Lester v. Chivington

2015 Ohio 5446

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: December 28, 2015
• Docket: 9-15-21
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as Lester v. Chivington, 2015-Ohio-5446.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT MARION COUNTY

ADAM LESTER,

PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, CASE NO. 9-15-21 v.

LU CHIVINGTON, ET AL.,

DEFENDANTS-APPELLANTS, -and- OPINION

CITIBANK, N.A.,

DEFENDANT-APPELLEE.

Appeal from Marion County Common Pleas Court Trial Court No. 14-CV-494

Judgment Affirmed

Date of Decision: December 28, 2015

APPEARANCES:

Kevin P. Collins for Appellants Case No. 9-15-21

SHAW, J.

{¶1} Defendants-appellants, Lu Chivington and Coldwell Banker, appeal

the April 22, 2015 judgment of the Marion County Court of Common Pleas

granting the Motion for Default Judgment filed by plaintiff-appellee, Adam Lester,

and awarding Lester damages arising from a real estate sale. Chivington assigns

as error the trial court’s decision to deny her Motion for Leave to File Answer

Instanter and to grant judgment and award Lester $12,500.00 plus statutory

interest.1

Facts and Procedural History

{¶2} On October 6, 2014, Lester filed a complaint naming Chivington,

Coldwell Banker, and Citibank, N.A. as defendants. The complaint alleged the

following: Citibank was the seller of real property located at 465 Hartford Street

in Marion, Ohio. Citibank engaged Chivington, a licensed real estate broker

associated with Coldwell Banker, to sell the premises. The listing on the Multiple

Listing Service (“MLS”) expressly stated that the property had a “Two Car,

Attached” garage and further stated “Wait until you see the garage. Its [sic]

huge!!” The listing also included a photograph of the garage and listed the sale

price as $15,000.00.

1 Although the notice of appeal includes both Chivington and Coldwell Banker as appealing parties, the brief and assignments of error only pertain to Chivington. Therefore, we will only address the issues on appeal as they relate to Chivington.

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{¶3} In July of 2013, Lester entered into a contract to purchase the property

for the full purchase price. The closing took place on August 2, 2013. After the

transaction was completed, Lester learned that the garage was not included in the

purchase. Lester claimed he was induced into purchasing the property based upon

the defendants’ representations about the garage. He further claimed that

throughout the negotiation and closing of the transaction, the defendants never

disclosed to him that the garage was not part of the sale.

{¶4} Lester maintained that the defendants’ actions were the proximate

cause of his damages and asserted three claims against the defendants collectively:

(1) Fraudulent Misrepresentation; (2) Negligent Misrepresentation; and (3) Breach

of Contract. The record reflects that service on defendants Chivington and

Coldwell Banker was perfected on October 23, 2014. Service on defendant

Citibank was perfected on October 28, 2014.

{¶5} On January 26, 2015, Lester filed a Motion for Default Judgment. In

support of his motion, Lester asserted that none of the defendants had filed an

answer to his complaint with the trial court. Lester attached to his motion a letter

dated November 5, 2014 that Chivington personally wrote to Lester’s attorney

regarding the complaint. However, Lester argued that this correspondence could

not be construed as a timely-filed answer with the court and therefore did not

preclude him from being entitled to default judgment.

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{¶6} On March 10, 2015, trial court issued notice of a hearing on Lester’s

Motion for Default Judgment scheduled for April 13, 2015.

{¶7} On April 10, 2015, defendants Chivington and Coldwell Banker filed

a Motion for Leave to File Answers Instanter. In a supporting memorandum,

defendants Chivington and Coldwell Banker asserted they had meritorious

defenses to the complaint and requested the motion be granted on the basis of

excusable neglect due to Chivington’s unfamiliarity with the judicial process and

her belief that her letter to Lester’s attorney was an adequate response to the

complaint.

{¶8} The trial court conducted the hearing as scheduled. The trial court

initially addressed the parties’ arguments pertaining to Chivington’s request for

leave to file an answer and determined that Chivington failed to establish

excusable neglect for not properly responding to Lester’s complaint. As a result,

the trial court overruled the Motion for Leave to File an Answer Instanter and

granted Lester’s Motion for Default Judgment. Lester then presented the

testimony of four witnesses and several exhibits in support his claim for damages.

