Intercargo Insurance Co. v. Municipal Pipe Contractors, Inc.

2003 Ohio 7363, 805 N.E.2d 606, 127 Ohio Misc. 2d 48
CourtCourt of Common Pleas of Ohio, Franklin County, Civil Division
DecidedNovember 18, 2003
DocketNo. 02CVH-04-3817
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 2003 Ohio 7363 (Intercargo Insurance Co. v. Municipal Pipe Contractors, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Common Pleas of Ohio, Franklin County, Civil Division primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Intercargo Insurance Co. v. Municipal Pipe Contractors, Inc., 2003 Ohio 7363, 805 N.E.2d 606, 127 Ohio Misc. 2d 48 (Ohio Super. Ct. 2003).

Opinion

David W. Fais, Judge.

I. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

{¶ 1} This matter is before the court pursuant to defendant Barrett Paving Materials, Inc.’s (“Barrett”) motion for summary judgment filed March 20, 2003. [51]*51Plaintiff Intercargo Insurance Company (“Intercargo”) filed its motion for summary judgment on March 22, 2003. Barrett filed its memorandum contra Intercargo’s motion for summary judgment on April 21, 2003. Intercargo filed its memorandum contra Barrett’s motion for summary judgment on April 18, 2003. Barrett also made a request for oral argument on its motion for summary judgment on March 22, 2003. Both parties agreed by entry filed on June 25, 2003, that no reply memoranda would be filed.

{¶ 2} A joint stipulation of facts between Barrett and Intercargo was filed on March 20, 2003. Attached to the stipulation of facts was a statement by defendant Ohio Department of Transportation (“ODOT”) that it concurred with the joint stipulation of facts to the following extent: (1) with respect to Paragraph 18, the subject Affidavit for Claim was received and filed with defendant ODOT on March 21, 2002; and (2) defendant ODOT continues to deny the facts asserted in Paragraphs 10, 11, 17, 22, 26, 27, and 28 for want of knowledge or information upon which to base an opinion or belief. Furthermore, in its reply to Barrett’s counterclaim and/or cross-claim, ODOT stated that it has the sum of $276,828.23 in its possession, which is due under the contract at issue in this case. ODOT also stated that it did not have an interest in contesting any factual matters in the action other than the amount of money it has in its possession that is due under the contract.

{¶ 3} Neither defendant Municipal Pipe Contractors, Inc. (“Municipal”) nor defendants Thomas J. Hughes (“Mr. Hughes”) and Rebecca S. Hughes (“Mrs. Hughes”) have filed any motions or memoranda contra these motions for summary judgment.

II. FACTS

{¶ 4} ODOT, which is a public agency authorized by statute to construct, repair, and maintain public roads in the state of Ohio, administered a public improvement project known as Project 186 (“the Project”), in Shelby County. ODOT contracted with Municipal, in which Municipal agreed to serve as the general contractor on the Project. Pursuant to R.C. 5525.16, Municipal sought a bond for the Project and executed a payment bond on May 9, 2000, in the penal sum of $3,058,000.00 (“the Bond”), with Intercargo. Under the terms of R.C. 5525.16, Intercargo became bound for payments on the Project as the surety. Municipal delivered the Bond to ODOT and the Bond was subsequently approved and accepted by ODOT. In consideration for providing the Bond for the Project, Municipal and Mr. and Mrs. Hughes executed and delivered an agreement of indemnity (“Indemnity Agreement”) to Intercargo.

{¶ 5} On or about May 17, 2000, Municipal and Barrett entered into a contract (“Subcontract”), in which Barrett agreed to furnish labor, materials, supplies, [52]*52equipment, and supervision in the installation of asphalt paving (“the Work”) for the Project. Barrett timely and satisfactorily completed the Work for the Project, and its performance was approved by both Municipal and ODOT. Municipal received payment for the sum owed to Barrett from ODOT, which was the fair value of the Work in the amount of $462,851.35. Despite demand by Barrett for payment of Work, Municipal failed to pay Barrett the amount due under the Subcontract within ten days of receipt of payment from ODOT.

