Asset Acceptance Corp. v. Proctor

804 N.E.2d 975, 156 Ohio App. 3d 60, 2004 Ohio 623
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedJanuary 21, 2004
DocketNo. 03CA39.
StatusPublished
Cited by22 cases

This text of 804 N.E.2d 975 (Asset Acceptance Corp. v. Proctor) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Asset Acceptance Corp. v. Proctor, 804 N.E.2d 975, 156 Ohio App. 3d 60, 2004 Ohio 623 (Ohio Ct. App. 2004).

Opinion

Kline, Presiding Judge.

{¶ 1} Larry K. Proctor appeals from the Marietta Municipal Court’s summary judgment in favor of Asset Acceptance Corporation (“Asset”). Proctor argues that there is a genuine issue of material fact regarding the amount of damages he owes Asset. Proctor contends that Asset did not offer sufficient evidence to prove the amount that Proctor owes on his credit card and did not show that the payments Proctor made were credited to his account. We agree with Proctor that there is a genuine issue of material fact. Accordingly, we reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand this cause to the trial court for proceedings consistent with this opinion.

*62 I

{¶ 2} Proctor applied for and received an AT&T Universal credit card a number of years ago. AT&T assigned the debt on the credit card to Asset.

{¶ 3} Asset filed a complaint in the municipal court, alleging that Proctor owed it $3,540.92, plus another $3,901.55 in accrued interest through September 30, 2002, and interest thereafter at the rate of 10 percent per annum on the principal balance. The complaint included a copy of a Customer Account Statement and an affidavit of Charles Hilson, Branch Manager, showing the amount due. Proctor filed a general denial and raised the following affirmative defenses: the claim is barred by the applicable statute of limitations, laches, and accord and satisfaction.

{¶ 4} Asset sent Proctor interrogatories, requests for admissions, and requests for production of documents. Proctor answered the requests.

{¶ 5} Asset filed a motion for summary judgment. It referenced Proctor’s admissions where Proctor admitted (1) signing the credit card application, (2) using the card to purchase items, (3) failing to make all payments timely, and (4) failing to pay the total amount due. In addition, Asset filed the affidavit of Steve Robertson, Assistant Branch Manager, to verify Proctor’s indebtedness. However, just like the complaint, the affidavit of Charles Hilson, and the Customer Account Statement, Robertson’s affidavit stated only the total principal and total accrued interest through September 30, 2002. It did not state how Asset arrived at these numbers. Based on these admissions and the affidavit, Asset argued that the trial court should grant its motion for summary judgment.

{¶ 6} Proctor filed a memorandum opposing the motion for summary judgment. Proctor argued that the trial court should deny the motion because he did not owe the amount that Asset said he owed. Proctor filed an affidavit and averred “1. That an accounting was never shown to me as to the basis of the alleged debt, time of the alleged debt, and/or the amount of the alleged debt. 2. That I was previously told by a representative of Plaintiff that the account was closed and written off. 3. That no information showing the balance, payments, credits, etc., has been provided. 4. That there is no basis for me to believe that any of the alleged debt was charged by me.”

{¶ 7} The trial court granted Asset’s motion for summary judgment.

{¶ 8} Proctor appeals and asserts one assignment of error: “The trial court erred in granting the motion for summary judgment in that there was not sufficient proof by the appellee of its damages.”

*63 II

{¶ 9} Proctor argues in his sole assignment of error that the trial court erred because there is a genuine issue of material fact. He contends that the total amount that Asset alleges he owes is in dispute. Our standard of review is de novo.

{¶ 10} Summary judgment is appropriate when the court finds that the following factors have been established: (1) there is no genuine issue as to any material fact; (2) the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law; and (3) reasonable minds can come to only one conclusion, and that conclusion is adverse to the nonmoving party, who is entitled to have the evidence construed in his or her favor. Civ.R. 56. See Bostic v. Connor (1988), 37 Ohio St.3d 144, 146, 524 N.E.2d 881; Harless v. Willis Day Warehousing Co. (1978), 54 Ohio St.2d 64, 66, 8 O.O.3d 73, 375 N.E.2d 46; Morehead v. Conley (1991), 75 Ohio App.3d 409, 411, 599 N.E.2d 786. “In reviewing the propriety of summary judgment, an appellate court independently reviews the record to determine [whether] summary judgment is appropriate. Accordingly, we afford no deference to the trial court’s decision in answering that legal question.” Morehead v. Conley, 75 Ohio App.3d at 411-412, 599 N.E.2d 786. See, also, Schwartz v. Bank One, Portsmouth, N.A. (1992), 84 Ohio App.3d 806, 809, 619 N.E.2d 10.