Evidence on Damages

{¶9} Lester testified he has been engaged in the business of acquiring and

renting real estate for eight years. He submitted a portion of the listing advertising

the sale of the 465 Hartford Street property on the MLS, which included pictures

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of the garage and indicated it was part of the sale. Lester relied on the

representations made in the listing, as well as on the representations of the relators

involved, that the garage was part of the sale. Lester testified that prior to the

closing the seller’s representatives never mentioned to him that the garage was not

on the same lot as the residence. According to Lester, the purchase price of

$15,000.00 for the residence was well over the value of the home in its condition

at the time of the sale. He further stated that the garage was the primary reason he

purchased the real estate.

{¶10} Lester intended to rent the house and the garage separately. Lester

had an agreement with Rebecca Chapman to rent the house for $600.00 per month

from December 1, 2013 through the time of the hearing in April 2015. Ms.

Chapman took the stand and confirmed her intention of renting the residence for

that amount beginning in December 2013. Lester explained that he initially spent

a couple thousand dollars updating the home. However, he stopped repairs when

it became apparent that the issue with the garage was not going to be quickly

resolved. He explained that rescission of the purchase contract was one of the

remedies he was willing to pursue and he did not want to continue to spend money

on the property or to commit to having renters in the home.

{¶11} Lester also testified that he had an agreement with Harold Kemp, Jr.

to rent the garage purported to be part of property for $400.00 a month. Mr. Kemp

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took the stand at the hearing and explained that he planned to use the space for his

taxi service; specifically for the storage and maintenance of his vehicles. He

intended to rent the garage from October 2013 through January of 2015 at the

amount stated above. In support of his claims for damages, Lester submitted a

document at the hearing which included his calculations of lost rental income for

both the residence and the garage.

{¶12} In November 2013, shortly after he purchased the property and

discovered the garage was not included in the sale, Lester contacted both relators

and the title company involved in the transaction to resolve the situation. He

began discussions with Chivington who indicated that she would work with the

estate who owned the lots where the garage was situated. According to Lester,

Chivington continually promised to “resolve” the issue which entailed purchasing

the lots and transferring them to Lester. However, a number of months passed

without a resolution and Lester initiated this action. Lester sought $5,500.00, the

purchase price of the garage; $16,625.00 in lost rental income; $3,262.50 in legal

fees; and $100,000.00 in punitive damages based on his allegations that the

defendants acted in bad faith. The trial court took the matter under advisement.

{¶13} On April 22, 2015, the trial court issued a judgment entry finding

that Lester was entitled to recover damages in the amount of $12,500.00 plus

statutory interest from all three defendants. In a separate opinion, the trial court

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found that Lester was entitled to recover $5,500.00 for the value of the garage that

was represented to be included in the real estate sale. As for the lost rental

income, the trial court found that Lester was entitled to $5,200.00, which

represented the amount of rent he would have received from Mr. Kemp for the

rental of the garage for thirteen months at a rate of $400.00 a month.

{¶14} However, the trial court determined that Lester was not entitled to

the full amount requested for lost rental income on the home. The trial court

concluded that Lester did not satisfy his duty to mitigate his damages because the

evidence suggested that he could have moved renters into the residence despite the

uncertainty with the sale. Thus, the trial court only awarded Lester lost rental

income for three months at a rate of $600.00, or $1,800.00. Finally, the trial court

determined the evidence did not support Lester’s claims that the defendants acted

in bad faith prior to the closing of the sale and concluded Lester was not entitled to

either punitive damages or reasonable attorney fees.

{¶15} On appeal, Chivington asserts the following assignments of error.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. I

THE TRIAL COURT ERRED TO THE PREJUDICE OF DEFENDANT-APPELLANT, LU CHIVINGTON, BY DENYING HER MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE HER ANSWER INSTANTER.

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ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. II

THE TRIAL COURT ERRED TO THE PREJUDICE OF THE DEFENDANT-APPELLANT, LU CHIVINGTON, BY GRANTING JUDGMENT TO PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE AGAINST HER IN THE AMOUNT OF $12,500.00

First Assignment of Error

{¶16} In her first assignment of error, Chivington claims that the trial court

erred in overruling her Motion for Leave to File an Answer Instanter. Chivington

asserts that the delay in her filing an answer several months past the allotted

timeframe is attributable to excusable neglect.