{¶ 6} Pursuant to R.C. 1311.26, Barrett filed an Affidavit for Claim of Public Improvement Fund Lien with ODOT in which Barrett claimed a lien (“Lien”) against funds held by ODOT for the Project and against funds due or to become due and owing to Municipal for the Project. The Lien was in the amount of $505,527.68, which constituted the payment owed for the Work in the amount of $462,851.35 and interest of 18 percent on the principal amount owed pursuant to Ohio’s Prompt Payment Act, R.C. 4113.61, for Municipal’s failure to pay Barrett within ten days after demand was made for payment of the Work.

{¶ 7} Following its obligations under the Bond, Intercargo paid Barrett a total amount of $466,851.35, which included the principal amount of $462,851.35 and ten percent interest on the principal in the amount of $4,000. In consideration for the payment, Barrett assigned a partial interest in the Lien in the amount of $466,851.35, with Barrett retaining a claim on the Lien in the amount of $38,676.33.

{¶ 8} Next, Intercargo and Municipal asked Barrett to perform additional work on the Project (“Additional Work”). In order to induce Barrett to return to the Project to complete the Additional Work, Mr. Hughes, who was an officer and shareholder of Municipal, executed a guaranty (“Guaranty”), in which Mr. Hughes agreed to pay Barrett the outstanding interest (“Accrued Interest”) in the amount of $51,686.61 as of July 5, 2001, on or before October 1, 2001, if Municipal failed to pay such interest.

{¶ 9} As further incentive for Barrett to return to the Project to perform the Additional Work, Intercargo provided Barrett with an agreement for prompt payment dated June 27, 2001 (“Prompt Payment Agreement”). The agreement first states that Intercargo’s obligation under the bond payment as to interest was limited and that interest on the previous amount owed to Barrett for the Work on the Project was calculated at a ten percent interest rate. Next, the agreement states that upon payment of the principal amount owed and the ten percent interest on the principal, Barrett will return to the Project to perform the Additional Work requested. Upon completion and acceptance of the Additional Work, Intercargo agreed to make payment to Barrett for the remaining amount owed within ten business days.

[53]*53{¶ 10} In reliance on both the Guaranty and Prompt Payment Agreement, Barrett returned to the Project and completed the Additional Work. The Additional Work was accepted by Municipal and ODOT. However, Municipal failed to pay Barrett the amount owed for the Additional Work. Subsequently, Intereargo, as surety on the Project, paid Barrett for the Additional Work. Municipal and Mr. Hughes have both failed to pay Barrett for the 18 percent Accrued Interest under R.C. 4113.61. Municipal and Mr. and Mrs. Hughes have also failed to pay Intercargo for the payments on the Project pursuant to the Indemnity Agreement.

III. STANDARD OF REVIEW

{¶ 11} Summary judgment is a procedural device utilized to terminate litigation and to avoid a formal trial where no issues of fact exist to adjudicate. Norris v. Ohio Std. Oil Co. (1982), 70 Ohio St.2d 1, 2, 24 O.O.3d 1, 433 N.E.2d 615. Caution must be used when granting summary judgment, construing evidence, and resolving all doubts in favor of the nonmoving party and against the moving party. Id.

{¶ 12} Pursuant to Civ.R. 56(C), summary judgment is appropriate upon the showing “(1) that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact; (2) that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law; and (3) that reasonable minds can come to but one conclusion, and that conclusion is adverse to the party against whom the motion for summary judgment is made, who is entitled to have the evidence construed most strongly in [that party’s] favor.” Harless v. Willis Day Warehousing Co.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
2003 Ohio 7363, 805 N.E.2d 606, 127 Ohio Misc. 2d 48, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/intercargo-insurance-co-v-municipal-pipe-contractors-inc-ohctcomplfrankl-2003.