Frost v. Bank One

7 Ohio App. Unrep. 179
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedSeptember 28, 1990
DocketCase No. S-89-32
StatusPublished

This text of 7 Ohio App. Unrep. 179 (Frost v. Bank One) 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
Frost v. Bank One, 7 Ohio App. Unrep. 179 (Ohio Ct. App. 1990).

Opinion

Per Curiam.

This is an appeal of a judgment of the Sandusky County Court of Common Pleas which granted a directed verdict in favor of defendantsappellees, Bank One of Fremont ("Bank One") and James J. Klingman. From that judgment, plaintiff-appellant, John S. Frost, filed a timely notice of appeal and asserts as error:

"1. It is error for the court to find the Plaintiff had failed to establish the Defendants had made an unreasonable use of Lot 17, or that they blocked a natural water course. (Final J.E. Finding 2, Page 2, copy of the J.E. attached in the Appendix herein.)

"2. It is error for the court to find the Plaintiff had failed to prove the Defendants had created a nuisance. (Final J.E., Finding 3, Page 2.)

"3. It is error for the court to find Defendants made no express or implied warranties, made no material misrepresentation^ and did not violate any duty to disclose hidden defects, in connection with the sale of Lot 18 to the Plaintiff. (Final J.E., Findings 1 & 3, Page 2.)

"4. It is error for tlie court to find Plaintiff failed to establish any damages resulting from the acts of the Defendants. (Final J.E., Finding 4, Page 2.)

"5. It is error for the court to find Plaintiff failed to mitigate his damages, by refusing Defendant's offer of settlement. (Final J.E., Finding 5, Page 2.)

"6. Because of the incorrect Findings by the Court, it is error for the granting of a directed verdict and dismissal of this action."

This case arises from the following undisputed facts. Klingman owned and began the development of a residential subdivision, River Run Estates ("River Run"), during the 1970's. In 1976, the property in dispute was platted and divided into lots. Lots 17, 18 and 19 of the proposed subdivision consisted of a steep hill leading down to a relatively flat portion of land and a creek. The creek was at the base of the hill and flowed in a west/northwest direction as did the surface water coming off the hill. At some point during 1977-1978, while the property was owned by Klingman, the creek was filled in so that street access to Lots 17, 18 and 19 could be had from a cul-de-sac at the base of the hill. In order to provide drainage from the hill a swale was constructed on Lot 18 which ran from west to east across Lot 17. Some of the water draining from Lot 18 would then cross over onto Lot 17. The remainder drained to the [180]*180west across Lot 19. None of these three lots was sold or developed for the following ten year period. In 1985, Bank One, by means of a foreclosure action against Klingman, obtained ownership of, among others, Lots 17, 18 and 19 in River Run.

On February 13, 1987, appellant purchased Lot 18 from Bank One for $14,250. He subsequently constructed a house on that lot and resided in that home from January 1988 until the time of trial.

On April 4, 1988, appellant filed a civil complaint alleging that appellees had "unreasonably and negligently" blocked a natural watercourse on Lot 17 by "raising" the level of the lot and flooding appellant's property. In this complaint, appellant further asserted that appellees had trespassed upon Lot 17 and created a nuisance by blocking the watercourse. Appellant characterized said conduct as "reckless" and malicious. The complaint requested that appellees be ordered to lower the elevation of Lot 17, that they be enjoined from raising the level of Lot 19, and that appellant be awarded compensatory and punitive damages. An amended complaint, filed on October 19, 1988, reiterated the claims of the first complaint but, also, added allegations founded upon breach of warranty and misrepresentation. Both defendants-appellees answered the complaint.

A jury trial commenced in June 1989. During the course of the presentation of plaintiffs case, much evidence was adduced relative to the nature of the terrain on Lots 17, 18 and 19; the circumstances leading to appellant's purchase of Lot 18; the events leading to the filing of appellant's cause of action and appellant's consequent "damages." Facts material to each assigned error shall be disclosed during our consideration of that error.

At the close of plaintiff-appellant's case-in-chief, appellees moved for a directed verdict. The trial court granted that motion based upon a lack of evidence.

Civ. R. 50(A) (4), which provides:

"When a motion for a directed verdict has been properly made, and the trial court, after construing the evidence most strongly in favor of the party against whom the motion is directed, finds that upon any determinative issue reasonable minds could come to but one conclusion upon the evidence submitted and that conclusion is adverse to such party, the court shall sustain the motion and direct a verdict for the moving party as to that issua"

See, also, Waller v. Mayfield (1988), 37 Ohio St. 3d 118, 121.

In determining a motion for a directed verdict, the trial court is not permitted to weigh the evidence or question the credibility of the witnesses. Ruta v. Breckeridge-Remy Co. (1982), 69 Ohio St. 2d 66, 68-69. Rather, the court must determine that only one result could be reached under the theories of law presented in the complaint. Id., at 69. Therefore, a motion for a directed verdict presents a question of law, not a question of fact. Id., at paragraph one of the syllabus. Nonetheless, the trial court is permitted to review and consider the facts in determining the motion and may draw any reasonable inference predicated on those facta O'Day v. Webb (1972), 29 Ohio St. 2d 215, 219; Rhinehart v. Toledo Blade Co. (1985), 21 Ohio App. 3d 274, 275.

Prior to our review of appellant's assignments of error, the status or relationship of the defendants-appellees must be considered. Appellant asserts that Klingman was an agent of Bank One. Bank One admits to authorizing the grading of Lot 17 but denies any agency-principal relationship between Klingman and itself.

The relationship of principal and agent exists only when one party exercises the right of control over the actions of another and those actions are directed toward the attainment of an objective which the former seeks. Hanson v. Kynast (1986), 24 Ohio St. 3d 171, paragraph one of the syllabus. Thus a principal-agent relationship between Klingman and Bank One can be found only if there was evidence adduced showing that Bank One had control of Klingman's actions and that the actions taken by Klingman were directed toward the attainment of an objective by Bank One. If these facts were established, Bank One would be liable to appellant for damages resulting from wrongful acts done within the scope of Klingman's authority. Hester v. Church's Fried Chicken (1986), 27 Ohio App. 3d 74. In addition, conduct of the agent which consists of willful and malicious acts are considered to be outside the scope of his authority. Id., citing Finley v. Schuett (1982), 8 Ohio App. 3d 38, at 39. Thus, absent ratification or authorization of malicious conduct, the principal cannot be held liable for damages caused by such conduct on the part of his agent. Id.

In this case, the evidence clearly showed that Klingman acted as an agent of Bank One [181]*181for the limited purpose of the grading of Lot 17. As will be discussed below, no evidence was presented by appellant indicating that Klingman committed any wrongful conduct in carrying out Bank One's objective in the grading of that lot.

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Bluebook (online)
7 Ohio App. Unrep. 179, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/frost-v-bank-one-ohioctapp-1990.