Barium & Chems., Inc. v. Miller

2016 Ohio 5656

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: September 1, 2016
• Docket: 14 JE 0030
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as Barium & Chems., Inc. v. Miller, 2016-Ohio-5656.] STATE OF OHIO, JEFFERSON COUNTY

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

SEVENTH DISTRICT

BARIUM & CHEMICALS, INC. ) CASE NO. 14 JE 0030 ) PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT ) ) VS. ) OPINION ) ROSS A. MILLER ) ) DEFENDANT-APPELLEE )

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDINGS: Civil Appeal from the Court of Common Pleas of Jefferson County, Ohio Case No. 14 CV 195

JUDGMENT: Affirmed.

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellant: Atty. Robert Naylor Naylor Law Offices, Ltd. P.O. Box 4697 Steubenville, Ohio 43952

For Defendant-Appellee: Atty. Steven A. Stickles Ohio Valley Towers 500 Market Street, Suite #10 Steubenville, Ohio 43952

JUDGES:

Hon. Cheryl L. Waite Hon. Gene Donofrio Hon. Mary DeGenaro Dated: September 1, 2016 [Cite as Barium & Chems., Inc. v. Miller, 2016-Ohio-5656.] WAITE, J.

{¶1} Appellant, Barium & Chemicals, Inc. (hereinafter, “Barium”) appeals the

July 25, 2014 decision of the Jefferson County Court of Common Pleas, denying a

civil protection order sought against Appellee, Ross A. Miller (hereinafter, “Miller”).

{¶2} On May 14, 2014, Barium filed its petition seeking a civil stalking

protection order pursuant to R.C. 2903.214 based on two incidents: (1) Miller’s April

7, 2014 visit to Barium while absent from employment due to a worker’s

compensation injury to turn in his keys and collect his personal effects; and, (2)

Miller’s allegedly threatening statement regarding coworkers made during his

emergency room visit on May 8, 2014. On appeal, Barium asserts that the trial court

erred in finding that there was no pattern of conduct as required by the statute and

so, in failing to grant the protection order.

{¶3} On review, the record reveals that the trial court did not abuse its

discretion and its decision was not against the manifest weight of the evidence.

Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

{¶4} The record contains the following facts: Miller was a nearly fifteen-year

employee of Barium, eventually working up to the position of lead maintenance

employee. During the relevant time period, Miller was on unpaid medical leave from

work due to a work-related injury.

{¶5} On April 7, 2014, Miller went to Barium to retrieve personal items and to

return his keys, garage opener and other Barium property. According to the ex parte

petition, while on the jobsite, Miller: -2-

[B]ecame agitated, belligerent and used obscenities directed at

[Barium] and [Barium’s] employees. When retrieving personal items

from his locker, [Miller], in violation of [Barium’s] employment policies,

produced a hunting knife which he opend [sic] and closed in an

intimidating manner in front of [Barium’s] employees monitoring

[Miller’s] retrieval of personal items. Before leaving, [Miller] stated

[Barium] had not seen the last of [Miller].

(5/14/14 Petition.)

{¶6} On May 8, 2014, Miller admitted himself into the emergency room at

Trinity West Hospital. During an interview with the treating nurse, Miller indicated

that he had suicidal thoughts and also that he had homicidal thoughts regarding his

coworkers. He did not name any specific individuals and expressed misgivings about

sharing his homicidal thoughts during that interview. Miller was later transferred to

Trinity Behavioral Health Center for in-patient mental health treatment. A case

manager there read the emergency room interview notes and, pursuant to the

hospital’s policy, notified the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department that Miller made

what appeared to be third-party threats in the emergency room, although he never

personally heard Miller make any such threats. The case manager also contacted

Barium directly to inform them of Miller’s alleged threats.

{¶7} After conducting an ex parte hearing as authorized by statute, the trial

court issued an order protecting Barium and its employees. The matter was

scheduled for a hearing, conducted on June 23, 2014 by agreement of the parties. -3-

{¶8} The trial court conducted a full hearing. Both parties were present and

represented by counsel. Testimony was taken from a number of witnesses, including

Barium’s president, several Barium employees, and selected staff from Trinity

Hospital where Miller sought treatment. Miller did not testify.

