State v. Guzman

[Cite as State v. Guzman, 2018-Ohio-4470.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
ALLEN COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO,
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, CASE NO. 1-18-21
v.
ROBERTO GUZMAN,
OPINION
DEFENDANT-APPELLEE.
[AMERICAN SURETY COMPANY - APPELLANT].
Appeal from Allen County Common Pleas Court
Trial Court No. CR2015 0010
Judgment Reversed and Cause Remanded
Date of Decision: November 5, 2018
APPEARANCES:
Damion M. Clifford for Appellant
Randall L. Basinger for Appellee, State of Ohio
Case No. 1-18-21
ZIMMERMAN, J.
{¶1} Third-party appellant, American Surety Company (“Appellant”),
appeals the nunc pro tunc judgment of the Allen County Common Pleas Court that
added it as a party to a prior court judgment. On appeal, Appellant asserts that the
trial court erred: 1) by adding it to a December 21, 2015 judgment via a nunc pro
tunc entry; and 2) by entering judgment against it for $150,000. For the reasons that
follow, we reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand the matter for further
proceedings consistent with this opinion.
Factual and Procedural Background
{¶2} On February 12, 2015, Roberto Guzman (“Guzman”) was indicted by
the Allen County Common Pleas Grand Jury on one count of possession of cocaine,
a felony of the first degree, in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A), R.C. 2925.11(C)(4)(e).
(Doc. No. 5). Guzman’s bond in the trial court was set in the amount of $100,000
cash or surety. (Doc. No. 7). Appellant appeared in the trial court for arraignment
on February 27, 2015 and pled “not guilty” to the charge contained in the indictment.
(Doc. No. 5).
{¶3} On May 4, 2015, Guzman posted the $100,000 bond through a bail
bonding company. (Doc. No. 63). Scott Hunter, (“Hunter”) on behalf of Erie Shore
Bail Bonds, issued Guzman’s bond. (Id.). Appellant was a guarantor of the bond
executed by Hunter. (Id.).
-2-
Case No. 1-18-21
{¶4} On June 17, 2015, Guzman entered a negotiated plea of no contest to
the possession of cocaine charge. (Doc. No. 70). The trial court journalized its
judgment entry accepting Guzman’s plea on the same date, and continued Guzman’s
$100,000 bond pending his sentencing. (Doc. No. 71).
{¶5} On July 27, 2015, the trial court sentenced Guzman to prison, but stayed
the prison sentence pending appeal. (Doc. No. 76). With respect to Guzman’s
previously posted bond, the trial court, in its judgment entry, issued the following
order:
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED the bond as previously set is hereby
revoked and an appellate bond of $150,000 cash or surety is set.
(Emphasis sic). (Id.). Two days later, Guzman posted a $50,000 bond with the trial
court. (Doc. No. 77). Hunter co-signed Guzman’s second bond on behalf of Erie
Shore Bail Bonds, which Appellant guaranteed. (Id.).
{¶6} On October 7, 2015, the trial court issued an order revoking Guzman’s
appellate bond because Guzman never filed an appeal. (Doc. No. 80). The trial
court further ordered that Guzman be taken into custody to serve the imposed prison
sentence. (Id.). However, Guzman absconded and failed to appear at a show cause
hearing held on October 15, 2015. (Doc. No. 84).
{¶7} On October 16, 2015, the State filed a motion for forfeiture of bond
pursuant to Crim.R. 46 and R.C. 2937.35. (Doc. No. 86). The State’s motion was
scheduled for a show cause hearing on October 26, 2015. (Doc. No. 87). According
-3-
Case No. 1-18-21
to the record, the State, Guzman’s attorney, Crime Victim Services, and American
Surety Company/Erie Shore Bail were served with a copy of the notice pertaining
to the bond forfeiture hearing. (Doc. No. 88).
