Clifton v. Johnson

[Cite as Clifton v. Johnson, 2016-Ohio-8120.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
PICKAWAY COUNTY
RONALD L. CLIFTON, et al., :
: Case No. 15CA30
Plaintiffs-Appellees, :
:
vs. : DECISION AND JUDGMENT
: ENTRY
PEARL K. JOHNSON, et al., :
:
Defendants-Appellants. : Released: 12/06/16
_____________________________________________________________
APPEARANCES:
James R. Kingsley, Kingsley Law Office, Circleville, Ohio, for Appellants.
Michael N. Beekhuizen, Carpenter Lipps & Leland LLP, Columbus, Ohio,
for Appellees.
_____________________________________________________________
McFarland, J.
{¶1} This is an appeal from a Pickaway County Common Pleas Court
grant of summary judgment in favor of Appellees, Ronald L. Clifton and
Robert W. Hamman, and against Appellants, Pearl K. Johnson, as well as
Johnson's corporation, American Eagle Air, Inc. This case is before this
Court for a second time, following our dismissal of Appellants' first direct
appeal for lack of a final appealable order. Ronald L. Clifton, et al. v. Pearl
K. Johnson, et al., 4th Dist. Pickaway No. 14CA22, 2015-Ohio-4246.
Presently on appeal, Appellants contend that 1) the trial court committed
Pickaway App. No. 15CA30 2
prejudicial error when it granted Appellees summary judgment upon unjust
enrichment; 2) the trial court committed prejudicial error in awarding
damages; and 3) the trial court committed prejudicial error when it did not
dismiss the case with prejudice. Because we conclude that genuine issues of
material fact exist which preclude summary judgment, we further conclude
the trial court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of Appellees.
Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is reversed and this matter is
remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
FACTS
{¶2} Here, Appellees, Ronald F. Clifton and Robert W. Hamman,
filed a complaint against Appellants, Pearl K. Johnson and Johnson's
corporation, American Eagle Air, Inc., alleging the formation of a
partnership and that a joint venture was agreed upon whereby Clifton,
Hamman and Johnson, using Clifton's plane, Hamman's camera equipment
and Johnson's piloting skills, would jointly provide aerial imaging services
for portions of the ATEX pipeline that was being routed through Ohio.
Appellees' complaint contained claims for breach of contract and,
alternatively, unjust enrichment, alleging that Johnson and American Eagle
Air, Inc. collected more than $200,000 for work that was jointly performed
by Appellees and Appellant Johnson, and that Appellants failed to pay
Pickaway App. No. 15CA30 3
Appellees for work the parties mutually performed. Specifically, Appellees
alleged that they had each only been paid $5,000.00 and that Appellants kept
the rest of the money.
{¶3} Appellees subsequently moved the court for summary judgment
on the unjust enrichment claim alone, reserving the right to proceed on the
breach of contract claim and alternatively the unjust enrichment claim at
trial, in the event the motion for summary judgment was denied. Appellants
opposed the motion, arguing, among other things, that the court could not
grant summary judgment on the equitable remedy of unjust enrichment
when a breach of contract claim covering the same subject matter had been
pled and was still pending. Appellants also argued that the work performed
by the parties jointly was rejected by ATEX and that the “prototype” that
was eventually accepted by ATEX was created using a camera, aircraft and
personnel from MANN Mapping, a corporation completely unrelated to
Appellees.
{¶4} Over the objection of Appellants, however, the trial court
granted summary judgment in favor of Appellees on their unjust enrichment
claim, and awarded them a joint share of the profits, in the amount of
$68,282.00 each, for a total judgment of $136,564.00. Appellants filed a
direct appeal from the trial court's decision; however, we dismissed the
Pickaway App. No. 15CA30 4
appeal for lack of a final appealable order, based upon the fact that the
breach of contract claim remained pending, and thus all of the claims had
not been resolved.
