B&J Resources, L.L.C. v. 28925 Lorain Inc.

[Cite as B&J Resources, L.L.C. v. 28925 Lorain Inc., 2017-Ohio-7248.]
Court of Appeals of Ohio
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
No. 105323
B&H RESOURCES, L.L.C.
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE/
CROSS-APPELLANT
vs.
28925 LORAIN INC., ET AL.
DEFENDANTS
[Appeal By Resource Title National Agency, Inc.
Defendant-Appellant/Cross-Appellee]
JUDGMENT:
AFFIRMED
Civil Appeal from the
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Case No. CV-13-819069
BEFORE: Stewart, J., Kilbane, P.J., and Celebrezze, J.
RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: August 17, 2017
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT/CROSS-APPELLEE
David M. Cuppage
Climaco, Wilcox, Peca & Garofoli Co., L.P.A.
55 Public Square, Suite 1950
Cleveland, OH 44113
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE/CROSS-APPELLANT
Christopher A. Murray
9715 Lake Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44102
For 28925 Lorain Inc., et al.
John Chirayil
Statutory Agent
3110 Springdale Avenue
Glenview, IL 60025
MELODY J. STEWART, J.:
{¶1} While conducting due diligence for the purchase of real property,
plaintiff-appellee/cross-appellant B&H Resources, L.L.C. (through its sole shareholder,
Tanios Bougebrayel), learned that there were delinquent taxes resulting from the seller’s
ongoing dispute with the board of revision’s decision to assign the property a higher
valuation than what the seller believed should be assigned. Believing that the tax issues
had been resolved, Bougebrayel signed a purchase agreement that prorated taxes and
assessments based on the last available tax duplicate. Unknown to Bougebrayel was that
the ongoing tax appeals meant that the board of revision’s higher valuation of the
property had yet to be reflected on the tax duplicate existing at the time of closing and
used by defendant-appellant/cross-appellee Resource Title National Agency (“Resource
National”), the escrow agent. When the tax appeals were finally resolved, B&H received
a sizable tax bill.
{¶2} B&H brought this action against Resource National, 1 alleging that it
breached its contractual and fiduciary duties, and that it negligently performed the title
exam by failing to provide information relating to potential title issues and property tax
liens. Resource National counterclaimed, alleging that B&H and the seller agreed to
B&H also named as defendants the seller, 28925 Lorain Inc. and its principal, John Chirayil;
1
First American Title Insurance Company, the title insurer; Mark A. Parks, the Cuyahoga County
Fiscal Officer; Jeannet Wright, the Cuyahoga County Treasurer; and the North Olmsted Board of
Education. These defendants were all dismissed.
hold Resource National harmless for any loss or damage resulting from the exercise of its
services and that B&H should compensate it for its costs of litigation. Ruling without
opinion on cross-motions for summary judgment, the court found in favor of Resource
National on B&H’s complaint and in favor of B&H on Resource National’s counterclaim.
Both parties appeal.
{¶3} The underlying facts are largely undisputed. The subject property is used as
a gas station. The seller purchased the property in 2007 for $1.1 million, but claimed
that only $600,000 of that price went to the property itself — the remaining $500,000
covered inventory, costs associated with the gas station, and the purchase of a gas station
in Illinois.
{¶4} When Cuyahoga County valued the property for tax purposes at the $1.1
million price payed by the seller in 2007, the seller objected on grounds that $1.1 million
purchase price had been artificially inflated. He contested the valuation to the board of
revision in two separate tax appeals: one appeal covered tax years 2007 and 2008; the
other appeal covered tax years 2009-2011.
{¶5} As these tax appeals were progressing, Bougebrayel and the seller began
negotiations for the sale of the gas station. Bougebrayel learned that there were
delinquent taxes owed on the property. He was referred to the seller’s attorney who told
him that the matter had been “taken care of” and Bougebrayel only had to worry about
future taxes because “back taxes will be on [the seller]” and come out of the seller’s
proceeds. Bougebrayel said that the seller’s attorney did not give him any “detail” about
the tax issue, and he conceded that he did not request any documentation, nor did he make
further inquiry into the tax matter.
{¶6} In fact, the tax appeals had been resolved adversely to the seller prior to
closing on the sale, with the board of revision valuing the property at $1.1 million for all
relevant tax years. This valuation was not, however, completely reflected in the tax
duplicate available at the time of closing: the tax duplicate showed only that the property
had been valued at $1.1 million for tax year 2011. Consistent with the parties’
agreement to adjust outside of escrow any change in taxes resulting from a change in
property valuation as reflected on the last available tax duplicate, the seller assumed the
additional tax debt for tax year 2011. After closing, the new valuation caused B&H to
incur tax liabilities of $53,308.12 for tax years 2007 and 2008, and $55,592.94 for tax
years 2009 and 2010.