{¶8} Thereafter, on October 26, 2015, a bond forfeiture hearing was held in
the trial court. (Doc. No. 90). The State, Guzman’s attorney, and Hunter, on behalf
of Erie Shore Bail Bonds, appeared for the hearing. (Id.). After considering the
record, the trial court found that Guzman failed to appear in accordance with the
terms of bail and ordered that the bail posted ($150,000) be forfeited. (Id.). The
trial court further ordered:
As to recognizance given by any surety, the Clerk of Courts shall
notify accused [sic] and each surety by ordinary mail at the address
shown by them in their affidavits of qualification or on the record of
the case, of the default of the accused and the adjudication of
forfeiture and require each of them to show cause on or before
MONDAY DECEMBER 21, 2015 @ 8:00 a.m. [* * *], why
judgment should not be entered against each of them for the penalty
stated in the recognizance. If good cause by production of the body
of the accused or otherwise is not shown, the Court shall thereupon
enter judgment against the sureties or either of them, so notified, in
such amount, not exceeding the penalty of the bond, as has been set
in the adjudication of forfeiture, and shall award execution therefor as
in civil cases. The proceeds of sale shall be received by the clerk or
magistrate and distributed as on forfeiture of cash bail.
(Emphasis sic). (Id.).
{¶9} On December 21, 2015, the show cause hearing was held in the trial
court on the bond forfeiture. (Doc. No. 97). Finding that good cause was not shown,
-4-
Case No. 1-18-21
the trial court ordered judgment in the amount of $150,000 against Guzman’s
“surety, Erie Shore Bail Bonds.” (Id.).
{¶10} Guzman was apprehended on January 1, 2015. (Doc. No. 99).
{¶11} On February 1, 2016, attorney Eric LaFayette (“LaFayette”) filed a
motion in the trial court styled: “Surety, Scott Allen Hunter, Erie Shore Bail Bonds
and American Surety Company [Appellant], motion for relief from bond forfeiture
due to the surety apprehending the defendant and returning the defendant to the
jurisdiction of this honorable court pursuant to R.C.§2937.39.” (Doc. No. 102).
The motion averred that Hunter was the “surety agent for Erie Shore Surety [sic]
and American Surety Company” (Appellant). (Emphasis added). (Id.).
{¶12} On April 18, 2016, a remittance hearing was held in the trial court.
(Doc. No. 120). On May 12, 2016, the trial court issued its judgment entry of
remittance ordering that $5,000 of the $150,000 bond should be remitted to the
surety due to their efforts in locating and apprehending Guzman. (Id.). However,
the trial court also ordered that the remaining $145,000 not be remitted to the surety,
Erie Shore Bail Bonds. (Id.). Appellant was not named as a surety in this trial court
entry. (Id.).
{¶13} Hunter and Erie Shore Bail Bonds appealed the trial court’s remittance
order to this Court on June 7, 2016 (“Guzman I”). (Doc. No. 122). The appeal
-5-
Case No. 1-18-21
designated only Hunter and Erie Shore Bail Bonds as the “sureties” of Guzman’s
bonds. (Id.).
{¶14} On July 11, 2016, while the appeal was pending, LaFayette filed in the
trial court a “notice to clarify representation of attorney Eric L. LaFyette [sic] as the
representative of Scott Allen Hunter and Erie Shore Bail Bonds.” (Doc. No. 130).
In his notice LaFayette represented that he did not represent the Appellant. (Id.).
{¶15} On February 27, 2017, this Court filed its judgment on Guzman I,
affirming the trial court’s remittance order. (Doc. No. 135).
{¶16} Nearly a year later, on February 26, 2018, the State filed a motion
requesting that the trial court issue a “nunc pro tunc” order, correcting its original
remittance order.1 (Doc. No. 137). The State asserted that the May 12, 2016
judgment entry was supposed to include Appellant. In support of its motion, the
State attached the trial court’s bond entry and copies of the bonds that Hunter signed
(one for $100,000 and another for $50,000) on behalf of Erie Shore Bail Bonds.