{¶5} Appellants filed a motion for reconsideration asking this Court
to reconsider our decision that the trial court's order was not final and
appealable, which this Court ultimately denied. Meanwhile, Appellees filed
a motion for voluntary dismissal of their breach of contract claim and
motion for entry of final judgment in the trial court. The trial court issued a
decision and entry on October 29, 2015 dismissing Appellees' breach of
contract claim with prejudice. On November, 12, 2015, the trial court went
on to issue a final judgment entry entering final judgment in favor of
Appellees on their unjust enrichment claim, determining damages in the
same amount as before, and finding no just reason for delay. It is from these
orders that Appellants now bring their timely appeal, setting forth three
assignments of error for our review.
ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
“I. THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED PREJUDICIAL ERROR
WHEN IT GRANTED THE PLAINTIFF'S [SIC] SUMMARY
JUDGMENT FOR UNJUST ENRICHMENT.
II. THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED PREJUDICIAL ERROR IN
ITS AWARD OF DAMAGES.
Pickaway App. No. 15CA30 5
III. THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED PREJUDICIAL ERROR
WHEN IT DID NOT DISMISS THE CASE WITH PREJUDICE.”
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR I
{¶6} In their first assignment of error, Appellants contend that the
trial court committed prejudicial error when it granted Appellees summary
judgment based upon unjust enrichment. Appellants primarily argue that it
was error to grant summary judgment based upon a claim of unjust
enrichment when a claim for breach of contract had been previously pled,
even though the breach of contract claim was subsequently dismissed with
prejudice. Appellants further contend that even if summary judgment was
not barred procedurally, it should not have been granted, as genuine issues
of material fact exist which should have precluded summary judgment.
{¶7} Initially we note that, contrary to Appellants' argument, because
the claim for breach of contract was dismissed with prejudice below, post-
appeal, and because unjust enrichment is an alternative claim to breach of
contract, we find no error in the trial court considering and ruling on
Appellee's motion for summary judgment based upon unjust enrichment.
As set forth in our decision issued in connection with Appellants' first direct
appeal of this matter, a review of the record indicates that Appellees filed a
complaint alleging the formation of a joint venture that contained claims
based upon breach of contract and alternatively, unjust enrichment. Rather
Pickaway App. No. 15CA30 6
than seeking a judgment based upon their primary claim, breach of contract,
Appellees filed a motion for summary judgment on their alternative claim
only, unjust enrichment. In moving the trial court for summary judgment
based upon unjust enrichment only, Appellees made an express reservation
in their motion as follows:
"Breach of contract and unjust enrichment are alternative
remedies. In the event this Court denies this motion, Plaintiffs
reserve the right to present both their breach of contract and
unjust enrichment claims, in the alternative, at the trial of this
matter."
{¶8} Thus, Appellees did not dismiss their breach of contract claim
when they moved for summary judgment on unjust enrichment, nor had the
trial court ruled on the pending claim. Instead, the legal claim for breach of
contract had not been resolved when the trial court considered the equitable
remedy of unjust enrichment. In our previous consideration of this matter,
we stated that we agreed "with Appellants' argument that the trial court erred
in granting summary judgment based upon unjust enrichment while a claim
for breach of contract, covering the same subject matter, was still pending
and unresolved," however, we dismissed the appeal for lack of a final
Pickaway App. No. 15CA30 7
appealable order because the breach of contract claim remained unresolved
and pending.1
{¶9} After our decision was issued in Appellant's first direct appeal,
Appellees moved the trial court to dismiss their breach of contract claim. At
the same time, Appellants filed a motion for reconsideration in this Court
claiming that our determination that a final appealable order did not exist
was in error. They also claimed that the legal effect of this Court's decision
was that the trial court must proceed to jury trial on the breach of contract
claim, arguing that the law does not permit double recovery on the same
facts just because different causes of action have been stated. However, we
rejected Appellants' argument, reasoning that "the dismissal of the pending
breach of contract claim by either the trial court, or by Appellees, would
resolve the claim and result in a final appealable order." Subsequently, the
trial court granted Appellees' post-appeal motion to dismiss their breach of
contract claim with prejudice. As a result, we conclude that the defect
preventing a final appealable order has now been resolved and this Court can
consider the arguments raised by Appellants on the merits.
