Conley v. Smith, Unpublished Decision (3-27-2006)

2006 Ohio 1498
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedMarch 27, 2006
DocketNo. 2005CA00215.
StatusUnpublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 2006 Ohio 1498 (Conley v. Smith, Unpublished Decision (3-27-2006)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law.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
Conley v. Smith, Unpublished Decision (3-27-2006), 2006 Ohio 1498 (Ohio Ct. App. 2006).

Opinion

OPINION
{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant Clayton B. Smith appeals the July 28, 2005 Judgment Entry of the Stark County Court of Common Pleas granting execution of judgment in favor of plaintiff-appellee Craig T. Conley.

STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE
{¶ 2} On March 11, 2004, appellee Craig Conley obtained a judgment in the Stark County Court of Common Pleas against appellant Clayton Smith in the amount of $2,890.00, plus interest at the rate of ten percent per annum from August 22, 2002.

{¶ 3} Appellee initiated the instant action for statutory execution of judgment against certain of appellant's assets. At all times relevant, appellant remained insolvent with a Jeep automobile and a coney cart being his only personal assets.

{¶ 4} The trial court conducted a bench trial on June 28, 2005. Via Judgment Entry of July 28, 2005, the trial court found on May 13, 2004, appellant transferred title and ownership of record of the Jeep to his mother for no consideration. Appellant thereafter continued to possess and use the vehicle. On December 1, 2004, appellee received $1,500.00 toward the aforesaid judgment; and, on March 2, 2005, he received an additional $30.60 toward the aforesaid judgment. The balance of $2,067.40 remained due and owing as of March 2, 2005. The trial court granted judgment in favor of appellee in the amount of $2,067.40, plus interest at the rate of ten percent per annum from March 2, 2005. The trial court further ordered appellant pay punitive damages in the amount of $1,500.00, plus interest at the rate of five percent per annum.

{¶ 5} Appellant now appeals, assigning as error:

{¶ 6} "I. THE TRIAL COURT HAD COMMITTED IRREVERSIBLE ERROR IN NOT RECOGNIZING THE DOCTRINE OF RES JUDICATA IN THE COURTS [SIC] MAY 18, 2005 DENIAL OF HIS [SIC] FAILURE TO GRANT APPELLANT FEBRUARY 22, 2005 MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT.

{¶ 7} "II. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN SUSTAINING THE APPELLEES OBJECTION TO THE USE OF THE OCTOBER 28, 2004 TRANSCRIPT ON THE GROUNDS OF LACK OF RELEVANCY, AUTHENTICATION, AND HERESAY [SIC].

{¶ 8} "III. THE TRIAL COURT ERRE DIN NOT ALLOWING A JURY TRIAL AFTER ITS OWN RECORD HAD BEEN SET FOR JURY TRIAL.

{¶ 9} "IV. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN NOT ADMINISTERING AN OATH BEFORE COMMENCING WITH ANY PORTIONS OF A TRIAL BETWEEN TWO NONR-EPRESENTED PRO SE PARTIES.

{¶ 10} "V. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN NOT HOLDING TO THE DEFENDANT'S RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS.

{¶ 11} "VI. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN RULING THAT THE DEFENDANT HAD CONCEALED AN ASSET WHICH IN REALITY HAD NOT BEEN AN ASSET SUBJECT TO OHIO FRAUDULENT TRANSFER ACT BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN ENCUMBERED BY A VALID LIEN, AND THUS NOT SUBJECT TO EXECUTION.

{¶ 12} "VII. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ITS CONCLUSION THAT APPELLANT HAD ISSUED A FALSE STATEMENT TO DEPUTY CRAIG KENNEDY WHEN HE HAD STATED TO KENNEDY THAT THE "CONEY CART" HAD NOT BEEN IN HIS POSSESSION.

{¶ 13} "VIII. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN RULING THAT THE DEFENDANT FRAUDULENTLY TRANSFERRED THE JEEP TO JANE S. WOOD IN ORDER TO PREVENT CONLEY ATTACHING SAME BY HAVING THE VEHICLE TO AN INSIDER FOR NO CONSIDERATION.

{¶ 14} "IX. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN RULING THAT THE DEFENDANT HAD FRAUDULENTLY TRANSFERRED THE JEEP TO JAN [SIC] S. WOOD, AND ALLEGED INSIDER, FOR NO CONSIDERATION OR FOR NO REASONABLE EQUIVALENT VALUE.

{¶ 15} "X. THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED STRUCTURAL ERROR IN NOT HAVING ENFORCED THE APPEARANCE OF MARY LOU SEKULA, AND HER SECRETARY, ANN SIMON."

I
{¶ 16} In the first assignment of error, appellant maintains, because the trial court previously denied his motion for summary judgment on the same grounds, the issues presented in this action for execution of judgment have been previously litigated; therefore, are barred by the doctrine of res judicata.

{¶ 17} We disagree with appellant's argument.

{¶ 18} Proper application of the doctrine of res judicata requires the identical cause of action shall have been previously adjudicated in a proceeding with the same parties, in which the party against whom the doctrine is sought to be imposed shall have had a full and fair opportunity to litigate the claim.

{¶ 19} It is difficult to understand appellant's argument. Appellant appears to argue appellee's complaint is barred by the doctrine of res judicata in that the fraud claims were previously litigated in the instant action via summary judgment or possibly in a prior action. Upon review of the record, we do not find res judicata bars appellee's complaint as the identical cause of action has not been previously adjudicated in a prior proceeding. Furthermore, the denial of a plaintiff's motion for summary judgment is not a final adjudication triggering application of res judicata.

{¶ 20} Appellant's first assignment of error is overruled.

II
{¶ 21} In his second assignment of error, appellant maintains the trial court erred in sustaining appellee's objection to the introduction of an uncertified transcript at trial based on hearsay and relevancy. Appellant asserts the transcript was self-authenticating and admissible evidence, pursuant to Evidence Rule 908(C).

{¶ 22} We note appellant failed to present this court with a full transcript of the proceedings before the trial court. Rather, appellant filed a partial transcript without complying with the requirements of Ohio Appellate Rule 9.

{¶ 23} In Knapp v. Edwards Laboratories (1980),61 Ohio St2d 197, 199, the Supreme Court of Ohio held the following: "[t]he duty to provide a transcript for appellate review falls upon the appellant. This is necessarily so because an appellant bears the burden of showing error by reference to matters in the record. See State v. Skaggs (1978), 53 Ohio St.2d 162. This principle is recognized in App.R. 9, which states:

{¶ 24} "(A) Composition of the record on appeal

{¶ 25} "The original papers and exhibits thereto filed in the trial court, the transcript of proceedings, if any, including exhibits, and a certified copy of the docket and journal entries prepared by the clerk of the trial court shall constitute the record on appeal in all cases. * * *

{¶ 26} * * *

{¶ 27} "(B) The transcript of proceedings; duty of appellantto order; notice to appellee if partial transcript is ordered

{¶ 28} "At the time of filing the notice of appeal theappellant, in writing, shall order from the reporter a completetranscript or a transcript of the parts of the proceedings notalready on file as the appellant considers necessary forinclusion in the record and file a copy of the order with theclerk.

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Related

Conley v. Smith
848 N.E.2d 853 (Ohio Supreme Court, 2006)

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Bluebook (online)
2006 Ohio 1498, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/conley-v-smith-unpublished-decision-3-27-2006-ohioctapp-2006.