Harleysville Mutual Insurance Co. v. Santora

444 N.E.2d 1076, 3 Ohio App. 3d 257, 3 Ohio B. 289, 1982 Ohio App. LEXIS 10906

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: February 18, 1982
• Docket: 43526
• Status: Published

Opinions

Day, P.J.

This is an appeal by defendant-appellant, Virginia Santora (defendant), from a court of common pleas judgment for plaintiff-appellee, Harleysville Mutual Insurance Company (plaintiff), in a declaratory judgment action. That action was filed to determine plaintiffs liability under an uninsured motorist clause of an automobile insurance policy issued by the plaintiff to the defendant.

Defendant filed an answer, counterclaim, amended counterclaim, and demand for jury trial. In the amended counterclaim, defendant asked the court to determine plaintiffs liability under the automobile insurance policy and also to determine whether the plaintiff had acted in bad faith while handling a claim by defendant’s passenger, Esther Hummel, against the defendant.

Defendant assigns three errors.

Assignment of Error No. I

“The trial court’s verdict in favor of the Appellee-Plaintiff is manifestly against the weight of the evidence.”

Assignment of Error No. II

“The trial court erred in the admission of Exhibit 13, the transcript of a tape recording.”

Assignment of Error No. Ill

“Under O.R.C. 2721.10, the right of trial by jury is preserved in declaratory judgment actions. Therefore, the trial court erred in refusing to allow Appellant’s jury demand.”

For reasons adduced below the judgment is reversed and remanded for a new trial in accordance with this opinion.

I

On September 28, 1977, defendant owned a 1976 AMC Pacer. That automobile was covered under an automobile insurance policy issued by plaintiff. The policy contained protection against uninsured motorists, including “hit-and-run” vehicles, provided there was contact between defendant’s car and the “hit-and-run” vehicle.

II A

The trial began without a jury on January 22, 1981, despite defense objections.

The evidence was that at approximately 7:30 p.m., on September 28,1977, defendant and a passenger in her car were in an accident as she was driving over the Fulton Road Bridge. Defendant testified that a collision occurred minutes after she started up from a stop at a traffic signal light. She noticed the bright lights of another vehicle rapidly approaching hers. She said she felt a thud when the other vehicle hit hers in the left rear. She had been driving in the curb lane prior to the contact between the vehicles. Defendant’s automobile jumped a ten to twelve inch curb and came to rest between a light pole and a fence. Defendant claimed the cause of the accident was an unidentified motorist who hit her vehicle in the left rear section. Defendant and her passenger suffered bodily injuries as a result of the accident. Both required hospitalization.

Defendant’s car was totaled.

Photographs taken at the accident scene and the junkyard where the defendant’s car was towed following the accident do not show dramatic damage, if any at all, to the left rear section where the “hit-and-run” vehicle allegedly struck the defendant’s car. This is impressive but not conclusive on the question of contact between the vehicles. Given the defendant’s testimony a factual question is made for resolution by the trier of the facts. The extensive overall damage shown by the photo evidence is not a result of the initial contact.

Although the defendant testified that she felt a thud, she could not give any description of the other vehicle nor could she remember the lights of the other vehicle going past hers.

Defendant’s passenger, Hummel, remembers events somewhat differently. She said defendant was driving in the outer lane, not the curb lane, before the accident; that as the bright lights of the approaching vehicle came closer and closer, the defendant turned the wheel to go into the curb lane, and that the defendant’s car then jumped the curb and hit the light pole. Hummel said that she did not feel a thud prior to the defendant’s vehicle hitting the light pole, but would not definitely state that the approaching car had not come in contact with the defendant’s vehicle.

Hummel had filed a suit against the defendant claiming it was the defendant’s negligence that had caused the accident. Prior to trial she settled her claim against defendant for injuries she suffered in the accident. Hummel signed a release following the settlement and discharged the defendant from any further claims involving the incident.

Bill Bawroski, an independent insurance adjuster working for the plaintiff, investigated the accident. Bawroski’s conclusion was that there had been no contact between the defendant’s vehicle and the “hit-and-run” vehicle.

As part of his investigation, Bawroski interviewed the defendant in the hospital approximately one week after the accident. Bawroski made a recording of part of his conversation with the defendant. The recording was admitted into evidence. Over strong defense counsel objections, the transcript was also admitted even though its accuracy was in dispute. During the recorded conversation a colloquy between the defendant and Bawroski included this question and answer:

“Q. Now we have lights and we’re not certain from which direction. Virginia was there ever a bump from the other car? Did you ever feel any contact with him?

“A. To tell you the truth I don’t know.”

Defendant later testified positively to a thud (see III infra).

On January 27, 1981, the trial court entered a judgment for plaintiff at defen dant’s costs. There was no specific ruling on defendant’s counterclaim.

IIB

Although defendant’s counterclaim was not specifically ruled on by the trial court, this case is not a candidate for dismissal under Civ. R. 54(B).