{¶9} Kimberly Bowers (hereinafter “Bowers”), an emergency room nurse at

Trinity West Hospital, testified that she interviewed Miller when he presented himself

in emergency on May 8, 2014. She testified regarding Miller’s statements to her

about his suicidal and homicidal thoughts. Miller indicated that he was having

thoughts of both suicide and homicide. She testified that he mentioned he was

thinking of harming coworkers, but did not mention any specific person. Later in the

conversation he acknowledged that “[w]ell, maybe I shouldn’t say that” regarding his

coworkers. (Tr., pp. 16-17.)

{¶10} Bernard Ferrisse, case manager/therapist at Trinity Behavioral Health

Center where Miller was receiving in-patient treatment, testified that, although he did

not hear Miller make any threats regarding his coworkers, in reading the intake report

of the emergency room, he believed the statements could pose a credible threat and

was compelled, under the hospital’s duty to warn policy, to contact Jefferson County

Sheriff’s Department to report the threat.

{¶11} There was also testimony from Barium employees who discussed

Miller’s demeanor during his visit to Barium on April 7, 2014. They testified about his

agitated demeanor during the visit. Deborah Venci (hereinafter “Venci”), President of -4-

Barium, also testified that Miller had advanced knowledge of all utility and security in

the building in his position as the lead maintenance employee.

{¶12} The trial court took the matter under advisement and ordered post-

hearing briefs. On July 25, 2014 the trial court issued a final judgment entry

overruling Barium’s petition for a civil stalking protection order, finding the evidence

presented regarding Miller’s conduct did not rise to the level of a pattern of conduct,

as the second incident failed to demonstrate that Miller possessed the requisite

mental culpability of “knowingly” as defined under R.C. 2901.22(B). Barium timely

appeals and presents two assignments of error for review.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 1

The Trial Court Erred As A Matter of Law When It Held Statements

Made By A Patient To Medical Personnel For The Purpose Of

Diagnoses And Treatment And Where The Defendant Has No Reason

To Believe Or Be Aware His Statements Will "Probably" Get Back to

Plaintiff Are Not A Threat Under R.C. 2903.211(A).

{¶13} In its first assignment of error, Barium contends the trial court erred as a

matter of law in its interpretation of R.C. 2903.211. Specifically, Barium contends

that the trial court held as a matter of law, a threatening statement made by a patient

to medical personnel when seeking medical treatment cannot amount to a “threat” for

purposes of R.C. 2903.211(A).

{¶14} In order to grant a protection order, the trial court must find the

petitioner has demonstrated through a preponderance of the evidence that the -5-

respondent engaged in menacing by stalking as set forth within R.C. 2903.211.

Caban v. Ransome, 7th Dist. No. 08 MA 36, 2009-Ohio-1034, ¶ 7. R.C.

2903.211(A)(1) provides: “No person by engaging in a pattern of conduct shall

knowingly cause another person to believe that the offender will cause physical harm

to the other person or cause mental distress to the other person.”

{¶15} “ ‘Pattern of conduct’ means two or more actions or incidents closely

related in time, whether or not there has been a prior conviction based on any of

those actions or incidents.” R.C. 2903.211(D)(1). One incident, alone, is insufficient

to establish a pattern of conduct under the statute. State v. Scruggs, 136 Ohio

App.3d 631, 634, 737 N.E.2d 574 (2d Dist.2000).

{¶16} The requisite culpable mental state of menacing by stalking is

“knowingly”. R.C. 2903.211. Knowingly is defined in R.C. 2901.22(B) as:

A person acts knowingly, regardless of purpose, when the person is

aware that the person's conduct will probably cause a certain result or

will probably be of a certain nature. A person has knowledge of

circumstances when the person is aware that such circumstances

probably exist. When knowledge of the existence of a particular fact is

an element of an offense, such knowledge is established if a person

subjectively believes that there is a high probability of its existence and

fails to make inquiry or acts with a conscious purpose to avoid learning

the fact. -6-

{¶17} Thus, in order to show that a defendant has violated R.C. 2903.211 and

that a civil protection order should issue, it must be shown that the defendant

engaged in conduct that he or she knew would probably cause the petitioner to

believe that petitioner was in danger of physical harm or mental distress. Ramsey v.

Pellicioni, 7th Dist. Nos. 14 MA 134, 14 MA 135, 2016-Ohio-558, ¶ 18.