1
In making this statement, we noted that a party generally cannot seek dual relief under contract and
quasicontract theories. HAD Enterprises v. Galloway, et al., 192 Ohio App.3d 133, 2011-Ohio-57, 948
N.E.2d 473, ¶ 10; Ryan v. Rival Mfg. Co., 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C–810032, 1981 WL 10160 (Dec. 16,
1981) ("It is clearly the law in Ohio that an equitable action in quasi-contract for unjust enrichment will not
lie when the subject matter of that claim is covered by an express contract or a contract implied in fact.
The mere fact that issues exist as to the creation of the contract or the construction of its terms does not
alter this rule."
Pickaway App. No. 15CA30 8
{¶10} As set forth above, Appellants contend that even if summary
judgment was not barred procedurally, it should not have been granted, as
genuine issues of material fact exist which should have precluded summary
judgment. Appellants contend that the work performed by the parties jointly
was rejected by ATEX and that the “prototype” that was eventually accepted
by ATEX was created using a camera, aircraft and personnel from MANN
Mapping, a corporation completely unrelated to Appellees. Based upon the
following, we agree with this portion of Appellant's argument that this
allegation creates a genuine issue of material fact which should have
precluded summary judgment in favor of Appellees on their unjust
enrichment claim.
{¶11} Appellate review of summary judgment decisions is de novo,
governed by the standards of Civ.R. 56. Vacha v. N. Ridgeville, 136 Ohio
St.3d 199, 2013-Ohio-3020, 992 N.E.2d 1126, ¶ 19. Summary judgment is
appropriate if the party moving for summary judgment establishes that (1)
there is no genuine issue of material fact, (2) reasonable minds can come to
but one conclusion, which is adverse to the party against whom the motion is
made, and (3) the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.
Civ.R. 56; New Destiny Treatment Ctr., Inc. v. Wheeler, 129 Ohio St.3d 39,
Pickaway App. No. 15CA30 9
2011-Ohio-2266, 950 N.E.2d 157, ¶ 24; Chase Home Finance, LLC v.
Dunlap, 4th Dist. Ross No. 13CA3409, 2014-Ohio-3484, ¶ 26.
{¶12} The moving party has the initial burden of informing the trial
court of the basis for the motion by pointing to summary judgment evidence
and identifying parts of the record that demonstrate the absence of a genuine
issue of material fact on the pertinent claims. Dresher v. Burt, 75 Ohio St.3d
280, 293, 662 N.E.2d 264 (1996); Chase Home Finance at ¶ 27. Once the
moving party meets this initial burden, the nonmoving party has the
reciprocal burden under Civ.R. 56(E) to set forth specific facts showing that
there is a genuine issue remaining for trial. Dresher at 293.
{¶13} Civ.R. 56(C) sets forth an exclusive list of evidentiary
materials that a trial court may consider when ruling upon a summary
judgment motion. Emerson Family Ltd. Partnership v. Emerson Tool, LLC,
9th Dist. Summit No. 26200, 2012-Ohio-5647, ¶ 14; citing Spier v.
American Univ. of the Caribbean, 3 Ohio App.3d 28, 29, 443 N.E.2d 1021(1st Dist.1981). The rule prohibits a trial court from considering any
evidence or stipulation except the “pleadings, depositions, answers to
interrogatories, written admissions, affidavits, transcripts of evidence in the
pending case, and written stipulations of fact.” Civ.R. 56(C). Davis v.
Eachus, 4th Dist. Pike No. 04CA725, 2004-Ohio-5720, ¶ 36; Wall v.
Pickaway App. No. 15CA30 10
Firelands Radiology, Inc., 106 Ohio App.3d 313, 334, 666 N.E.2d 235 (6th
Dist.1995). Furthermore, when ruling on a summary judgment motion, a
court may consider only evidence that would be admissible at trial.
