Dickson v. Gorski

100 N.E.3d 857, 2017 Ohio 8582
CourtCourt of Appeals of Ohio, Eighth District, Cuyahoga County
DecidedNovember 16, 2017
DocketNo. 105779
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 100 N.E.3d 857 (Dickson v. Gorski) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Ohio, Eighth District, Cuyahoga County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Dickson v. Gorski, 100 N.E.3d 857, 2017 Ohio 8582 (Ohio Super. Ct. 2017).

Opinion

SEAN C. GALLAGHER, J.:

*858{¶ 1} Blake Dickson appeals the judgment entered on the pleadings in favor of Pamela Gorski. The allegations in the complaint stem from Gorski's performance of duties as guardian ad litem in Dickson's domestic relations case, Cuyahoga C.P. No. DR-13-348970 ("divorce case"). The trial court accordingly held that Gorski was entitled to absolute immunity from the claims asserted in the separate proceeding. We affirm.

{¶ 2} Gorski was appointed by the domestic relations court to serve as a guardian ad litem during Dickson's divorce proceedings. At the conclusion of the divorce case, Gorski was awarded fees totaling around $33,000 for services rendered. Dickson was responsible for half. After obtaining a judgment lien against Dickson, Gorski initiated proceedings to collect on the judgment. Dickson then filed a motion for relief from judgment in the divorce case, which is the subject of another appeal pending in 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 105318. In this action, Dickson claims Gorski was negligent in performing her obligations as the guardian ad litem and committed fraud through requesting excessive fees for services not rendered.

{¶ 3} Gorski answered the complaint and filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings under Civ.R. 12(C), claiming that she is entitled to absolute immunity in the separate action for any actions arising from her service as the guardian ad litem. The trial court agreed and entered judgment in favor of Gorski upon all claims. Dickson appealed.

{¶ 4} In the sole assignment of error, Dickson claims the trial court erred by applying the doctrine of absolute immunity in this case. Essentially, he seeks an exception allowing for a factual, case-by-case inquiry into whether a guardian ad litem is entitled to assert immunity for actions arising from her performance of the duties associated with the appointment.

{¶ 5} We review a ruling on a motion for judgment on the pleadings de novo. Thornton v. Cleveland , 176 Ohio App.3d 122, 2008-Ohio-1709, 890 N.E.2d 353, ¶ 3 (8th Dist.). Motions for judgment on the pleadings are governed by Civ.R. 12(C), which states: "After the pleadings are closed but within such time as not to delay the trial, any party may move for judgment on the pleadings." "In order to be entitled to a dismissal under Civ.R. 12(C), it must appear beyond doubt that [the nonmovant] can prove no set of facts warranting the requested relief, after construing all material factual allegations in the complaint and all reasonable inferences therefrom in [the nonmovant's] favor." State ex rel. Toledo v. Lucas Cty. Bd. of Elections , 95 Ohio St.3d 73, 74, 2002-Ohio-1383, 765 N.E.2d 854.

{¶ 6} Absolute immunity, as a complete defense to the claims advanced in a complaint, can be raised on motion to dismiss or judgment on the pleadings. Pisani v. Pisani , 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 72136, 1997 WL 767452, *1-2, 1997 Ohio App. LEXIS 5549, *4 (Dec. 11, 1997) ; Dolan v. Kronenberg , 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 76054, 1999 WL 528202, *2, 1999 Ohio App. LEXIS 3387, *7 (July 22, 1999). "The existence of immunity as a defense in a civil action is a purely legal issue, properly determined by a trial court prior to trial." Rolfe v. Giusto , 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 87831, 2007-Ohio-78, 2007 WL 64687, ¶ 9, citing Kronenberg and Goad v. Cuyahoga Cty. Bd. of Commrs. , 79 Ohio App.3d 521, 524, 607 N.E.2d 878 (8th Dist.1992).

*859{¶ 7} The law is not in dispute. A guardian ad litem is entitled to absolute immunity against a collateral attack on her performance of the duties as a matter of law. For example, in Giusto , summary judgment in favor of the guardian ad litem was affirmed, with the court recognizing that a guardian ad litem enjoys absolute immunity from tort actions arising out of service as guardian ad litem. Giusto at ¶ 10 ; Lisboa v. Lisboa , 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 95673, 2011-Ohio-351, 2011 WL 319956, ¶ 21. Similarly, in Penn v. McMonagle , 60 Ohio App.3d 149, 152, 573 N.E.2d 1234 (6th Dist.1990), the Sixth Appellate District agreed, noting that a guardian ad litem acts in a quasi-judicial function and is entitled to the same immunity afforded to the judiciary when the allegations stem from the performance of the duties attendant to the appointment. Id. , citing Wilson v. Neu , 12 Ohio St.3d 102, 465 N.E.2d 854 (1984) ; see also Kellogg v. Daulton , 10th Dist. Franklin No. 06AP-106, 2006-Ohio-4115, 2006 WL 2301664, ¶ 8 ; Williams v. Barrick , 10th Dist. Franklin No. 08AP-133, 2008-Ohio-4592,

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Bluebook (online)
100 N.E.3d 857, 2017 Ohio 8582, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dickson-v-gorski-ohctapp8cuyahog-2017.