{¶18} In its July 25, 2014, judgment entry the trial court held:

In Summary [sic], the Court finds that where a statement is made by a

patient to medical personnel for the purpose of diagnoses and

treatment and where the Defendant has no reason to believe or be

aware that his statements will “probably” get back to Plaintiff then the

statement is not a threat under R.C. 2903.211(A) and Defendant cannot

be said to have “knowingly” caused another to believe anything at all.

(7/25/14 J.E., p. 3.)

{¶19} Barium claims that based on this language in the judgment entry, the

trial court made an erroneous blanket statutory interpretation. However, it is clear

from the trial court’s opinion that the judge weighed all of the evidence before it in

concluding that a civil protection order should not issue. It is equally clear that,

despite the inartful drafting of the above paragraph, the trial court completely

understood and followed the correct standard:

The issue becomes whether or not Defendant’s statement at the

hospital “knowingly” caused Plaintiff to believe that Defendant would

cause them harm. -7-

***

Even though the comments were not made for the purpose of making a

threat, they could still have knowingly caused Plaintiff to believe that

Defendant would cause them physical harm if Defendant was aware

that the circumstances were such that his comments would get back to

Plaintiff, regardless of his purpose.

(7/25/14 J.E., p. 2.)

{¶20} Even though the trial court may have discussed its findings in a manner

which appears to address statutory interpretation, which involves a matter of law, the

record and the judgment entry read as a whole clearly shows that the trial court

weighed all of the evidence before it in entering judgment consistent with the relevant

law. Barium’s first assignment of error is without merit and is overruled.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. 2

The Trial Court Abused Its Discretion, Committed Reversible Error And

Ruled Against The Manifest Weight Of The Evidence In Its

Determination There Was No Evidence That Defendant Was Aware Of

Any Probability His Statements Would Get Back To Plaintiff.

{¶21} In its second assignment of error, Barium contends the trial court’s

denial of the civil protection order is against the manifest weight of the evidence.

{¶22} A trial court’s decision to grant or deny a civil protection order will not be

disturbed where the decision is supported by the manifest weight of the evidence.

Morton v. Pyles, 7th Dist. No. 11 MA 124, 2012-Ohio-5343, ¶ 8. In a manifest weight -8-

analysis, a reviewing court weighs the evidence, including all reasonable inferences,

considers the credibility of all witnesses, and makes a determination that, whether in

resolving conflicts in the evidence, the finder of fact clearly lost its way or created

such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the judgment must be reversed and a new

trial ordered. Eastley v. Volkman, 132 Ohio St.3d 328, 2012-Ohio-2179, 972 N.E.2d

517, ¶ 20. However, when conducting a manifest weight analysis the reviewing court

must “be mindful of the presumption in favor of the finder of fact.” Id. at ¶ 21.

{¶23} Thus, a judgment supported by some competent, credible evidence

going to all of the essential elements of the case will not be reversed by a reviewing

court as against the manifest weight of the evidence. C.E. Morris Co. v. Foley

Constr. Co., 54 Ohio St.2d 279, 376 N.E.2d 578 (1978), syllabus.

{¶24} A number of witnesses testified at the hearing, including four of Miller’s

coworkers; Venci, President of Barium; Bowers, the treating nurse; and Ferrisse, the

case manager. Two of Appellant’s coworkers, Linda Yanok, Vice President of Sales;

and Roberta Ballato, the company bookkeeper, both testified as to Miller’s

threatening and agitated demeanor and conduct when he was at Barium in April of

2014. Ballato testified, “[Miller] was irritated, like I said, agitated, a little

confrontational.” (Tr., p. 29.)

{¶25} During her testimony Yanok stated, “I’ve known [Miller] for 15 years and

the Ross Miller that was in our office that day I have never seen before. He was very

antagonistic. He was loud. He swore a lot and it was just -- he was just very, very

frightening to me and I just wasn’t really sure what was going to happen.” (Tr., p. 68.) -9-

{¶26} Neither Barium nor Miller dispute the character of Miller’s conduct

during the April 7, 2014 visit to Barium. This conduct could form the basis for one

incident of threatening behavior. However, as noted, in order to establish a pattern of

conduct under the statute another such incident, closely related in time, needs to be

shown by a preponderance of evidence.

{¶27} Regarding the alleged second incident, Bowers testified that during her

interview of Miller at the emergency room she conducted a suicide risk assessment.

