Hoover Kacyon, LLC v. Martell

125 N.E.3d 265, 2018 Ohio 4928
CourtCourt of Appeals of Ohio, Fifth District, Stark County
DecidedDecember 3, 2018
DocketNo. 2018CA00018
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 125 N.E.3d 265 (Hoover Kacyon, LLC v. Martell) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Ohio, Fifth District, Stark County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hoover Kacyon, LLC v. Martell, 125 N.E.3d 265, 2018 Ohio 4928 (Ohio Super. Ct. 2018).

Opinion

Delaney, J.

{¶1} Appellant Hoover Kacyon, LLC appeals the September 22, 2017 and January 22, 2018 judgment entry of the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

{¶1} Plaintiff Marla Martell and Defendant-Appellee Michael Martell were married *268on May 30, 1981. Wife filed a complaint for divorce on May 1, 2015.

{¶2} Wife and Husband were represented by counsel during the divorce proceedings. After 12 months, the parties entered into a Separation Agreement. The Decree of Divorce was filed on May 27, 2016.

Wife's Motion for Relief from Judgment

{¶3} On January 5, 2017, Attorneys Corinne Hoover Six, Joseph Kacyon, and Tad Orval Hoover filed a notice of appearance as counsel for Wife in the divorce proceeding.

{¶4} On January 25, 2017, Wife filed a motion under Civ.R. 60(B), requesting relief from the May 27, 2016 Decree of Divorce and Separation Agreement. The motion was signed by Attorney Corinne Hoover Six, on behalf of herself and Attorney Tad Orval Hoover. Wife argued she was entitled to relief from judgment due to newly discovered evidence, fraud and/or misrepresentation, or for any other reason justifying relief from judgment. In support of her motion for relief from judgment, Wife attached her affidavit and the affidavits of her primary care physician and her therapist. She also attached a copy of an Outpatient Neuropsychological Consultation completed on June 29, 2016.

{¶5} Wife raised two issues to support her argument that she was entitled to relief from the Separation Agreement and Decree of Divorce. First, she argued that after the divorce, Wife learned Husband failed to disclose additional marital debts and assets. Wife referred to three assets and two debts she claimed Husband failed to disclose at the time of the divorce.

{¶6} Second, she argued that based on her mental health at the time of the parties' negotiations, Wife lacked the requisite mental capacity to contract when she signed the Separation Agreement. She further contended she signed the Separation Agreement and Decree of Divorce under duress. During the parties' marriage, Wife was under the care of multiple health professionals based on her diagnoses for multiple sclerosis ("MS"), rheumatoid arthritis, and depression. MS is an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation within the central nervous system, damaging the myelin and nerve fibers. Wife claimed that her MS was in remission, but the stress of the divorce proceedings caused her MS symptoms to flare. She stated that MS has a cognitive component, which made it difficult for her to understand concepts and the effects of her decisions. On May 7, 2016, Wife was involved in a car accident. She was taken to the emergency room and admitted to the psychiatric ward until May 9, 2016. Upon her release, she was given an MRI, which showed plaque on her brain, a symptom of MS. On May 14, 2016, Wife met with her therapist, whom she saw for anxiety and depression. Wife signed the Separation Agreement on May 27, 2016.

{¶7} In support of her motion for relief from judgment, the affidavit of her primary care physician stated she noted memory impairments and memory loss due to flares in Wife's MS symptoms. The MRI scan showed plaque on Wife's brain which could cause short-term memory issues. The primary care physician concluded her affidavit with the statement that she believed Wife had memory impairment issues that would make her incapable of understanding the issues related to her divorce or entering into contracts in May 2016.

{¶8} Wife also submitted the affidavit of her therapist. Wife had been treating with the therapist since 2010 for anxiety and depression. The therapist averred that during her sessions, Wife showed signs of *269memory impairment, such as confusion and disorientation. It was the opinion of her therapist that Wife was in no mental condition to sign the Separation Agreement or Divorce Decree in May 2016. The therapist believed Wife was incapacitated when she signed the documents and had no cognitive understanding of what she signed.

Wife Amends Motion for Relief from Judgment

{¶9} On March 17, 2017, Wife amended her motion for relief from judgment. The amended motion was signed by Attorney Corinne Hoover Six, on behalf of herself and Attorney Tad Orval Hoover. Wife withdrew her claims of fraud and misrepresentation as to the marital debts and assets. Wife stated she determined Husband had provided all information through discovery during the course of the divorce proceedings.

Husband Files Motion for Sanctions and Trial Court Grants Motion

{¶10} On June 14, 2017, Husband filed a motion for sanctions against Wife and her counsel, Corinne Hoover Six, Joseph Kacyon, and Tad Orval Hoover. Husband alleged Wife's motion for relief from judgment was frivolous and brought in bad faith, causing him unnecessary legal expenses and costs.

{¶11} On August 15, 2017, the trial court held a hearing on Husband's motion for sanctions (and three other pending motions not relevant to this appeal). The parties presented their arguments by brief, but also presented testimony from Husband and Wife.

{¶12} On September 22, 2017, the trial court issued its judgment entry granting Husband's motion for sanctions as to Wife's motion for relief from judgment pursuant to Civ.R. 11 and R.C. 2323.51. The trial court only considered Wife's motion for relief judgment as it pertained to whether Husband concealed marital assets and debts. The trial court considered whether Wife's counsel exercised due diligence to ascertain whether or not Wife's claims of financial misconduct by Husband had merit. In making its determination, the trial court considered the reliability of Wife's statements to her counsel based on Wife's claimed cognitive limitations. The trial court found pursuant to Civ.R. 11, "current counsel did not carefully investigate the claims of Plaintiff before serving and filing the current litigation documents." The trial court next found the conduct of Wife and current counsel in filing the Civ.R. 60(B) motion constituted frivolous conduct under R.C. 2323.51. Accordingly, the trial court found an award of attorney's fees and costs incurred by Husband was warranted.

{¶13} The trial court next analyzed the reasonableness of attorney's fees. The parties presented their claims by arguments of counsel, without requiring independent proof of reasonable hourly charges or total claim for fees and costs. Based on the representations, the trial court found that Husband was entitled to attorney's fees and costs in the amount of $34,620.00. The trial court awarded $34,620.00 to Husband "and against Plaintiff and current counsel." (Judgment Entry, Sept. 22, 2017).

{¶14} Wife and her counsel paid the judgment of $34,620.00 to Husband with counsel's IOLTA account.

Wife Dismisses Remainder of Motion for Relief from Judgment

{¶15} On September 27, 2017, Wife dismissed the remainder of her pending motion for relief from judgment. The notice of dismissal was signed by Attorney Corinne Hoover Six, on behalf of herself and Attorney Tad Orval Hoover.

*270Husband Files Motion for Sanctions and Trial Court Grants Motion

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
125 N.E.3d 265, 2018 Ohio 4928, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hoover-kacyon-llc-v-martell-ohctapp5stark-2018.