The controlling case is Wise v. Gursky (1981), 66 Ohio St. 2d 241, 243 [2 O.O.3d 233]:

“We hold that a judgment in an action which determines a claim in that action and has the effect of rendering moot all other claims in the action as to all other parties to the action is a final appealable order pursuant to R.C. 2505.02, and Civ. R. 54(B) is not applicable to such a judgment.” (Emphasis added.)

Counts one and two of defendant’s amended counterclaim were rendered moot by the trial court’s finding for plaintiff. Defendant had asked the court to determine that there had been contact between defendant’s vehicle and the “hit- and-run” vehicle and that she was entitled to benefits under the policy. The court, by entering a judgment for plaintiff, determined there was no contact and that defendant was not entitled to benefits under the policy.

Count three alleged that the plaintiff acted in bad faith while negotiating a settlement with Hummel and exposed the defendant, to an excess liability claim of $235,000. But on May 5, 1980, Hummel signed a release following a $7,000 settlement with plaintiff and discharged the defendant from all claims involving the accident. A court approved stipulation dismissing Hummel’s suit was received for filing on May 30, 1980. It follows that whatever merit defendant’s count three might have had, the resolution of Hum-mel’s claim sapped it of harm and mooted it before the trial began on January 22, 1981.

Thus, all three counts of the amended counterclaim were moot prior to, or rendered moot by, the judgment for plaintiff; Civ. R. 54(B) is not applicable.

III

Assignment of Error No. I challenges the trial court’s “verdict” as against the weight of the evidence.

The crucial issue is whether there was contact between defendant’s car and the “hit-and-run” vehicle.

Plaintiff introduced evidence to show that there were no marks on defendant’s car in the area where the defendant claimed it had been hit by the other vehicle. Hummel testified that she did not feel a thud before the defendant’s car hit the light pole, but would not conclude definitely that there had been no contact with the vehicle approaching from the rear. The insurance adjuster’s investigation led him to conclude that there had been no contact between the defendant’s car and another vehicle. On the other hand defendant recalled a thud attributed by her to the car approaching from the rear.

On this record, a trier of fact could reasonably conclude either way on the definitive issue of contact. And the trial-court cannot be faulted for deciding as it did if it had the right to decide at all. For there was competent credible evidence to support its conclusion.

“Judgments supported by some competent, credible evidence going to all the essential elements of the case will not be reversed by a reviewing court as being against the manifest weight of the evidence.” C. E. Morris Co. v. Foley Construction Co. (1978), 54 Ohio St. 2d 279, 280 [8 O.O.3d 261].

The first assignment of error is. not well taken assuming the trial court properly undertook the role of fact finder despite the jury demand. 1

IV

Under Assignment of Error No. II defendant claims the admission of the written transcript of a tape recording violates the “best evidence” rule of Evid. R. 1002. That rule provides:

“To prove the content of a writing, recording, or photograph, the original writing, recording, or photograph is required, except as otherwise provided in these rules or by statute by the General Assembly not in conflict with a rule of the Supreme Court of Ohio.”

The original recording was available and had been received into evidence. Therefore, exceptions to Evid. R. 1002 found in Evid. R. 1004 do not apply. 2

The question whether the admission of a written transcript in addition to the original recording is reversible error seems to be one of first impression in Ohio. The only case found to contain a transcript admitted with a recording was State v. James (1974), 41 Ohio App. 2d 248 [70 O.O.2d 456]. However, the problem raised by admitting both a transcript and an original tape was not addressed in that case.

Cases from other jurisdictions reveal at least two viewpoints on the issue. One is that transcripts could be admitted as a listening aid provided their accuracy was not questioned, United States v. Turner (C.A. 9, 1975), 528 F. 2d 143, 167; People v. Feld (1953), 305 N.Y. 322, 331-332, 113 N.E. 2d 440, 444. The other is that the admission of a transcript when the original recording is available violates the best evidence rule and is reversible error, Bonicelli v. State (Okla. Crim. App. 1959), 339 P. 2d 1063, 1065; Duggan v. State (Fla. App. 1966), 189 So. 2d 890, 891.

In United States v. Turner, supra, at 167, the trial judge’s decision to allow the jury to read a transcript while listening to a recorded telephone conversation was upheld. However, the trial judge emphasized to the jury that only the recordings were evidence. The transcripts were furnished as a listening aid and were collected from the jury immediately after the playing of the recording.

In People v. Feld, supra, at 331-332, 113 N.E. 2d at 444, each juror and counsel was allowed to hold a transcript while all listened to the playing of a recorded conversation. The transcripts had been made by an official stenographer who testified that they were accurate “word for word.” The appellant objected to the admission but did not attack the accuracy of the transcript. The objection was based on the best evidence rule. The use of the transcript as a listening aid was upheld.