She also asked him if he was having homicidal thoughts, to which he answered in the

affirmative. Bowers testified that when she asked at whom those thoughts were

directed, “[h]e wouldn’t say anybody --anybody specific. Asked who, he -- I said ‘[a]re

you talking about coworkers?’ Yes.” (Tr., p. 17.) Bowers later testified, “[h]is reason

for coming into the ER is because he was having thoughts about hurting his

coworkers.” (Tr., p. 17.) Bowers further testified that when asked about harming

coworkers, “[h]e answered yes to it. He wouldn’t be specific. He didn’t say how.

Then he would back-step and said [sic] ‘[w]ell maybe I shouldn’t say that.’” (Tr., p.

17.)

{¶28} Ferrisse, the case manager at the behavioral health center where Miller

was transferred after his emergency room visit, testified that he reviewed the

emergency room notes. Under the hospital’s duty to warn policy, he was required to

report any credible threats to law enforcement. In his reading of the intake notes,

Miller’s statements could be seen as posing a threat. He testified that he had not

heard Miller make any threats against Barium or any of his coworkers. -10-

{¶29} Barium contends this evidence confirms that a second incident

occurred. Barium insists that the fact that he appeared to “back-step” his statements

to the nurse affirmatively demonstrates that Miller knew these statements would get

back to Barium. Thus, Miller was aware that his comments could lead to criminal or

civil liability. The record does not appear to support this contention, however. There

is no testimonial evidence to support the assertion that Miller had knowledge that

Barium would be informed of his statements. The record demonstrates that Miller

checked himself into the hospital seeking care for his mental wellbeing and after

initial intake agreed to be transferred to the behavioral center for extended treatment.

His reluctance to completely admit to his thoughts could just as easily be taken

simply as a recognition or acknowledgement of his illness. Barium seeks to have this

Court second-guess the trial court’s interpretation of witness testimony and make

inferences that are otherwise unsupported in the record.

{¶30} After listening to all of the witnesses and reviewing exhibits submitted

by Barium and admitted into evidence, including the police complaint which resulted

from Ferrisse’s contact with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, the trial court

acknowledged that:

The statements in the hospital were made to hospital personnel not to

Plaintiff. Although the statements got back to Plaintiff it does not

appear that they were calculated or even expected to get back.

Instead, the statements were made to help medical personnel diagnose

and treat his homicidal and suicidal thoughts. -11-

The Court finds no evidence that Defendant was aware of any

probability that his statements would get back to Plaintiff. Because

Defendant had no reason to be aware that his statements would likely

find their way back to Plaintiffs, causing them to fear harm, it cannot be

said that he “knowingly” “caused another to believe that the offender

would cause physical harm.”

{¶31} Because the finder of fact Is accorded great deference in determining

the appropriate inferences to be made from testimony, and that this matter is entirely

based on inference, we see no basis to overturn the trial court’s decision in the

instant matter. The credibility of the witnesses and weight to be given to those

witnesses’ testimony are matters primarily for the trier of fact. State v. DeHass, 10

Ohio St.2d 230, 227 N.E.2d 212 (1967). The trier of fact is free to believe or

disbelieve any witnesses, as well as all or part of each witness’s testimony. Kranek

v. Richards, 7th Dist. No. 11 JE 2, 2011-Ohio-6374, ¶ 26.

{¶32} A review of the record reveals the trial court, as trier of fact, did not lose

its way in denying Barium’s petition for a civil protection order. As regards the

hospital statement which formed the basis for Barium’s alleged second incident

necessary to prove a pattern of conduct, there was no evidence presented of other

comments made to anyone else during Miller’s hospital treatment, nor was there any

indication that Miller, in making the initial statement to the emergency room nurse, -12-

met the mental culpability standard for “knowingly.” The trial court did not find the

testimony about the second incident rose to the required level to show a pattern of

conduct required by the statute, nor was there a preponderance of evidence

demonstrating that the statements in the hospital emergency room were tantamount

to menacing by stalking as defined by the statute. Accordingly, the trial court’s

decision to deny the civil protection order was not against the manifest weight of the

evidence, and the second assignment of error is also overruled.

{¶33} Based upon the foregoing, Barium’s two assignments of error are

without merit and the judgment of the Jefferson County Common Pleas Court is

affirmed.

Donofrio, P.J., concurs.

DeGenaro, J., concurs.