Bernabei v. Cincinnati Ins. Cos., Unpublished Decision (9-20-2004)

2004 Ohio 4939
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedSeptember 20, 2004
DocketCase Nos. 2002CA00078, 2002CA00073.
StatusUnpublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 2004 Ohio 4939 (Bernabei v. Cincinnati Ins. Cos., Unpublished Decision (9-20-2004)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law.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
Bernabei v. Cincinnati Ins. Cos., Unpublished Decision (9-20-2004), 2004 Ohio 4939 (Ohio Ct. App. 2004).

Opinion

OPINION
{¶ 1} On September 24, 1998, Richard Bernabei was killed when his motorcycle was struck by an automobile driven by Michelle Kellogg, who was an underinsured motorist ("UIM"). Richard Bernabei was survived by his parents, Appellees Robert and Shirley Bernabei, and by his wife Appellee Tamara Bernabei. Appellees Robert and Shirley Bernabei owned a personal automobile insurance policy (the "Personal Auto policy") No. HRA 696 49 73, issued by Appellant Cincinnati Insurance Companies ("Appellant"). Richard Bernabei was also a member of a union, IBEW Local 540, which owned insurance policy No. CAP 500 9118 C1 (the "IBEW policy"), also issued by Appellant. On February 6, 2002, the Stark County Court of Common Pleas filed two judgment entries which held that there was valid UIM coverage under both insurance policies. The judgment entries were appealed to the Fifth District Court of Appeals in two separate appeals. Three judges from the Seventh District Court of Appeals are sitting by assignment to hear these two appeals.

{¶ 2} Appeal No. 2002CA00073 challenges the trial court's decision to grant coverage to Richard Bernabei under his union's automobile policy. As we will explain below, the trial court's judgment as regards to the IBEW policy must be reversed based on the recent holding of Westfield Ins. Co. v. Galatis,100 Ohio St.3d 216, 2003-Ohio-5849, 797 N.E.2d 1256. Appeal No. 2002CA00078 asks this Court to determine whether the holding ofSexton v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. (1982),69 Ohio St.2d 431, 23 O.O.3d 385, 433 N.E.2d 555, should be applied to a 1997 version of R.C. § 3937.18(A). The trial court correctly appliedSexton and properly granted UIM coverage to Appellees pursuant to their Personal Auto policy. Thus, we reverse the trial court decision in Appeal No. 2002CA00073, and affirm the decision of the trial court in Appeal No. 2002CA00078.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
{¶ 3} On September 25, 2000, Appellee Tamara Bernabei filed a declaratory judgment and breach of contract complaint against four insurance companies, including Appellant. Her claim against Appellant sought to have the trial court declare that UIM coverage existed under the IBEW policy.

{¶ 4} On January 16, 2001, five other members of the Bernabei family filed a declaratory judgment action against Appellant and three additional insurance companies. Their claim against Appellant involved UIM coverage allegedly arising out of the Personal Auto policy issued to Robert and Shirley Bernabei. The two cases were later consolidated by the trial court.

{¶ 5} On May 31, 2001, parent Appellees filed a motion for summary judgment regarding the Personal Auto policy. The next day, Appellee Tamara Bernabei filed a motion for summary judgment regarding the IBEW policy. On June 29, 2001, Appellant filed a cross-motion for summary judgment regarding the Personal Auto policy. Three days later, Appellant filed a cross-motion for summary judgment as regards the IBEW policy. The trial court ruled on all of these motions on February 6, 2002.

{¶ 6} The trial court granted summary judgment to Appellee Tamara Bernabei, holding that the decedent was an insured under the IBEW policy pursuant to the principles set forth inScott-Pontzer v. Liberty Mut. Fire Ins., Co. (1999),85 Ohio St.3d 660, 710 N.E.2d 1116. The trial court based this decision on its finding that the decedent's status as a member of the union gave him the same rights under Scott-Pontzer as an employee of a corporation attempting to claim UIM benefits under a corporate automobile liability policy. The remaining issue of damages was submitted to arbitration pursuant to the terms of the IBEW policy. Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal on March 7, 2002.

{¶ 7} The trial court also granted, by separate entry, summary judgment to parent Appellees on their UIM claim arising under the Personal Auto policy. The trial court held that the 1997 version of R.C. § 3937.18(A) did not preclude Appellee parents from recovering funeral and other expenses arising out of the death of their son, under the principles set forth inSexton supra, and Moore v. State Auto Mut. Ins. Co. (2000),88 Ohio St.3d 27, 723 N.E.2d 97. The judgment entry did not contain the, "no just reason for delay language," set forth in Civ.R. 54(B), which would have allowed the parties to file an immediate appeal. Appellant, nevertheless, filed a notice of appeal on March 8, 2002.

{¶ 8} On April 24, 2002, parent Appellees filed a motion to dismiss the Personal Auto policy appeal for lack of a final appealable order. On May 7, 2002, Appellees refiled the same motion to dismiss. On May 16, 2002, Appellant filed a response. On May 30, 2002, Appellant filed a similar response in the IBEW policy appeal although no motion to dismiss that appeal had been filed.

{¶ 9} This Court subsequently issued a journal entry allowing the parties to petition the trial court for amended judgment entries containing the language required by Civ.R. 54(B).

{¶ 10} On January 3, 2003, the trial court issued an amended judgment entry affecting the Personal Auto policy judgment. The trial court found, nunc pro tunc, that there was no just cause for delay pursuant to Civ.R. 54(B).

FINAL APPEALABLE ORDER STATUS
{¶ 11} There are two judgment entries now on appeal. Appellees have challenged whether the appeal surrounding the Personal Auto policy presents a final appealable order. Although the trial court initially failed to include the language required by Civ.R. 54(B) to allow this judgment to be final and appealable, the trial court amended the judgment, nunc pro tunc, on January 3, 2003, stating that "[t]here is no just cause for delay."

{¶ 12} A court of appeals only has jurisdiction to review final appealable orders. Chef Italiano Corp. v. Kent StateUniv. (1989), 44 Ohio St.3d 86, 87, 541 N.E.2d 64. An order that leaves one or more parties or claims pending before the trial court may be final and appealable if it satisfies the requirements of R.C. § 2505.02(B) and Civ.R. 54(B). Wisintainerv. Elcen Power Strut Co. (1993), 67 Ohio St.3d 352, 354,617 N.E.2d 1136.

{¶ 13} R.C. §

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Bluebook (online)
2004 Ohio 4939, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bernabei-v-cincinnati-ins-cos-unpublished-decision-9-20-2004-ohioctapp-2004.