Ford v. Crawford

2021 Ohio 454

Opinion

[Cite as Ford v. Crawford, 2021-Ohio-454.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT MONTGOMERY COUNTY

EMMIT FORD, et al. : : Plaintiffs-Appellees : Appellate Case No. 28717 : v. : Trial Court Case No. 2020-CVG-124W : RYAN CRAWFORD : (Civil Appeal from Municipal Court) : Defendant-Appellant : :

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OPINION

Rendered on the 19th day of February, 2021.

EMMIT FORD and FLORENCE FORD, P.O. Box 235, Dayton, Ohio 45405 Plaintiffs-Appellees, Pro Se

RYAN CRAWFORD, 5205 Bessmer Drive, Trotwood, Ohio 45426 Defendant-Appellant, Pro Se

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TUCKER, P.J. -2-

{¶ 1} Appellant, Ryan Crawford, appeals from a judgment which granted

appellees, Emmit and Florence Ford, restitution of a premises located on Bessmer Drive

in Trotwood, Ohio. Since Crawford’s brief does not articulate an assignment of error but,

instead, indicates that the dispute between the parties has been resolved, the trial court’s

judgment will be affirmed.

Facts and Procedural History

{¶ 2} Crawford and Ford 1 entered into a rental agreement regarding a home

located on Bessmer Drive. In January 2020, Ford filed a Petition for Forcible Entry and

Detainer alleging that Crawford had failed to pay rent, that the statutory three-day notice

to pay the back rent or vacate the premises had been served, and that Crawford remained

in possession of the premises. The trial court, it seems,2 conducted a forcible entry and

detainer hearing, and Ford was granted restitution of the premises. This appeal

followed.

Analysis

{¶ 3} “A forcible entry and detainer action decides the right to immediate

possession of property and ‘nothing else.’ ” Miami Valley Housing v. Jackson, 2d Dist.

Montgomery No. 25020, 2012-Ohio-5103, ¶ 5, quoting Goldstein v. Patel, 9th Dist. Lorain

Nos. 02CA8183 and 02CA8199, 2003-Ohio-4386, ¶ 4, quoting Seventh Urban Inc. v.

Circle Prop. Dev. Inc., 67 Ohio St.2d 19, 25, 423 N.E.2d 1070, fn. 11 (1981). App.R.

16(A) requires, among other things, that the appellant set forth in his brief one or more

assignments of error and “an argument containing his contentions with respect to each

1 For clarity, appellees will be referred to in the singular as “Ford.”

2 Crawford did not cause a transcript of the forcible entry and detainer hearing to be filed. -3-

assignment of error * * * .” App.R. 16(A)(7). If a brief fails to articulate an assignment

of error with a supporting argument, an appellate court may affirm the trial court’s decision

on this basis. Osborn v. Sigler, 11th Dist. Trumbull No. 2010-T-92, 2011-Ohio-3750,

¶ 14.

{¶ 4} Crawford’s brief does not set forth an assignment of error with a supporting

argument. The brief, instead, asserts that the parties have resolved their dispute such

that Crawford remains in possession of the property. Ford has not filed a brief asserting

a contrary contention. Since we do not have an assignment of error to resolve, the trial

court’s judgment will be affirmed.

Conclusion

{¶ 5} For the stated reasons, the judgment of the Montgomery County Municipal

Court is affirmed.

DONOVAN, J. and HALL, J., concur.

Copies sent to:

Emmit & Florence Ford Ryan Crawford Hon. James D. Piergies