Bend-Fast, Inc. v. SBA Monarch Towers III, L.L.C.

2024 Ohio 2036, 246 N.E.3d 61
Ohio Court of Appeals·Decided May 28, 2024·No. 2023-A-0053·Published·Cited by 1 cases

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO ELEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT ASHTABULA COUNTY

BEND-FAST, INC., CASE NO. 2023-A-0053

Plaintiff-Appellant,

Civil Appeal from the

- vs - Court of Common Pleas

SBA MONARCH TOWERS III, LLC, et al., Trial Court No. 2023 CV 00014

Defendants-Appellees.

OPINION

Decided: May 28, 2024

Judgment: Reversed and remanded

Dennis D. DeCamillo, 4414 North Ridge Road, W., Ashtabula, OH 44004 (For Plaintiff- Appellant).

Steven K. Kelley, Edmond Z. Jaber, Mary Beth Klemencic, and Frank H. Scialdone, Mazanec, Raskin & Ryder Co., LPA, 100 Franklin’s Row, 34305 Solon Road, Cleveland, OH 44139 (For Defendant-Appellee SBA Monarch Towers III, LLC).

Tracey L. Turnbull and McDaniel M. Kelly, Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur, LLP, 950 Main Avenue, Suite 500, Cleveland, OH 44113 (For Defendant-Appellee T-Mobile Central LLC).

Kyle B. Smith, Smith & Miller, Attorneys at Law, 36 West Jefferson Street, Jefferson, OH 44047; Tonya J. Rogers, Gregory A. Beck, and Brittany A. Bowland, Baker, Dublikar, Beck, Wiley & Mathews, 400 South Main Street, North Canton, OH 44720 (For Defendants-Appellees Geneva Township, Tim Mills, Dennis Brown, Tiffany Miller, Tammy Caya, Robert Russell and Richard Pruden).

ROBERT J. PATTON, J.

{¶1} The instant case concerns an access road and cables that appellant, Bend-

Fast Inc. (“Bend-Fast”) found buried on its property. The adjacent property was leased

by appellee, Geneva Township (“Geneva”) to appellee T-Mobile Central, LLC (“T- Mobile”), who after building a cellular tower on Geneva’s property assigned the lease to appellee SBA Monarch Towers III, LLC (“SBA”) (collectively “appellees”).

{¶2} Bend-Fast appeals the judgments of the Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas that granted the appellees’ motions for judgment on the pleadings, finding Bend-Fast’s claims for trespass, criminal trespass (civil liability for criminal acts), unjust enrichment, and eminent domain (as against Geneva), were barred by the statute of limitations.

{¶3} Bend-Fast raises five assignments of error on appeal, contending in its first four assignments of error that the trial court erred by failing to find that a continuous trespass existed with respect to the buried cables and the access road on its property, thus finding the statute of limitations had run on its claims of civil trespass, criminal trespass, and unjust enrichment. In its fifth assignment of error, Bend-Fast contends the trial court erred by failing to construe all the allegations in its complaint as true pursuant to Civ.R. 12(C).

{¶4} We review Bend-Fast’s errors collectively since they concern whether the trial court erred in finding Bend-Fast alleged a permanent trespass that was “fully accomplished,” instead of a continuing trespass, which tolls the statute of limitations. After a careful review of the record and pertinent law, we find Bend-Fast’s assignments to be with merit.

{¶5} Accepting all of the factual allegations of the complaint as true and drawing all inferences in favor of Bend-Fast, we find Bend-Fast has sufficiently stated a claim of continuing trespass, having alleged that the access road and buried cables were

unauthorized, intentional acts placed on Bend-Fast’s property by appellees; are an intrusion by appellees, which is interfering with Bend-Fast’s rights of exclusive possession of its property; and appellees’ control and conduct of the cellular tower are ongoing. Bend-Fast’s remaining claims of criminal trespass and unjust enrichment are based on the same underlying conduct of appellees. Thus, the trial court erred in determining the statute of limitations had run on Bend-Fast’s claims.

{¶6} The judgment of the Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas is reversed and remanded in accordance with this opinion.