(Id.). Each bond bore identical language that authorized Hunter as Appellant’s
“power of attorney.” (Id.).
{¶17} Appellant, appearing for the first time in the trial court on March 12,
2018, filed a memorandum in opposition to the State’s motion for a nunc pro tunc
1
Notably, the entry that the State requested the trial court to correct through the use of a nunc pro tunc entry
was not the judgment entry that the trial court ultimately corrected. (See, Doc. No. 137, wherein the State
requested a nunc pro tunc of the May 12, 2016 judgment entry on remittance of bond).
-6-
Case No. 1-18-21
order. (Doc. No. 138). Appellant argued that the State was seeking to substantively
change a prior order through the use of a nunc pro tunc entry, which was
impermissible. (Id.). Appellant further argued that the underlying $145,000
judgment was void, because the trial court had revoked the initial $100,000 bond
posted by Guzman. (Id.). Appellant attached to its motion the trial court’s judgment
entry of sentencing; the appeal bond order; a copy of Appellant’s OR bond
paperwork; the judgment entry forfeiture of bond; and the judgment entry
remittance of bond. (Id.).
{¶18} On March 28, 2018, the trial court issued its judgment entry granting
a nunc pro tunc entry of judgment on the bond forfeiture. (Doc. No. 139). The trial
court found that Appellant, along with Hunter and Erie Shore Bail Bonds, had
consistently been identified as the “surety” throughout the pendency of the case.
(Id.). And, because the Appellant had always been listed as a surety of Guzman’s
bonds, the trial court corrected its judgment, nunc pro tunc, to reflect such in its
December 21, 2015 judgment entry on bond forfeiture. (Id.). Further, the trial
court’s nunc pro tunc entry ordered judgment in the amount of $150,000 (as
opposed to $145,000) against the Appellant.
{¶19} From this judgment Appellant appeals, and presents the following
assignments of error for our review:
-7-
Case No. 1-18-21
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. I
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ADDING AMERICAN
SURETY COMPANY TO A DECEMBER 21, 2015 JUDGMENT
THROUGH THE ISSUANCE OF A NUNC PRO TUNC ENTRY.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. II
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ENTERING JUDGMENT ON
MARCH 28, 2018 IN THE AMOUNT OF $150,000 AGAINST
AMERICAN SURETY COMPANY.
Appellant’s First Assignment of Error
{¶20} Appellant argues that the trial court erred by issuing a nunc pro tunc
judgment entry adding it as a party to a prior judgment. We agree.
Standard of Review
{¶21} We review a trial court’s Civ.R. 60 ruling under an abuse of discretion
standard. Business Data Systems, Inc. v. Gourmet Café Corp., 9th Dist. Summit
No. 22096, 2005-Ohio-4, ¶ 23 citing Hall v. Paragon Steakhouse, 9th Dist. Lorain
No. 99CA007443, 2000 WL 1026695, *1. “Under an abuse of discretion standard,
a lower court’s decision will [* * *] be reversed [* * *] only when the court’s
decision is unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable.” Morrow v. Becker, 138
Ohio St. 3d 11, 2013-Ohio-4542, 3 N.E.3d 144, ¶ 9.
Analysis
{¶22} Under Civ.R. 60(A), a trial court may correct clerical mistakes in
judgments, orders, or other parts of the record. See generally, Business Data
-8-
Case No. 1-18-21
Systems, Inc., 9th Dist. Summit No. 22096, 2005-Ohio-4, ¶ 24. Specifically, Civ.R.
60(A) states, in relevant part:
(A) Clerical Mistakes. Clerical mistakes in judgments, orders, or
other parts of the record and errors therein arising from oversight or
omission may be corrected by the court at any time on its on initiative
or on the motion of any party and after such notice, if any, as the court
orders.
