Kreiser v. Hamrick

[Cite as Kreiser v. Hamrick, 2016-Ohio-7922.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
ELEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
PORTAGE COUNTY, OHIO
JO ANNE R. KREISER, : MEMORANDUM OPINION
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
CASE NO. 2016-P-0044
- vs - :
MARTHA HAMRICK, et al., :
Defendants-Appellants. :
Civil Appeal from the Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 2016 CV 00134.
Judgment: Appeal dismissed.
Michael J. Elliott, Scanlon & Elliott, 159 South Main Street, Suite 400, Akron, OH 44308 (For
Plaintiff-Appellee).
Ronald K. Starkey and Adam M. Runkle, Starkey Law Firm, LLC, 638 West Maple Street,
Hartville, OH 44632 (For Defendants-Appellants).
DIANE V. GRENDELL, J.
{¶1} On August 9, 2016, appellants, Martha Hamrick and Amelia Breckenridge, by
and through counsel of record, filed a notice of appeal with this court from a judgment entry of
the Portage County Court of Common Pleas.
{¶2} The docket reveals that Jo Anne R. Kreiser, appellee, filed a complaint and
petition for discovery under Civ.R. 34(D) and R.C. 2317.48. Appellants motioned the trial court
to dismiss the action against them pursuant to Civ.R. 12(B)(6). Appellee filed a motion to
compel the information in her complaint. In a July 29, 2016 entry, the trial court overruled
appellants’ motion to dismiss and also overruled appellee’s motion to compel as it was not ripe.
The judgment did not include Civ.R. 54(B) language, directing that “there is no just cause for
delay.” The instant appeal ensued.
{¶3} On August 16, 2016, appellee moved this court to dismiss the underlying appeal
for want of a final appealable order pursuant to R.C. 2505.02 and Civ.R. 54(B), and also
requested that she be granted an award of attorney fees, costs, and expenses. On August 22,
2016, appellants responded to the motion alleging that the appealed entry is a final appealable
order pursuant to R.C. 2505.02(B)(1), and they also requested an award of fees, costs, and
expenses.
{¶4} Initially, we must determine whether there is a final appealable order since this
court may entertain only those appeals from final judgments or orders. Noble v. Colwell, 44
Ohio St. 3d 92, 96, 540 N.E.2d 1381 (1989). According to Section 3(B)(2), Article IV of the
Ohio Constitution, a judgment of a trial court can only be immediately reviewed by an appellate
court if it constitutes a “final order” in the action. Estate of Biddlestone, 11th Dist. Trumbull No.
2010-T-0131, 2011-Ohio-1299, ¶ 3. If a trial court’s order is not final, then an appellate court
has no jurisdiction to review the matter, and the matter must be dismissed. Gen. Acc. Ins. Co. v.
Ins. Co. of N. Am., 44 Ohio St. 3d 17, 20, 540 N.E.2d 266 (1989). For a judgment to be final and
appealable, it must satisfy the requirements of R.C. 2505.02 and, if applicable, Civ.R. 54(B). See
Children’s Hosp. Med. Ctr. v. Tomaiko, 11th Dist. Portage No. 2011-P-0103, 2011-Ohio-6838, ¶
3.
{¶5} The notion of a “final order” is premised upon the rationale that the court entering
an order which is not final retains jurisdiction to proceed further in a case. Noble, supra, at 94.
“‘A judgment that leaves issues unresolved and contemplates that further action must be taken is
not a final appealable order.’” State ex rel. Keith v. McMonagle, 103 Ohio St. 3d 430, 2004-Ohio-
5580, ¶ 4, quoting Bell v. Horton, 142 Ohio App. 3d 694, 696 (4th Dist.2001).
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{¶6} The denial of a motion to dismiss is ordinarily not a final appealable order. Dave
v. Dave, 11th Dist. Portage No. 2016-P-0020, 2016-Ohio-5185, at ¶ 12. However, pursuant to
R.C. 2505.02(B), there are seven categories of a “final order,” and if the judgment of the trial
court satisfies any of them, it will be deemed a “final order” and can be immediately appealed
and reviewed by a court of appeals.