Pennisten v. Noel, 4th Dist. Pike No. 01CA669, 2002 WL 254021 (Feb. 8,
2002), *2.
{¶14} As set forth above, the trial court granted Appellees summary
judgment on their claim based upon unjust enrichment. Unjust enrichment
occurs “ ‘when a party retains money or benefits which in justice and equity
belong to another.’ ” HAD Ents. v. Galloway, 192 Ohio App.3d 133, 2011-
Ohio-57, 948 N.E.2d 473, ¶ 8 (4th Dist.); quoting Cooper v. Smith, 155 Ohio
App.3d 218, 2003-Ohio-6083, 800 N.E.2d 372, ¶ 30 (4th Dist.), in turn
citing Liberty Mut. Ins. Co. v. Indus. Comm., 40 Ohio St.3d 109, 111, 532
N.E.2d 124 (1988). In order to prevail on an unjust enrichment theory, the
plaintiff must establish three elements: “ ‘(1) a benefit conferred by a
plaintiff upon a defendant; (2) knowledge by the defendant of the benefit;
and (3) retention of the benefit by the defendant under circumstances where
it would be unjust to do so without payment.’ ” Id. at ¶ 8; quoting
Hambleton v. R.G. Barry Corp., 12 Ohio St.3d 179, 183, 465 N.E.2d 1298(1984).
Pickaway App. No. 15CA30 11
{¶15} Appellants argue that the trial court erred in excluding portions
of the affidavit of Pearl Johnson as being hearsay. We review the trial
court's decision to exclude the affidavit testimony of Johnson for abuse of
discretion. State ex rel. Mora v. Wilkinson, 105 Ohio St.3d 272, 2005-Ohio-
1509, 824 N.E.2d 1000. The trial court stated as follows with regard to its
consideration of the Johnson affidavit:
"Disregarding all the hearsay statements made in said affidavit,
this Court is left with the following facts: (1) Ronald Clifton
owns an airplane; (2) Robert Hamman owns a camera; (3) Pearl
Johnson is a pilot; (4) there is no written agreement; (5) ATEX
was installing a pipeline through Pickaway County; and (6)
Pearl Johnson presented his prototype to ATEX."
Thus, the trial court was not specific with regard to which of the twenty-four
paragraphs in Johnson's five page affidavit it deemed to be hearsay and
therefore excluded.
{¶16} In their motion for summary judgment and on appeal,
Appellees contend that the payment Appellants received from ATEX was
for work performed to create aerial spreads one, two and three, which were
performed with Clifton's plane and Hamman's camera. They supported this
claim set forth in their motion for summary judgment with copies of flight
dispatch questionnaire sheets, excerpts of Johnson's deposition testimony
Pickaway App. No. 15CA30 12
and copies of invoices reflecting payments made to American Eagle Air,
Inc.2
{¶17} The flight sheets cover several dates in May and early June of
2012, and indicate flights made by American Eagle Air, Inc., piloted by
"Kevin Johnson" with "Robby Hamman" as a passenger, to perform aerial
surveying for the customer, "ATEX." Some of the notes on the various
forms include references to spreads one, two, or three. The excerpts from
Johnson's deposition testimony include Johnson acknowledging he flew
Clifton's plane, a Cessna model C172, for portions of spreads one, two and
three, with Hamman as a passenger. The deposition testimony also includes
acknowledgments by Johnson that American Eagle Air, Inc. received
payments totaling $219,000.00; however, the excerpts do not identify what
work the payments were for. Check stubs attached as exhibits to Appellees'
motion for summary judgment indicate payments made to American Eagle
Air, Inc. by Houston Inspection Field Services, LLC, but they do not specify
for what work the payments were being made.
{¶18} At both the trial court level and on appeal, Appellants contend
that the payments they received from ATEX were a result of the "prototype"
they submitted that was created without the use of Clifton's plane or
2
It does not appear Johnson's complete deposition transcript was made part of the record below and thus it
is not presently before this Court on appeal.