Civ.R. 60(A). Furthermore, “[i]t is within the trial court’s discretion to correct
clerical mistakes that are apparent on the record, but not those mistakes that require
the court to make substantive changes in judgments.” (Emphasis added). Allied
Erecting & Dismantling Co. v. Uneco Realty Co., 146 Ohio App. 3d 136, 146, 2001-
Ohio-3387, 765 N.E.2d 420
{¶23} In distinguishing a clerical error from a substantive error, a “clerical
error,” has been defined as “a mistake that is mechanical in nature and apparent on
the record, which does not involve a legal decision or judgment.” Id. See also,
Londrico v. Delores C. Knowlton, Inc., 88 Ohio App. 3d 282, 285, 623 N.E.2d 723
(9th Dist.1993) (Civ.R. 60(A) allows the court, in its discretion, to correct clerical
mistakes which are apparent on the record, but does not permit a court to make
substantive changes in judgments); Dentsply Intern., Inc. v. Kostas, 26 Ohio App. 3d
116, 118, 498 N.E.2d 1079 (8th Dist.1985) (clerical mistake is the type of mistake
or omission mechanical in nature which is apparent on the record and which does
not involve a legal decision or judgment by an attorney).
-9-
Case No. 1-18-21
{¶24} In its nunc pro tunc judgment entry, the trial court found that the
“surety” had been consistently identified as Hunter, Erie Shore Bail Bonds, and
American Surety Company throughout the pendency of the case. (03/28/2018 J.
Entry at 4). In support of its findings, the trial court referred to the bail bonds
guaranteed by Appellant that appointed Hunter/Erie Shore Bail Bonds as its power
of attorney to execute such bonds. (Id.; see also Doc. Nos. 63; 77). The trial court’s
analysis also referred to the show cause hearing held on October 26, 2015, which
provided that the “defendant and/or surety” (i.e. Appellant) had an opportunity to
show cause why the bail bond should not be adjudged forfeited, for which Appellant
received notice but failed to appear. (Id. at 3; Doc. Nos. 87; 88; 92).
{¶25} The trial court then went on to find that the docket activity occurring
after the December 21, 2015 hearing was determinative that Appellant was a
“surety” of Guzman’s bond. Specifically, the trial court found that the motion filed
by LaFayette on behalf of Hunter, Erie Shore Bail Bonds, and Appellant requesting
relief from the bond forfeiture was proof of Appellant’s consistent involvement in
the case at each stage of the forfeiture proceedings. (Id. at 4; Doc. No. 102). And
lastly, the trial court determined that in the first appeal of this case, Guzman I, the
“surety” never raised the issue of the validity December 21, 2015 judgment on
appeal. (Id.). See, State v. Guzman, 3rd Dist. Allen No. 1-16-27, 2017-Ohio-682.
-10-
Case No. 1-18-21
{¶26} In our review of the record to determine whether the omission of
Appellant from the December 21, 2015 judgment entry was a clerical error or a
substantive error, we find the record to be ambiguous as to whether Appellant was
a “surety,” throughout the course of the proceedings. Specifically, on December
21, 2015, at the bond forfeiture hearing, the trial court introduced the case as
follows:
Trial Court: The matter is before the Court pursuant to the
Judgment Entry on the Forfeiture of Bond that was filed on the
26th of October of this year. At that time the Court ordered that
the bond posted, a total of a hundred and fifty thousand dollars,
was forfeited because the defendant failed to appear and fled the
jurisdiction of the Court. The Court gave notice to the surety of
record, which is the Erie Shores (sic) Bail Bonds, to determine this
morning at the hearing whether there’s reason why judgment
should not be entered against the surety on the amount of the
recognizance, or the hundred and fifty thousand.
(Emphasis added). (Bond Forfeiture Hrg., 12/21/2015 Tr. at 1). The trial court went
on to reaffirm that Erie Shore Bail Bonds was the surety, discussing the purpose of
the hearing as:
Trial Court: Again, the purpose of the hearing this morning is
for Erie Shore Bail Bonds to show cause why judgment should not
be entered against them.
