Figley v. Ivex Protective Packaging, Inc.

2016 Ohio 3501
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 20, 2016
Docket17-16-02
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 2016 Ohio 3501 (Figley v. Ivex Protective Packaging, Inc.) 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
Figley v. Ivex Protective Packaging, Inc., 2016 Ohio 3501 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016).

Opinion

[Cite as Figley v. Ivex Protective Packaging, Inc., 2016-Ohio-3501.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT SHELBY COUNTY

FRED M. FIGLEY III,

PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT, CASE NO. 17-16-02

-AND-

OHIO BUREAU OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION,

PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE,

v. OPINION

IVEX PROTECTIVE PACKAGING, INC., ET AL.,

DEFENDANTS-APPELLEES.

Appeal from Shelby County Common Pleas Court Trial Court No. 13CV000062

Motion Denied; Judgment Affirmed

Date of Decision: June 20, 2016

APPEARANCES:

Paul W. Flowers for Appellant

David J. Simko for Appellee, Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation

Bradley L. Snyder for Appellee, Concept Convoyeur, Inc. Case No. 17-16-02

PRESTON, J.,

{¶1} Plaintiff-appellant, Fred M. Figley III (“Figley”), appeals the January

4, 2016 judgment entry of the Shelby County Court of Common Pleas dismissing

Figley’s amended complaint as to defendant-appellee, Concept Convoyeur, Inc.

(“Concept”). Figley also challenges on appeal the trial court’s February 26, 2015

judgment entry denying Figley’s motion for partial summary judgment and

granting the motion for summary judgment of plaintiff-appellee, the Ohio Bureau

of Workers’ Compensation (“BWC”). For the reasons that follow, we affirm.

{¶2} This case arises from a workplace accident at defendant-appellee’s,

IVEX Protective Packaging, Inc. (“IVEX”), plant in Sidney, Ohio. Figley was

operating a “bubble out bag machine” (“machine”) when his hand became trapped,

resulting in the loss of several of Figley’s fingers. The machine’s safety interlock

device was bypassed, allowing IVEX employees operating the machine to access

the internal mechanisms while the machine remained energized and operational.

Concept designed and manufactured the machine and sold it to IVEX in Canada,

with the understanding that the machine would be used in Illinois. IVEX

subsequently closed its Illinois plant and transferred the machine to its Sidney

plant.

{¶3} On March 27, 2013, Figley filed his complaint for personal injury

against IVEX and the BWC. (Doc. No. 1). On April 19, 2013, the BWC filed an

-2- Case No. 17-16-02

answer and a motion “for realignment of the parties,” requesting that it be

realigned as a party plaintiff in the case and be allowed to file the complaint

attached to its motion for realignment. (Doc. Nos. 11, 10). Figley filed a

memorandum in opposition to the BWC’s motion for realignment on April 29,

2013. (Doc. No. 18). On May 28, 2013, the trial court granted the BWC’s motion

for realignment, and the BWC filed its complaint. (Doc. Nos. 26, 25).

{¶4} On May 24, 2013 and June 27, 2013, IVEX filed answers to Figley’s

complaint and the BWC’s complaint, respectively. (Doc. Nos. 24, 32).

{¶5} On February 24, 2014, IVEX filed a motion for summary judgment.

(Doc. No. 70). On April 16, 2014, Figley filed a memorandum in opposition to

IVEX’s motion for summary judgment. (Doc. No. 103). IVEX filed a reply brief

in support of its motion for summary judgment on May 7, 2014. (Doc. No. 109).

{¶6} Meanwhile, on March 3, 2014, with leave of court, Figley filed an

amended complaint for personal injury, adding Concept as a defendant. (Doc. No.