Pickaway App. No. 15CA30 13
Hamman's camera, rather than the work performed jointly with Clifton and
Hamman for aerial spreads one, two and three. Johnson stated as much in
his affidavit; however, it is apparently one of the statements deemed to be
hearsay and excluded by the trial court. Initially, we note that Johnson's
affidavit does not contain a general averment of personal knowledge.
However, it does state, in pertinent part, as follows, with regard to the work
he claims he performed separate and apart from the work performed with
Clifton and Hamman:
"14. I shopped many mapping imagery companies to obtain a
suitable camera that produced acceptable imagery.
15. I contracted with MANN Mapping * * *.
16. MANN Mapping had its own aircraft and its own digital
imagery system completely different from Hamman. A
prototype was developed, presented and accepted."
***
19. I developed a prototype. It did not include anything from
the Hamman prototype. I presented my separate prototype to
ATEX who accepted it.
20. A contract was issued to American Eagle Air, Inc. * * *."
(Emphasis added.).
Pickaway App. No. 15CA30 14
{¶19} As we have recently discussed, with regard to affidavit
evidence:
“To be considered in a summary judgment motion, Civ.R.
56(E) requires an affidavit to be made on personal knowledge,
set forth such facts as would be admissible in evidence, and
affirmatively show that the affiant is competent to testify to the
matters stated in the affidavit.” Fifth Third Mtge. Co. v. Bell,
12th Dist. Madison No. CA2013–02–003, 2013-Ohio-3678[2013 WL 4647561], ¶ 27, citing Civ.R. 56(E); see also Wesley
v. Walraven, 4th Dist. Washington No. 12CA18, 2013-Ohio-
473 [2013 WL 544053], ¶ 24. “ ‘Absent evidence to the
contrary, an affiant's statement that his affidavit is based on
personal knowledge will suffice to meet the requirement of
Civ.R. 56(E).’ ” Bell at ¶ 27, quoting Wells Fargo Bank v.
Smith, 12th Dist. Brown No. CA2012–04–006, 2013-Ohio-855[2013 WL 938069], ¶ 16. “Additionally, documents referred to
in an affidavit must be attached and must be sworn or certified
copies.” Id., citing Civ.R. 56(E). “Verification of these
documents is generally satisfied by an appropriate averment in
the affidavit, for example, that ‘such copies are true copies and
reproductions.’ ” Id., quoting State ex rel. Corrigan v.
Seminatore, 66 Ohio St.2d 459, 467, 423 N.E.2d 105 (1981);
see also Walraven at ¶ 31 (“Civ.R. 56(E)'s requirement that
sworn or certified copies of all papers referred to in the affidavit
be attached is satisfied by attaching the papers to the affidavit
with a statement contained in the affidavit that the copies are
true and accurate reproductions.”) U.S. Bank Natl. Assn. v.
Bobo, 4th Dist. Athens No. 13CA45, 2014-Ohio-4975, 2014
WL 5800399, ¶ 28; JPMorgan Chase Bank, Natl. Assn. v.
Fallon, 4th Dist. Pickaway No. 13CA3, 2014-Ohio-525, 2014
WL 588038, ¶ 16.” Whitt v. Wolfinger, 39 N.E.3d 8092015-
Ohio-2726, ¶ 23.
{¶20} “If the affiant fails to state that the affidavit is based on
personal knowledge, then personal knowledge may be inferred ‘if the nature
of the facts in the affidavit combined with the identity of the affiant creates a
Pickaway App. No. 15CA30 15
reasonable inference that the affiant has personal knowledge of the facts in
the affidavit.’ ” Id. at ¶ 24; quoting Bobo, at ¶ 30, in turn quoting Freedom
Mtge. Corp. v. Vitale, 5th Dist. Tuscarawas No. 2013 AP 08 0037, 2014-
Ohio-1549, ¶ 26 (Ohio law recognizes that personal knowledge may be
inferred from the contents of an affidavit “if the nature of the facts in the
affidavit combined with the identity of the affiant creates a reasonable
inference that the affiant has personal knowledge of the facts in the
affidavit”).