Substantive and Procedural History

{¶7} In January 2023, Bend-Fast filed a complaint in the Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas against appellees as well as individual Geneva Township Trustees, officers, and employees; unknown XYZ entities 1-10, and unknown John Doe XYZ employees 1-20.

{¶8} Bend-Fast alleged that in June 2005, it purchased certain real property located at 218 N. Cedar Street, Geneva, Ohio (the “property”). Adjacent to the property is a property located at 256 N. Cedar Street, Geneva, Ohio, (on the southwest corner of N. Cedar Street and North Avenue). It is owned by Geneva (the “Geneva property”).

{¶9} In June 2006, Geneva and T-Mobile entered into a lease agreement to allow T-Mobile to build and maintain a cellular tower on the Geneva property. At various times during 2006 (or earlier) Geneva established an access road over and across Bend-Fast’s property. In December 2006, Geneva was issued a zoning permit for construction of the cellular tower on the Geneva property.

{¶10} T-Mobile contracted with XYZ entities to construct the cellular tower on the Geneva property. Various items, including electrical power and fiber optic cabling (the “cables”) were installed and buried on Bend-Fast’s property.

{¶11} In June 2016, T-Mobile assigned its interest in the lease to SBA.

{¶12} In June 2019, Bend-Fast discovered the presence of the cables and access road and notified Geneva, later notifying SBA, and through SBA, T-Mobile.

{¶13} Bend-Fast pleaded claims of civil trespass, criminal trespass, and unjust enrichment against all the appellees, and a claim of eminent domain solely against Geneva.

{¶14} Attached to the complaint were a map of the properties, the site lease between Geneva and T-Mobile, an amendment to the lease agreement made in 2006, and an amendment to the lease agreement in 2016, transferring the lease from T-Mobile to SBA.

Geneva’s Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings

{¶15} Geneva filed an answer and a motion to dismiss pursuant to Civ.R. 12(C), as well as a site map of the construction and the lease agreement. In its motion, Geneva contended, as the site map indicated, the tower, access road, and utilities are located only on the Geneva property.

{¶16} Geneva further contended that Bend-Fast’s claims were barred by the statute of limitations, had no legal basis and/or were barred by governmental immunity. Geneva argued Bend-Fast should have discovered the alleged taking no later than 2007 since the tower and the access road were clearly visible from Bend-Fast’s property, and Bend-Fast does not have standing to allege criminal trespass and failed to prove intent

to trespass and/or recklessness. In addition, Bend-Fast failed to file a mandamus claim, which is the appropriate action in a taking claim that cannot be circumvented by filing an unjust enrichment claim.

{¶17} Bend-Fast filed a response, arguing that Geneva failed to draw all reasonable inferences in its favor pursuant to the standard for a Civ.R. 12(C) motion for a judgment on the pleadings. Bend-Fast further argued that contrary to Geneva’s contentions, the statute of limitations is tolled because the access road and cables constitute a continuous trespass, and it has standing to bring a claim for damages for the act of criminal trespass pursuant to R.C. 2307.60(A)(1). In addition, its claim for unjust enrichment was not based on a contract, rather it was seeking monies wrongfully collected by Geneva. Lastly, governmental immunity does not apply to equitable relief.

SBA’s Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings

{¶18} SBA filed an answer and a motion for judgment on the pleadings, contending Bend-Fast does not have standing to bring a claim of criminal trespass in a civil case.

{¶19} Bend-Fast filed a response, contending it was claiming damages for criminal trespass, pursuant to R.C. 2307.60(A)(1).

{¶20} In its reply, SBA noted that Bend-Fast never pleaded a claim pursuant to R.C. 2307.60(A)(1); it simply pleaded a claim entitled “criminal trespass.”

Trial Court’s Judgment as to Geneva (all counts) and SBA (criminal trespass)

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Bend-Fast, Inc. v. SBA Monarch Towers III, L.L.C., 2024 Ohio 2036, 246 N.E.3d 61 (Ohio Ct. App. 2024).

2024 Ohio 2036 (Bend-Fast, Inc. v. SBA Monarch Towers III, L.L.C.) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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