Harrison v. Webb

100 N.E.2d 728, 62 Ohio Law. Abs. 273, 45 Ohio Op. 141, 1951 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 409
CourtCuyahoga County Common Pleas Court
DecidedJune 18, 1951
DocketNo. 599996
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 100 N.E.2d 728 (Harrison v. Webb) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Harrison v. Webb, 100 N.E.2d 728, 62 Ohio Law. Abs. 273, 45 Ohio Op. 141, 1951 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 409 (Ohio Super. Ct. 1951).

Opinion

[274]*274OPINION

By BLYTHIN, J.

This cause came to trial and at the outset the defendant presented her motion for a dismissal on the ground that the facts stated in the amended petition are not sufficient to support a cause of action.

The facts alleged are simple and undisputed insofar as necessary for adjudication of the issue raised by the motion. Plaintiff occupied, as a tenant, and as her home, certain premises owned by defendant. She was notified to leave, and action was instituted in a Justicé of the Peace court to evict her. The sole basis of the action was stated in the notice and in the court complaint as follows:

“the plaintiff and her husband now have an immediate and compelling need to occupy said premises themselves.”

A writ of restitution was issued and it is alleged in the petition in this cause that it was issued on the basis of the statement contained in the notice and petition, already herein quoted.

It is claimed by plaintiff in this cause that defendant (plaintiff in the eviction action) did not thereafter occupy the premises but held same vacant for some period of time and then sold the same. Applicable to the relation of the parties hereto when landlady and tenant was Section 209 (a) (2) of the Housing and Rent Act of 1947, providing that no such tenant could be evicted unless for specific reasons or purposes, one of them being:—

“(2) The landlord seeks in good faith to recover possession of such housing accommodations for his immediate and personal use and occupancy as housing accommodations.”

Plaintiff now claims that the use of court process to evict her on the ground stated constituted a fraud upon her and upon the court and prays for the damages she claims to have been suffered by her.

If this cause is tried on the merits there will be defenses urged by defendant beyond the question here being discussed, but defendant claims that the basis of the claim asserted in the petition is res judicata and that such fact clearly appears on the face of the petition itself.

The real issue being decided on the motion can be stated as follows:

May the plaintiff recover damages in this cause on the •basis of her claim that the facts stated in the forcible entry and detainer action and upon which her eviction was brought about, were false, untrue and amounted to a fraud upon her. In other words, is the truth of those facts res judicata and beyond further judicial inquiry between the same parties?

[275]*275Taking plaintiff’s arguments somewhat in their inverse order we first come to consideration of §10450 GC. It is plaintiff’s claim that the provisions of that section afford to her a right to seek relief in this cause.

“Sec. 10450 GC. Judgments under this chapter either before the justice, or in the court of common pleas, shall not be a bar to a later action brought by either party.”

The word “chapter” refers to “Chapter 13, Forcible Entry and Detainer.” Plaintiff stresses the fact that the provisions of the quoted section must refer to cases beyond mere forcible entry and detainer because the right to bring a “later action” is saved to “either party.” It stands to reason that a tenant would not bring as a later action — a suit for eviction. While it is true that a tenant would not institute an eviction action he might well find it necessary to bring an action involving, or arising from, the tenancy. In a forcible entry and Retainer action under the chapter mentioned, the sole issue is the right to present possession. To determine that the landlord or lessor is entitled to possession could very well leave rights between the parties undetermined and it could well be that lessee would wish those rights determined and, for the purpose, appeal to a court of competent jurisdiction for appropriate relief. Neither the wording of the statute, nor any rational interpretation of its language can possibly sustain a claim that it declares an exception to the doctrine of res judicata so as to enable a second inquiry into facts already determined in a proper judicial proceeding within the jurisdiction of the adjudicating court.

Williams v. Gordon, 53 Abs 464 (86 N. E. [2] 34) (Court of Appeals of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Jan. 31, 1949.).

This case is a perfect example of what has just been stated. The cause was instituted in the Municipal Court of Cleveland and it was held that its jurisdiction in forcible entry and detainer was not greater than that of the J. P. courts. For that reason a question of title or an equitable defense could not be'entertained.

Syll. 1. “In the trial of a forcible entry and detainer case the procedure to be followed by the Municipal Court of Cleveland is that provided for. in a court of the justice of the peace.”

Syll. 3. “The court of the justice of the peace has no jurisdiction to try question of title as a defense in forcible entry and detainer case.”

Syll. 4. “In action of forcible entry and detainer the Municipal Court of Cleveland was without power to consider the defendant’s defense of a parol lease which was offered [276]*276at argument of motion for new trial and such defendant was entitled to ,enjoin execution of writ of restitution pending determination of his rights under such lease as determined in court of competent jurisdiction.”

Here is an action properly brought by defendant (lessee) after adjudication by the justice in the forcible entry and detainer action and coming as a clear example of an action by the “either party” of the statute.

After citing a number of authorities treating the question of jurisdiction the court says:

“From these inconsistent authorities, it would seem from the better reasoned of them, that the mere fact plaintiff might be required to offer evidence in the first instance of his title, as is frequently necessary, to show his right of possession when defendant is not estopped to deny title, does not defeat the jurisdiction of the justice; but evidence on behalf of defendant as to any equitable defense should be admitted for the purpose of defeating plaintiff’s case, and when such evidence, or. the pleadings or evidence of plaintiff, disclose a bona fide controversy as to title, on which right of- possession depends, or other equitable defense, the justice is without jurisdiction and should dismiss the action, or he should render judgment for defendant, which is no doubt another way of saying he is without jurisdiction to adjudicate such issues. Such a judgment could not be res judicata. (Sec. 10450 GC.)”

The court later quotes with approval from the case of Schmidt v. Schmidt, 1 O. N. P. (N. S.) 177 as follows:

“The petition herein plainly invoked the equity powers of this court by pleading facts and praying relief which a justice of the peace has no power to” give. While this action may involve a review of the adjudication of the justice, yet there is no objection to such a proceeding for §10450 GC expressly provides ‘judgments either before the justic.e or in the court of common pleas under this chapter (Chap. 9, Title III, regulating forcible entry and detainer) shall not be a bar to any action brought by either party’.”

Before the paragraph last above quoted the court said in 1 Ohio N. P. (N.S.) 177 and 178:

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
100 N.E.2d 728, 62 Ohio Law. Abs. 273, 45 Ohio Op. 141, 1951 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 409, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/harrison-v-webb-ohctcomplcuyaho-1951.