{¶21} “Personal knowledge” for purposes of a summary judgment
affidavit is defined as knowledge of the truth in regard to a particular fact or
allegation that does not depend on information or hearsay, i.e. it is
knowledge that is original to the affiant. See Parker Financial v. Matthews,
4th Dist. Adams No. 97CA652, 1999 WL 74686 (Feb. 3, 1999) (affiant's
knowledge was based upon information he received in conversations he had
over telephone and therefore was not based on personal knowledge) citing
Brannon v. Rinzler, 77 Ohio App.3d 749, 603 N.E.2d 1049 (2nd Dist.1991)
(personal knowledge must be original and not depend on information or
hearsay).
{¶22} Further, we note that “[a]n affidavit of a party opposing
summary judgment that contradicts former deposition testimony of that party
Pickaway App. No. 15CA30 16
may not, without sufficient explanation, create a genuine issue of material
fact to defeat a motion for summary judgment.” Byrd v. Smith, 110 Ohio
St.3d 24, 2006-Ohio-3455, 850 N.E.2d 47, paragraph three of the syllabus.
In Byrd, the Supreme Court of Ohio expressly adopted this Court's rationale
in Lemaster v. Circleville Long Term Care, Inc., 4th Dist. Pickaway App.
No. 87 CA 2, 1988 WL 17187, *3 (Feb. 22, 1988) where we held,
“[o]rdinarily, under [Civ.R.] 56(C), when an affidavit is inconsistent with
affiant's prior deposition testimony as to material facts and the affidavit
neither suggests affiant was confused at the deposition nor offers a reason
for the contradictions in her prior testimony, the affidavit does not create a
genuine issue of fact which would preclude summary judgment.”
{¶23} Here, based upon the record before, we conclude that the trial
court erred when it excluded the above portions of Johnson's affidavit.
Although Johnson's affidavit does not contain a general averment of
personal knowledge, the trial court could infer Johnson had personal
knowledge if the nature of the facts in the affidavit combined with Johnson's
identity created a reasonable inference that he had personal knowledge. We
conclude that the nature of the facts stated in paragraphs 14, 15, 16, 19 and
20, combined with Johnson's identity as a participant in this matter and as
Pickaway App. No. 15CA30 17
sole owner of American Eagle Air, Inc., permit an inference of his personal
knowledge of these facts and were not inadmissible hearsay.
{¶24} We further conclude that these statements create a genuine
issue of material fact regarding which work was being compensated by
ATEX: the work performed jointly between Appellants and Appellees to
create spreads one, two and three; or the work performed separately by
Johnson referred to by Johnson as a “prototype,” that “did not include
anything from the Hamman prototype,” and which was created with aircraft
owned by MANN Mapping, as well as MANN Mapping's digital imagery
system. Importantly, not only do we conclude that the trial court could infer
personal knowledge from the statements contained in Johnson's affidavit
giving rise to this genuine issue of material fact, there is no indication, at
least from the portions of the Johnson's deposition that are contained in the
record before us, that these statements conflict with any prior deposition
testimony given by Johnson.
{¶25} Here, Appellees essentially contend that the moneys received
by Appellants were payment for work performed by the parties jointly in the
creation of aerial spreads one, two and three, while Appellants essentially
contend that the payments were for the "prototype" created by Appellants
alone, with the use of MANN Mapping's aircraft and digital imagery system.
Pickaway App. No. 15CA30 18
Thus, Johnson's affidavit creates a genuine issue of material fact with regard
to the nature of the payments Appellants received and whether Appellees, in
fact, are entitled to a portion of those payments.
{¶26} This genuine issue of material fact precludes a grant of
summary judgment in favor of Appellees on their unjust enrichment claim,
primarily because it is unclear from the evidence before us whether
Appellees have demonstrated they conferred a benefit upon Appellants.