I. The Cross-Appeal
{¶7} We first address the cross-appeal filed by B&H because its resolution could
potentially render Resource National’s appeal moot. Two issues are presented: (1) that
the court erred by finding that Resource National did not breach its contract and (2)
notwithstanding any alleged breach of contract, B&H had a viable negligence claim
against Resource National for its failure to discover the outstanding tax issues and make
those issues known to B&H.
A. Breach of Contract
{¶8} B&H chose Resource National to provide title exams, settlement, and closing
services. The “standard conditions of appointment of settlement agent and acceptance of
escrow” stated that “[p]rorations of taxes or assessments shall be on the basis of the
amount shown on the last available Tax Duplicate/Municipal Tax Invoice when required
by the instructions [for escrow].” These terms were consistent with terms stated in the
purchase agreement:
PRORATIONS: Taxes and assessments, based on the last available tax
duplicate, shall be prorated by the Escrow Agent as of the date of recording
of the deed. The parties hereto agree to adjust directly outside escrow any
change in taxes or assessments resulting from a change in property
valuations, tax rate and/or the construction of improvements occurring
before recording of the deed, but not reflected on the last available tax
duplicate.
{¶9} In addition, B&H signed a property tax disclaimer acknowledging that
Resource National “based tax prorations on the most recent data available from the
county treasurer” and that Resource National “cannot be held responsible for adjustments
and/or increases in property tax bills after closing. We must use information provided by
the county.”
{¶10} There is no question that Resource National used the “last available tax
duplicate” at closing. That tax duplicate showed a total of $64,520.60 payable. That
amount was withheld from the seller’s proceeds and paid as real estate taxes at the time
the deed was recorded. There is also no question of fact that the taxes that are the
subject of this appeal were assessed post-closing. As required by the terms of the
standard conditions of escrow, Resource National fully complied with its obligations by
using the last available tax duplicate as a basis for prorating taxes. As a matter of law, it
did not breach its contract with B&H. Gattozzi v. Midland First Am. Natl. Title, 8th Dist.
Cuyahoga No. 77148, 2000 Ohio App. LEXIS 4292, 8 (Sept. 21, 2000).
{¶11} B&H does not dispute that Resource National prorated taxes based on the
last available tax duplicate. It maintains, however, that the proration language was only
meant to apply to the current year’s taxes being prorated as of the closing date and
credited against the purchase price. It insists that by failing to inform it of the pending
tax appeals, Resource National did not fulfill its contractual duties with care, skill, and
faithfulness.
{¶12} “[T]here is an implied duty of good faith and fair dealing in every
contract.” Am. Contr.’s Indemn. Co. v. Nicole Gas Prod., Ltd., 10th Dist. Franklin No.
07AP-1039, 2008-Ohio-5056, ¶ 13. In this context, the implied duty of good faith and
fair dealing does not mean that parties are forbidden from exercising the rights and duties
defined in a contract — it means that parties should not take “opportunistic advantage” of
contractual terms in a way that was not contemplated at the time of drafting. Ed Schory
& Sons v. Francis, 75 Ohio St. 3d 433, 443, 662 N.E.2d 1074 (1996), citing Kham &
Nate’s Shoes No. 2, Inc. v. First Bank of Whiting, 908 F.2d 1351, 1357-1358 (7th
Cir.1990).
{¶13} The implied duty to not take opportunistic advantage of contractual terms
does not mean that parties to negotiated contracts cannot enforce those terms “to the
letter,” even “to the great discomfort of their trading partners.” Kham & Nate’s Shoes,
supra. “Courts presume that a contract’s intent resides in the language the parties chose
to use in the agreement.” Huff v. FirstEnergy Corp., 130 Ohio St. 3d 196,
2011-Ohio-5083, 957 N.E.2d 3, ¶ 12, citing Shifrin v. Forest City Ents., Inc., 64 Ohio
St.3d 635, 638, 597 N.E.2d 499 (1992). That language controls the relationship to the
point where no implied covenants can arise in a contract when the matter to be implied is
covered by the written terms of the agreement. Hamilton Ins. Servs. v. Nationwide Ins.
Cos., 86 Ohio St. 3d 270, 274, 714 N.E.2d 898 (1999).
{¶14} The contract plainly required Resource National to use the last available tax
duplicate to prorate taxes and assessments without reference to any other requirements in
this regard. Stated differently, nothing in the contract required Resource National to do
more than use the last available tax duplicate to determine the amount to be withheld from
the seller at closing. And to further solidify the point, Section 10(g) of the conditions of
escrow expressly states that Resource National would not be responsible for “anything
not specifically assumed or agreed to” in the standard conditions of escrow. As a matter
of law, the terms and conditions of escrow, coupled with the purchase agreement itself,
required Resource National to use the last available tax duplicate to apprise B&H of its
tax liability or credits. This it did, so as a matter of law B&H did not breach the contract.