On the other hand, admission of a transcript was held to be reversible error in Bonicelli v. State, supra, at 1065. In that case the transcript of a recorded conversation was made by a court reporter and admitted along with the recording. The admission of the transcript was held to violate the best evidence rule and rules against hearsay, undue repetition, and improper evidence. The court concluded:

“As defense counsel urges, the court might as well have said: ‘Here is something good, we want you to have a double dose of it so you won’t overlook it. We think it’s [sic] importance deserves extra special treatment. Hence, we do not only present the recording but in transcripted form so you won’t possibly forget it and hence we place the judicial finger of approval on it by way of emphasis.’ ”

The Bonicelli case was used as the basis of the decision in Duggan v. State, supra, at 891-892. In Duggan the admission of a written transcript of a tape recording between the appellant and another person was held reversible error on the ground that its admission violated the best evidence rule and rules against hearsay, undue repetition, and improper emphasis. The .transcript had been prepared by a court reporter and its accuracy had been questioned by defense counsel prior to its admission, id. at 891.

The Bonicelli-Duggan cases are not binding but their reasoning is persuasive especially in their focus on unnecessary emphasis and the best evidence. Moreover, the results in Turner and Feld do not necessarily conflict with Bonicelli-Duggan. The transcripts were used only as listening aids in Turner and Feld and were collected from the jury once their usefulness as aids ended.

In the present case, the transcript was not prepared by an objective third party but by the partisan Bawroski, a party to the conversation and the maker of the recording. Although Bawroski stated the transcript was “correct,” the first statement on the tape recording, a woman’s voice saying “I am scared” does not appear on the transcript of the tape. The trial judge acknowledged that he also heard the statement which did not appear on the transcript.

Furthermore, the original recording was available and audible. The transcript should not have been admitted because it was secondary evidence. Moreover, it could not capture or preserve nuance, voice tone, emphasis, evasion, faltering, or emotion. This underwrites the status of the transcript as not the best evidence of the conversation between Bawroski and the defendant.

This “not the best” status was reinforced by the admitted flaws in the transcription. Nor was there any waiver. For the defense was zealous in its objections to the inaccuracies of the transcription. The admission of the written transcript was reversible error.

The second assignment of error is well taken.

V

Assignment of Error No. Ill poses the question whether upon timely demand the right to a jury trial is preserved in actions for declaratory judgment.

Defendant’s demand for a jury trial, endorsed on her answer and counterclaim, was timely under Civ. R. 38(B). Nevertheless, the trial judge proceeded to hear the case without a jury after noting the defendant’s objection.

The critical issues in the case raised obvious factual questions proper for jury determination (see II, supra).

In Schaefer v. First National Bank (1938), 134 Ohio St. 511, 517-518 [13 O.O. 129], G.C. 12102-9 was found to preserve ‘ ‘the right of a trial by jury in an action for a declaratory judgment in all cases in which the right exists.” G.C. 12102-9 has been superseded by R.C. 2721.10. The substantive parts of the two code sections are identical:

G.C. 12102-9. Determination of issues of fact.

“When a proceeding under this act involves the determination of an issue of fact, such issue may be tried and determined in the same manner as issues of fact are tried and determined in other civil actions in the court in which the proceeding is pending.”

R.C. 2721.10. Determination of issues of fact.

“When a proceeding under sections 2721.01 to 2721.15, inclusive, of the Revised Code, involves the determination of an issue of fact, such issue may be tried and determined in the same manner as issues of fact are tried and determined in other civil actions in the court in which the proceeding is pending.”

Subsequent to the passage of R.C. 2721.10, the Supreme Court of Ohio confirmed the proposition that when a determination of facts is necessary before rights can be declared, that factual determination can be made in a declaratory judgment action, Ohio Farmers Indemn. Co. v. Chames (1959), 170 Ohio St. 209, 215 [10 O.O.2d 164]. And the right to a trial by jury is preserved, DeVore v. Mutual of Omaha (1972), 32 Ohio App. 2d 36, 37 [13 O.O.2d 376], In the face of the defendant’s timely demand for a jury to decide the determinative factual issue in the litigation, it was reversible error for the judge to refuse it.

Assignment of Error No. Ill is well taken.

Judgment is reversed and remanded for a new trial in accordance with this opinion.

Judgment reversed and cause remanded.

Stillman, J., concurs. PARRINO, J., concurs in part and dissents in part.

Stillman, J., retired, of the Eighth Appellate District, was assigned to active duty under authority of Section 6(C), Article IV, Constitution.

1 Because it was the defendant who asked for a jury trial here, and because there was conflicting evidence on the critical issue, it is unnecessary to decide whether there can be harmless error in denying a plaintiffs request for a jury if the plaintiffs evidence would warrant a directed verdict for the defendant.

2 “Rule 1004

“Admissibility of other evidence of contents

“The original is not required, and other evidence of the contents of a writing, recording, or photograph is admissible if:

“(1) Originals lost or destroyed. All originals are lost or have been destroyed, unless the proponent lost or destroyed them in bad faith; or

“(2) Original Not Obtainable. No original can be obtained by any available judicial process or procedure; or

“(3) Original in possession of opponent. At a time when an original was under the control of the party against whom offered, he was put on notice, by the pleadings or otherwise, that the contents would be subject of proof at the hearing, and he does not produce the original at the hearing; or

“(4) Collateral matters. The writing, recording, or photograph is not closely related to a controlling issue.”