Thus, we conclude that the trial court abused its discretion in excluding the
above portions of the Johnson affidavit, which were based upon his personal
knowledge and were not hearsay, and further erred in granting summary
judgment in favor of Appellees on unjust enrichment. Accordingly,
Appellants' first assignment of error is well taken and the decision of the
trial court is reversed.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR II
{¶27} In their second assignment of error, Appellants contend that the
trial court erred in awarding damages; however, in light of our disposition of
Appellants' first assignment of error, which determined that the trial court
erred in granting summary judgment in Appellee's favor, this assignment of
error has been rendered moot.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR III
Pickaway App. No. 15CA30 19
{¶28} In their third assignment of error, Appellants contend that the
trial court committed prejudicial error when it did not dismiss the case with
prejudice. More specifically, Appellants contend that a voluntary dismissal
by Appellees of their express contract claim with prejudice prevents a
judgment for unjust enrichment. Appellants argue that “the voluntary
dismissal of the express contract claim with prejudice operated upon the
merits with the legal result that Defendants prevailed on the contract claim.”
{¶29} Contrary to Appellants' argument, the trial court did dismiss
Appellees' breach of contract claim with prejudice. Further, the case
Appellants rely on in support of their argument, Caras v. Green & Green, et
al., 2nd Dist. Montgomery No. 14943, 1996 WL 407861, does not support
their argument. Appellants quote as follows from Caras to support their
argument that the trial court's dismissal of Appellees' breach of contract
claim effectively eliminated any claim based upon unjust enrichment as
well: “When it granted summary judgment for the Defendants on Caras'
action in quasi-contract the court eliminated the basis for relief on Caras'
claim of unjust enrichment.” Appellants' argument, however, is misplaced.
{¶30} The Caras case involved a judgment based upon unjust
enrichment when a claim based upon quasi-contract, not an express contract,
had been previously dismissed. That is not the situation here. Here, the trial
Pickaway App. No. 15CA30 20
court dismissed with prejudice Appellees' breach of contract claim, which
was based upon an express contract, not a theory of quasi-contract. Unjust
enrichment is a remedy flowing from a claim based in quasi contract, as
opposed to an express contract. In fact, the Caras court reasoned at length
as follows:
“A quasi-contract ‘is a legal fiction that does not rest upon the
intention of the parties, but rather on equitable principles in
order to provide a remedy. The two remedies most often
associated with quasi-contracts are restitution and quantum
meruit. Each of these remedies presupposes some type of
unjust enrichment of the opposing party.’ Paugh & Farmer,
Inc. v. Menorah Home for Jewish Aged (1984), 15 Ohio St.3d
44, 46 (emphasis in the original).” Caras at *3.
Thus, Caras does not stand for the proposition that the trial court's dismissal
of Appellees' breach of contract claim vitiates their alternative claim based
upon unjust enrichment. Further, this Court is aware of no other law or
guidance that supports Appellants' argument. Accordingly, we find no merit
to Appellants' third assignment of error and it is overruled.
{¶31} However, having found merit to Appellants' argument that the
trial court erred in granting summary judgment to Appellees on unjust
enrichment because genuine issues of material fact exist with respect to
whether Appellees conferred a benefit upon Appellants, as it is unclear
whether Appellants received payment for services rendered on their own, or
for work performed jointly with Appellees, the judgment of the trial court is
Pickaway App. No. 15CA30 21
reversed and this matter is remanded for further proceedings consistent with
this opinion.
JUDGMENT REVERSED AND
CAUSE REMANDED FOR
FURTHER PROCEEDINGS
CONSISTENT WITH THIS
OPINION.
Pickaway App. No. 15CA30 22
JUDGMENT ENTRY
It is ordered that the JUDGMENT BE REVERSED AND CAUSE
REMANDED FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS CONSISTENT WITH
THIS OPINION and that Appellants recover of Appellees any costs herein.
The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing
the Pickaway County Common Pleas Court to carry this judgment into
execution.
Any stay previously granted by this Court is hereby terminated as of
the date of this entry.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to
Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
Abele, J.: Concurs in Judgment Only.
Hoover, J.: Dissents.
For the Court,
BY: _________________________
Matthew W. McFarland, 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.