B. Negligence
{¶15} B&H’s negligence argument is not fundamentally different from its breach
of implied contract argument: it maintains that Resource National failed to fully
investigate the property and failed to provide B&H with information relating to adverse
board of revision decisions.
{¶16} The doctrine of “economic loss” states that a party cannot recover purely
economic damages in a tort action against another party based upon the breach of
contractually created duties. Corporex Dev. & Constr. Mgt., Inc. v. Shook, Inc., 106
Ohio St. 3d 412, 2005-Ohio-5409, 835 N.E.2d 701, syllabus. Tort law “is not intended to
compensate parties for monetary losses suffered as a result of duties that are owed to
them simply as a result of the contract.” Digiknow, Inc. v. PKXL Cards, Inc., 8th Dist.
Cuyahoga No. 96034, 2011-Ohio-3592, ¶ 2, citing Floor Craft Floor Covering, Inc. v.
Parma Community Gen. Hosp. Assn., 54 Ohio St. 3d 1, 7, 560 N.E.2d 206 (1990).
{¶17} The damages that B&H seeks in its negligence claims are based on
Resource National’s alleged violation of a contract. The relationship between the parties
was defined solely by contract, and to the extent that Resource National allegedly
breached the contract, the breach of contract cause of action would be the sole avenue of
recovery for B&H. On this basis we find as a matter of law that the court did not err by
granting summary judgment on the causes of action that sounded in negligence.
{¶18} Apart from being barred by the doctrine of economic loss, the claims
sounding in negligence failed to establish that Resource National breached any duty of
care. Bougebrayel insisted that it was his understanding that it was the title agency’s job
to “dig up these things and bring it to my attention.” Yet B&H has not cited any
authority for the proposition that a title agency has a duty to go beyond what is
specifically agreed to in the written documentation. In fact, current standards established
by the Ohio State Bar Association “except special taxes and assessments not shown on
the county treasurer’s public access records” from those things that title examiners have
a duty to report. Lone Star Equities, Inc. v. Dimitrouleas, 2015-Ohio-2294, 34 N.E.3d
936, ¶ 83 (2d Dist.). Again, there is no question of fact that Resource National used the
latest tax duplicate consistent not only with its contractual obligations, but in keeping
with industry standards.
{¶19} A breach of the duty of care is an essential element of a negligence claim.
Safeco Ins. Co. of Am. v. White, 122 Ohio St. 3d 562, 2009-Ohio-3718, 913 N.E.2d 426, ¶
36. B&H failed to show that Resource National breached the applicable standard of
care. The court did not err by granting summary judgment on the negligence counts.2
{¶20} B&H also pleaded a claim for negligent misrepresentation, alleging that
Resource National provided “false, incomplete, and/or misleading information” to B&H
regarding adverse board of revision decisions.
The elements of a claim of negligent misrepresentation are: (1) one who, in
the course of his or her business, profession, or employment, or in any other
transaction in which he or she has a pecuniary interest; (2) supplies false
information for the guidance of others in their business transactions; (3) is
subject to liability for pecuniary loss caused to them by their justifiable
reliance upon the information; and (4) if he or she fails to exercise
reasonable care or competence in obtaining or communicating the
information.
Bougebrayel said that the seller’s attorney told him “that any past taxes due would come out
2
of the purchase price, and that I only had to worry about taxes going forward.” This statement does
not support a negligence claim against Resource National.
Delman v. Cleveland Hts., 41 Ohio St. 3d 1, 4, 534 N.E.2d 835 (1989).
{¶21} Fatal to B&H’s claim is that Resource National did not supply “false”
information regarding the pending tax proceedings. A claim of negligent
misrepresentation requires an affirmatively false statement, not merely an omission.
Zuber v. Ohio Dept. of Ins., 34 Ohio App. 3d 42, 45-46, 516 N.E.2d 244 (10th Dist.1986);
Leal v. Holtvogt, 123 Ohio App. 3d 51, 62, 702 N.E.2d 1246 (2d Dist.1998). B&H
alleged only that Resource National omitted any mention of pending tax proceedings
affecting the property. It presented no evidence to show that Resource National made
any affirmative claims not based on the last available tax duplicate.
{¶22} Civ.R. 56(C) permits the trial court to enter summary judgment if, after
construing the evidence most strongly in favor of the nonmoving party, “reasonable
minds can come to but one conclusion and that conclusion is adverse to the party against
whom the motion for summary judgment is made[.]” B&H has offered no evidence to
create any genuine issue of material fact sufficient to forestall summary judgment.