(Id. at 2). Finally, the trial court, after hearing the testimony, found the following:
Trial Court: Upon consideration of all the facts in this case the
Court’s going to find that good cause has not been shown by the
production of the body of the accused, or otherwise, and so I’m
going to order that judgment be entered against Erie Shore Bail
Bonds in the amount of a hundred and fifty thousand dollars and
-11-
Case No. 1-18-21
execution of that shall be awarded as in a civil case and was
represented here, Mr. Guzman (sic), Ohio Revised Code 2937.37,
I believe, would allow for if you produce Mr. Guzman’s body to
the Court after the judgment, which I’m entering today, you can
apply for remitter. Okay?
(Emphasis added). (Id. at 5). At no point during the hearing did the trial court, the
State, or Hunter mention Appellant as a surety of Guzman’s bonds.
{¶27} After the hearing, the trial court journalized its ruling with the
following language:
Therefore, it is ORDERED, ADJUDGED and DECREED that
Judgment shall be and hereby is entered, pursuant to R.C. 2937.36,
against the surety, Erie Shore Bail Bonds in the amount of
$150,000.00, which amount does not exceed the penalty of the bonds
as were posted on May 4, 2015 and July 29, 2015, as had been set in
the adjudication of forfeiture filed on October 26, 2015.
(Emphasis added). (Emphasis sic). (Id.).
{¶28} Furthermore, we do not find that LaFayette’s (one time) filing on
behalf of Appellant to be conclusive of Appellant’s “consistent” involvement as a
surety in this matter. Even though LaFayette filed a motion on behalf of Hunter,
Erie Shore Bail Bonds, and Appellant, he subsequently filed a motion to “clarify
representation,” wherein he represented (to the trial court) that he was not retained
by and did not represent Appellant. 2 (See, Doc. No. 130). Lastly, with regards to
the first appeal to this Court, we note that the identified parties were: “Appellant,
2
The trial court also acknowledged this filing in its judgment entry granting the nunc pro tunc order. (See
Doc. No. 139).
-12-
Case No. 1-18-21
Scott Allen Hunter (“Hunter”), d.b.a. Erie Shore Bail Bonds (“Erie Shore”) (as,
“Surety”) ***. Guzman, 3rd Dist. Allen No. 1-16-27, 2017-Ohio-682, at ¶ 1. As a
matter of fact, the Appellant herein, (American Surety Company) was never referred
to as an interested party by anyone in our first decision. Id.
{¶29} Accordingly, since the “surety” was “inconsistently” identified
throughout the course of the proceedings hereunder, we cannot say that it is “clear
from the record” that Appellant’s omission from the judgment entry was just a
“clerical error.”
{¶30} In State v. Senz, a case factually similar to the case at hand, the trial
court ordered forfeiture of bond and entered judgment against the corporate entity
that posted the defendant’s bond. State v. Senz, 9th Dist. Wayne No. 02CA0016,
2002-Ohio-6464, ¶ 3. In Senz, the bondsman and the corporate entity filed a motion
to vacate and set aside a judgment against the corporate entity. Id. Thereafter, the
trial court entered a judgment entry nunc pro tunc, stating that the earlier judgment
against the corporate entity would include the issuer of the bond as part of the surety.
Id. at ¶ 4. The appellate court reversed, holding that:
[T]he trial court’s nunc pro tunc (sic) entry entered judgment against
another party. This is a substantive change and not an entry that
merely reflects what had previously occurred in the court.
Accordingly, it was error for the trial court to enter judgment against
Bankers Insurance Co. (the issuer of the bond) through a nunc pro
tunc (sic) entry.
Id. at ¶ 13.