{¶ 11} The burden of showing that no genuine issue of material fact exists falls upon the party requesting summary judgment. Dresher v. Burt (1996), 75 Ohio St.3d 280, 294, 662 N.E.2d 264, citing Mitseff v. Wheeler (1988), 38 Ohio St.3d 112, 115, 526 N.E.2d 798. The moving party bears this burden even for issues that the nonmoving party may have the burden of proof at trial. Id. “However, once the movant has supported his motion with appropriate evidentiary materials, the nonmoving party may not rely upon the allegations and/or denials in his pleadings. * * * He must present evidentiary materials showing that a material issue of fact does exist.” Morehead v. Conley, 75 Ohio App.3d at 413, 599 N.E.2d 786.

{¶ 12} Because an action on an account is founded upon contract, the plaintiff must prove the necessary elements of a contract action, and, in addition, must prove that the contract involves a transaction that usually forms the subject of a book account. Gabriele v. Reagan (1988), 57 Ohio App.3d 84, 87, 566 N.E.2d 684. In order to adequately plead and prove an account, “[a]n account must show the name of the party charged. It begins with a balance, preferably at zero, or with a sum recited that can qualify as an account stated, but at least the balance should be a provable sum. Following the balance, the item or items, dated and identifiable by number or otherwise, representing charges, or debits, and credits, should appear. Summarization is necessary showing a running or developing balance or an arrangement which permits the calculation of the balance claimed *64 to be due.” Brown v. Columbus Stamping & Mfg. Co. (1967), 9 Ohio App.2d 123, 126, 38 O.O.2d 143, 223 N.E.2d 373.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Discover Bank v. Hanson
2026 Ohio 140 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2026)
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. v. Gallabrese
2025 Ohio 733 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2025)
LVNV Funding, L.L.C. v. Ingram
2025 Ohio 442 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2025)
Capital One Bank v. Truss
2019 Ohio 3290 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2019)
Citibank, N.A. v. Hine
2019 Ohio 464 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2019)
Capital One Bank (USA) N.A. v. Ryan
2014 Ohio 3932 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2014)
Midland Funding, L.L.C. v. Biehl
2013 Ohio 4150 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2013)
Chase Bank, USA v. Curren
2010 Ohio 6596 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2010)
Crown Asset Management, LLC v. Gaul, 08ca30 (5-1-2009)
2009 Ohio 2167 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2009)
National City Bank v. Eagleson, 07ca000036 (8-11-2008)
2008 Ohio 4097 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2008)
Capital One Bank v. Day
892 N.E.2d 932 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2008)
Hudson Keyse, L.L.C. v. Carson, 07ap-936 (5-29-2008)
2008 Ohio 2570 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2008)
Capital One Bank v. Nolan, 06ca77 (4-15-2008)
2008 Ohio 1850 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2008)
Minster Farmers Cooperative Exchange Co. v. Dues
117 Ohio St. 3d 459 (Ohio Supreme Court, 2008)
Jenkins v. Sparks, 07ca657 (1-30-2008)
2008 Ohio 339 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2008)
First Merit Bank, N.A. v. Wilson, 23363 (6-27-2007)
2007 Ohio 3239 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2007)
Cline v. Writsel, 06ca25 (5-30-2007)
2007 Ohio 2720 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2007)
Kidron v. Kohler, Unpublished Decision (3-5-2007)
2007 Ohio 885 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2007)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
804 N.E.2d 975, 156 Ohio App. 3d 60, 2004 Ohio 623, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/asset-acceptance-corp-v-proctor-ohioctapp-2004.