79). Figley’s amended complaint included claims: (1) against IVEX for

workplace intentional tort, “common law claims,” civil battery, and intentional

infliction of serious emotional distress; (2) against the BWC for a declaratory

judgment that R.C. 4123.93 and 4123.931—the statutes governing subrogation

rights related to the payment of workers’ compensation and benefits—do not

apply or, alternatively, if R.C. 4123.93 and 4123.931 do apply, a declaration as to

-3- Case No. 17-16-02

the BWC’s subrogation rights; and (3) against Concept for product liability,

breach of warranty, and negligence. (See id.). On March 17, 2014, IVEX filed an

answer to Figley’s amended complaint. (Doc. No. 86). Concept filed an answer

to Figley’s amended complaint on June 19, 2014. (Doc. No. 116). In its answer,

Concept asserted the affirmative defense of lack of personal jurisdiction. (See id.

at 10).

{¶7} While IVEX’s motion for summary judgment was pending, Figley

reached a settlement with IVEX in the total amount of $280,000.00. (See Doc.

No. 127, Ex. A, ¶ 3). (See also Doc. No. 163).

{¶8} On October 6, 2014, Figley filed a motion for partial summary

judgment as to his declaratory-judgment claim against the BWC. (Doc. No. 127).

Specifically, Figley requested that declaratory judgment “be entered establishing

that Plaintiff BWC is entitled to $11,465.58 with regard to Plaintiff Figley’s

settlement recovery from Defendant IVEX.” (Id. at 12). On January 20, 2015, the

BWC filed a combined motion for summary judgment and memorandum in

opposition to Figley’s motion for partial summary judgment. (Doc. No. 149). In

its motion for summary judgment, the BWC proposed “two alternative methods

for arriving at the amount of the subrogation interest” as to Figley’s settlement

with IVEX. (Id. at 9). On February 6, 2015, Figley filed a response to the BWC’s

-4- Case No. 17-16-02

motion for summary judgment. (Doc. No. 155). On February 17, 2015, the BWC

filed a reply in support of its motion for summary judgment. (Doc. No. 161).

{¶9} On February 26, 2015, the trial court filed a judgment entry in which it

granted the BWC’s motion for summary judgment and denied Figley’s motion for

partial summary judgment. (Doc. No. 163). In its judgment entry, the trial court

concluded that, as to Figley’s settlement with IVEX, the subrogation interest of the

BWC is $292,944.56. (Id. at 6).

{¶10} On April 22, 2015, Figley and the BWC filed a “notice of dismissal

with prejudice” of IVEX. (Doc. No. 167). That document stated, “Now come the

parties [Figley], [the BWC,] and [IVEX] and advise the Court that they have

settled and adjusted this matter among themselves.” (Id.).

{¶11} On June 26, 2015, Concept filed a “motion to dismiss and/or for

summary judgment.” (Doc. No. 171). In that motion, Concept argued, among

other things, that the trial court lacked personal jurisdiction over Concept. (Id. at

8). On October 9, 2015, Figley filed a memorandum in opposition to Concept’s

motion. (Doc. Nos. 185, 184). Concept filed a reply in support of its motion on

November 2, 2015. (Doc. No. 190).

{¶12} On January 4, 2016, the trial court filed a judgment entry concluding

that it did not have personal jurisdiction over Concept, granting Concept’s motion,

and dismissing Concept from the case. (Doc. No. 191).

-5- Case No. 17-16-02

{¶13} On January 13, 2016, Figley filed a notice of appeal. (Doc. No. 192).

He raises two assignments of error for our review. We will address Figley’s

assignments of error in reverse order.

Assignment of Error No. II

A further legal error was committed when the trial court determined that personal jurisdiction could not be exercised over defendant-appellee, Concept Convoyeur, Inc. [Decision dated January 4, 2016]

{¶14} In his second assignment of error, Figley argues that the trial court

erred by concluding that it did not have personal jurisdiction over Concept,

granting Concept’s “motion to dismiss and/or for summary judgment,” and

dismissing the action against Concept. Specifically, Figley points out that there is

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2016 Ohio 3501, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/figley-v-ivex-protective-packaging-inc-ohioctapp-2016.