-13-
Case No. 1-18-21
{¶31} Here, even though the trial court cited numerous cases to support its
conclusion that the Appellant was bound by its December 21, 2015 judgment entry,
none of the cases cited by the trial court utilized a nunc pro tunc to do so. See, State
v. Slider, et al., 184 Ohio App. 3d 68, 2009-Ohio-4179, 919 N.E.2d 775. ¶ 14
(decision of the trial court was reversed and remanded for additional findings of fact
as to the intent of the parties); State v. Slider, 9th Dist. Washington No. 09CA41,
2010-Ohio-5952, ¶ 7 (remand hearing was held for the limited purpose of resolving
the ambiguity that existed with respect to the capacity in which the Appellant signed
the recognizance bond); State v. Sexton, 132 Ohio App. 3d 791, 792, 726 N.E.2d 554
(4th Dist.1999) (bonding company appealed the judgment entry arising from the
bond forfeiture hearing); and State v. Scherer, 108 Ohio App. 3d 586, 589-90, 671
N.E.2d 545 (2nd Dist.1995) (trial court ordered bond forfeited after a bond
forfeiture hearing because defendant failed to appear).
{¶32} Moreover, none of the cited cases stand for the proposition of law that
a trial court may add a party to a prior judgment through the use of a nunc pro tunc.
To the contrary, Ohio case law has consistently held that a nunc pro tunc may not
be used to add a party to a judgment. As we have previously held, “[a] nunc pro
tunc order may not render a judgment or modify a judgment never made in the first
instance.” Lowery v. Estate of White, 3rd Dist. Allen No. 1-200-15, 2000-Ohio-
1906, *1, citing McKay v. McKay, 24 Ohio App. 3d 74, 75, 493 N.E.2d 317 (11th
-14-
Case No. 1-18-21
Dist.1985). The Ninth District Court of Appeals, in Business Data Systems, Inc.,
expounded upon this principle and held that “[c]hanging a party’s liability on a
judgment is clearly a substantive change in the parties’ rights and not merely a
correction of a clerical error.” Business Data Systems, Inc., 9th Dist. Summit No.
22096, 2005-Ohio-4, ¶ 37. The Second District Court of Appeals, in Nemcic v.
Phelps, followed Business Data Systems, Inc.’s holding that changing a party’s
liability on a judgment is clearly a substantive change and the trial court could not
have modified its prior order under Civ.R. 60(A). Nemcic v. Phelps, 2nd Dist.
Montgomery No. 26066, 2014-Ohio-3952, 19 N.E.3d 554, ¶ 21.
{¶33} Lastly, even if this was a proper nunc pro tunc order, we would not
have jurisdiction to hear this appeal, “[b]ecause * * * a proper nunc pro tunc entry
does not give rise to a new final order for purposes of appeal.” Matter of H.S., 9th
Dist. Ross No. 16CA3569, 2017-Ohio-457, 84 N.E.3d 127, ¶ 49 citing State v.
Lester, 130 Ohio St. 3d 303, 2011-Ohio-5204, 958 N.E.2d 142, paragraph two of the
syllabus (“a nunc pro tunc judgment entry issued for the sole purpose of * * *
correct[ing] a clerical omission in a final judgment entry is not a new final order
from which a new appeal may be taken.”)
{¶34} For the foregoing reasons, we find that the trial court abused its
discretion in amending a final judgment to include a new party nunc pro tunc. Thus,
-15-
Case No. 1-18-21
we sustain Appellant’s first assignment of error and reverse the nunc pro tunc order
of the trial court.
Appellant’s Second Assignment of Error
{¶35} Having found the underlying nunc pro tunc invalid in Appellant’s first
assignment of error, Appellant’s second assignment of error is rendered moot.
Conclusion
{¶36} Having found error prejudicial to Appellant herein in the particulars
assigned and argued, we sustain Appellant’s first assignment of error, which renders
the second assignment of error moot. This matter is remanded back to the Allen
County Common Pleas Court for proceedings consistent with this opinion.
Judgment Reversed and
Cause Remanded
WILLAMOWSKI, P.J. and SHAW, J., concur.
/jlr
-16-