II. The Appeal
{¶23} The basis for Resource National’s appeal is that the court erred by refusing
to find that the indemnification clauses contained in the conditions of escrow required
that Resource National be reimbursed for all of its costs and expenses, including
reasonable attorney fees, because it was required to respond to this action despite it
bearing no fault.
{¶24} The conditions of escrow contains two clauses that indemnified Resource
National. Section 1 of the conditions of escrow states:
The parties hereby agree to save Agent harmless from any loss or damage
resulting from such termination or declination and hereby indemnify Agent
for any loss, cost or damage including, without limitation, attorney fees and
costs of litigation which Agent may incur.
Section 3 of the conditions of escrow states: “if the escrow agent is required to respond
to any court action without fault of the escrow agent, that the escrow agent shall be
reimbursed for all his costs and expenses including reasonable attorney fees, all of which
shall be charged to the appropriate party.” B&H argued below that these provision of the
terms and conditions of escrow were meant to apply to the appointment of a settlement
agent, but that its claims were based on Resource National’s acting as title agent, not a
settlement agent.
{¶25} We agree with B&H that Section 1 of the conditions of escrow does not
provide indemnity for claims relating to title. That section is titled “Escrow Deposits.” It
broadly addresses the termination of escrow and grants Resource National the right, upon
termination of escrow, to retain sufficient funds until its “fees and costs are paid or
secured to its satisfaction or, at its option, deduct such fees and costs from any such funds
deposited in escrow.”
{¶26} “In interpreting a provision in a written contract, the words used should be
read in context and given their usual and ordinary meaning.” Carroll Weir Funeral
Home v. Miller, 2 Ohio St. 2d 189, 192, 207 N.E.2d 747 (1965). Read in context, the
indemnity provision applies only to Resource National’s conduct in terminating or
declining escrow based on nonpayment of its fees and costs. B&H’s complaint does not
allege that Resource National improperly terminated or declined escrow, nor does
Resource National make that allegation in its counterclaim.
{¶27} We reach a similar conclusion with respect to the indemnification clause
contained in Section 3 of the terms and conditions of escrow. That section is titled
“Settlement Charges” and refers to escrow, settlement, title transfer, and recording of
costs and sets forth the manner in which the seller and buyer will be charged. As with
Section 1, Section 3 states that “Agent shall be paid in full at the settlement for all title,
escrow and settlement fees and costs and may withhold settlement and retain all funds
and documents held as escrow or settlement agent until such fees and costs are paid or
secured to Agent’s satisfaction.” Read in context, the indemnity portion of Section 3 —
that
if the escrow agent is required to respond to any court action without fault
of the escrow agent, that the escrow agent shall be reimbursed for all his
costs and expenses including reasonable attorney fees, all of which shall be
charged to the appropriate party
— applies only to Resource National’s liability for withholding settlement and retaining
all funds and documents held as escrow until it is paid. Resource National does not
argue that its right to indemnity in this case exists because it withheld settlement pending
payment of its fee.
{¶28} The specificity of the two indemnification clauses in the terms and
conditions of escrow is important. Not only do they state different circumstances in
which indemnity will apply, there is no overlap between them. In other words, they do
not provide wholesale indemnity protection for Resource National. If Resource National
intended that B&H indemnify it for any and all acts without reference to specific
circumstances, it could easily have done so without regard to specific sections in the
terms and conditions of escrow.
{¶29} Resource National cites Solomon v. Harwood, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.
96256, 2011-Ohio-5268, a case where it acted as escrow agent, for the proposition that
this court previously upheld a summary judgment to it for attorney fees and litigation
costs under the same indemnity clause. The facts in Solomon are distinguishable:
Resource National opened escrow for the pending sale of a property, but the sale fell
through and it refunded a deposit made by the buyer. The seller brought suit against
Resource National for breach of contract and Resource National counterclaimed for its
costs of litigation pursuant to an indemnification clause in the standard conditions of
settlement agent and acceptance of escrow relating to “termination or declinations.” The
court granted summary judgment to Resource National and we affirmed, noting that
“[w]hen it became known to the title company that the purchase was not going to go
through, the company refunded Solomon’s $200,000 deposit.” Id. at ¶ 33. Unlike the
present case in which Resource National was not alleged to have acted improperly in
terminating or declining escrow, the Solomon refund of funds held in escrow plainly
involved a termination of escrow sufficient to invoke coverage under the indemnification
provision. The assignment of error is overruled.
{¶30} Judgment affirmed.
It is ordered that the parties share the costs herein taxed.
The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the common
pleas court 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.
______________________________________________
MELODY J. STEWART, JUDGE
MARY EILEEN KILBANE, P.J., and
FRANK D. CELEBREZZE, JR., J., CONCUR