{¶7} R.C. 2505.02(B)(1) and (2) require the order to affect a “substantial right.” An
order affects a substantial right only if “an immediate appeal is necessary to protect the right
effectively.” Wilhelm-Kissinger v. Kissinger, 129 Ohio St. 3d 90, 2011-Ohio-2317, ¶ 7. Here,
we fail to see how an immediate review of the underlying judgment overruling appellants’
motion to dismiss is necessary to protect their rights. In fact, the trial court’s order does not fit
within any of the categories of R.C. 2505.02(B). The only ruling that has been made so far is the
trial court’s denial of appellants’ motion to dismiss, which did not resolve the issues between the
parties. At this point, the order appellants appealed from is simply interlocutory. Appellants will
have an opportunity to advance their arguments by way of a direct appeal or cross-appeal upon
resolution of all claims in the underlying case. We therefore discern no need for immediate
review.
{¶8} Further, even if the order met the elements of R.C. 2505.02(B), it would still,
under these circumstances, remain interlocutory. An appellate court may not review an order
disposing of fewer than all claims when Civ.R. 54(B) language is necessary. Kopp v. Associated
Estates Realty Corp., 10th Dist. Franklin No. 08AP-819, 2009-Ohio-2595, ¶ 10.
{¶9} Civ.R. 54(B) provides the following:
When more than one claim for relief is presented in an action whether as a
claim, counterclaim, cross-claim, or third-party claim, and whether arising
out of the same or separate transactions, or when multiple parties are
involved, the court may enter final judgment as to one or more but fewer
than all of the claims or parties only upon an express determination that
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there is no just reason for delay. In the absence of a determination that
there is no just reason for delay, any order or other form of decision,
however designated, which adjudicates fewer than all the claims or the
rights and liabilities of fewer than all the parties, shall not terminate the
action as to any of the claims or parties, and the order or other form of
decision is subject to revision at any time before the entry of judgment
adjudicating all the claims and the rights and liabilities of all the parties.
{¶10} “Rule 54(B)’s general purpose is to accommodate the strong policy against
piecemeal litigation with the possible injustice of delayed appeals in special situations.” Noble,
supra, at 96, citing Alexander v. Buckeye Pipe Line Co., 49 Ohio St. 2d 158, 160 (1977).
{¶11} This court has repeatedly held that, where there are multiple claims and/or parties
involved, an entry entering final judgment as to one or more but fewer than all of the claims or
parties is not a final, appealable order in the absence of Civ.R. 54(B) language stating that “there
is no just reason for delay[.]” Elia v. Fisherman’s Cove, 11th Dist. Trumbull No. 2010-T-0036,
2010-Ohio-2522, ¶ 6.
{¶12} In the instant case, appellants’ contention is that the entry is final as to them.
However, the appealed judgment ruled on appellants’ motion to dismiss, but adjudicated fewer
than all the claims, and thus, under Civ.R. 54(B), if claims or parties remain, the order “shall not
terminate the action as to any of the claims or parties.” Therefore, in the absence of the
stipulation that there is no just cause for delay, the order appealed from “is subject to revision” or
reconsideration by the trial court.
{¶13} Appellee cites to our holding in Rood v. FRJ, Ltd., 11th Dist. Lake No. 2010-L-
077, 2011-Ohio-2712, as authority for the proposition that the denial of a motion to dismiss falls
under R.C. 2505.02(B)(1) and is a final appealable order. That case is clearly distinguishable
from this matter.
{¶14} In Rood, this court was faced with the trial court’s partial denial and partial
granting of a motion to dismiss appellant’s complaint and petition for discovery. In that case, we
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held that an order granting prelitigation discovery under Civ.R. 34(D) and R.C. 2317.48 is a final
appealable order. Rood does not stand for the proposition that overruling a motion to dismiss is a
final appealable order. To the contrary, the procedural posture of that case reveals the trial
court’s judgment partially denying the motion to dismiss was final because in its entry, the trial
court also compelled discovery.
{¶15} In this case, the trial court has not issued any order compelling discovery. It only
denied appellants’ motion to dismiss. Therefore, the subject judgment fails to meet the
requirements of R.C. 2505.02(B); and, even if it did, there are claims still pending that would
necessitate Civ.R. 54(B) language, that there is not just reason for delay. Thus, no final
appealable order exists at this time.
{¶16} Accordingly, appellee’s motion to dismiss is granted, and this appeal is hereby
dismissed for lack of a final appealable order.
{¶17} Appeal dismissed.
TIMOTHY P. CANNON, J.,
THOMAS R. WRIGHT, J.,
concur.
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