when the City specifically argued in
its motion for summary judgment that R.C. 2744.02(B)(3) did not apply and Bender
ignored that argument in his memorandum contra. See Sickles, 196 Ohio App.3d 703,
2011-Ohio-6102, 965 N.E.2d 330, at ¶ 33 (refusing to consider an immunity argument
Scioto App. No. 12CA3491 7
raised for the first time on appeal); State ex rel. Dewine v. Ashworth, 4th Dist. No.
11CA16, 2012-Ohio-5632, ¶ 19, fn. 2 (explaining that an appellant cannot raise a new
argument in a reply brief).
{¶15} Accordingly, we conclude the City was entitled to judgment as a matter of
law on the basis of political subdivision immunity, and we overrule the second
assignment of error.
{¶16} Because the court could properly dismiss Bender’s claim against the City
based on the immunity finding alone, our decision renders Bender’s first assignment of
error moot and we need not address it. See App.R. 12(A)(1)(c).
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
Scioto App. No. 12CA3491 8
JUDGMENT ENTRY
It is ordered that the JUDGMENT IS AFFIRMED and that Appellant shall pay the
costs.
The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the Scioto
County Court of Common Pleas to carry this judgment into execution.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of
the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
Abele, J. & *Tyack, J.: Concur in Judgment and Opinion.
For the Court
BY: ____________________________
William H. Harsha, Judge
NOTICE TO COUNSEL
Pursuant to Local Rule No. 14, this document constitutes a final judgment
entry and the time period for further appeal commences from the date of filing
with the clerk.
*G. Gary Tyack from the Tenth Appellate District, sitting by assignment of the Supreme
Court of Ohio in the Fourth Appellate District.