{¶17} Civil Rule 12(A)(1) requires that the defendant serve her answer to a

complaint within 28 days of service of the summons and complaint. Nevertheless,

Civ.R. 6(B)(2) allows a court “in its discretion” to extend this period to file an

answer where the defendant files a motion outside of the 28-day period and

demonstrates that the failure to timely plead “was the result of excusable

neglect[.]” “A trial court’s Civ.R. 6(B)(2) determination is addressed to the sound

discretion of the trial court and will not be disturbed on appeal absent a showing of

an abuse of discretion.” State ex rel. Lindenschmidt v. Butler Cty. Bd. of

Commrs., 72 Ohio St.3d 464, 465 (1995), citing Miller v. Lint, 62 Ohio St.2d 209,

213–214 (1980). An abuse of discretion implies the court’s decision is arbitrary,

unreasonable, or unconscionable. Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219

(1983). When applying this standard, a reviewing court is precluded from simply

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substituting its own judgment for that of the trial court. Pons v. Ohio St. Med. Bd.,

66 Ohio St.3d 619, 624 (1993).

{¶18} “In determining whether neglect is excusable or inexcusable, this

Court must take into consideration the surrounding facts and circumstances, and

must be mindful of the admonition that cases should be decided on their merits,

where possible, rather than procedural grounds.” Univ. of Akron v. Mangan, 9th

Dist. Summit No. 24167, 2008-Ohio-4844, ¶ 10, citing Marion Prod. Credit Assn.

v. Cochran, 40 Ohio St.3d 265, 271 (1988). When considering these

circumstances and the preference for settling cases on their merits, we are also

mindful that “the test for excusable neglect under Civ.R. 6(B)(2) is less stringent

than that applied under Civ.R. 60(B).” Lindenschmidt at 466.

{¶19} Although the term “excusable neglect” is an elusive concept that

courts often find difficult to define and to apply, the cases discussing excusable

neglect reveal some general principles. Kay v. Marc Glassman, Inc., 76 Ohio

St.3d 18, 20 (1996). Examples of instances where a court might find excusable

neglect include the following: the party had neither knowledge nor notice of the

pending legal action; counsel of record suffers from personal or family illness; and

counsel of record fails to appear for trial because he has not received notice of a

rescheduled trial date. Doddridge v. Fitzpatrick, 53 Ohio St.2d 9, 13 (1978); The

Bluffs of Wildwood Homeowners’ Assn., Inc. v. Dinkel, 96 Ohio App.3d 278, 281

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(1994); Columbia Gas of Ohio v. Riley, 38 Ohio App.3d 151 (1987), paragraph

two of the syllabus. A majority of the cases finding excusable neglect also have

found unusual or special circumstances that justified the neglect of the party or

attorney. Kay, supra.

{¶20} “Neglect is inexcusable, pursuant to Civ.R. 6(B), when a party’s

inaction can be classified as a ‘complete disregard for the judicial system.’ ”

Reimund v. Reimund, 3d Dist. Hancock No. 5-04-52, 2005-Ohio-2775, ¶ 16,

quoting GTE Automatic Elec., Inc. v. ARC Industries, Inc., 47 Ohio St.2d 146, 153

(1976). Likewise, conduct falling “substantially below what is reasonable under

the circumstances” constitutes inexcusable neglect. GTE. at 152. Further, if the

party could have prevented the circumstances from occurring, neglect will not be

considered excusable. McKinley v. Rhee, 3d Dist. Allen No. 1-01-168, 2002-

Ohio-1768.

{¶21} Chivington argues that she has demonstrated excusable neglect

because she sent a letter to Lester’s attorney asserting meritorious defenses to the

claims three weeks after she received the complaint. She further contends that she

misunderstood the requirement of having to file an answer with the trial court

within the 28-day timeframe. The record reflects that the summons accompanying

the complaint stated the following:

You are hereby summoned and required to serve upon the plaintiff’s attorney (or upon the plaintiff, if he has no attorney of

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record) a copy of an answer to the complaint within twenty-eight days after service of this summons on you, exclusive of the day of service. Your answer must be filed with the Court within three days after the service of a copy of the answer on the plaintiff’s attorney.

If you fail to appear and defend, judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint.

(Doc. No. 2A) (emphasis added).

{¶22} At the outset, we note that appellate courts have consistently held

that failure to respond to a complaint due to “layperson” status insufficient to rise

to the level of excusable neglect. See e.g., Martin v. Wayne County Nat. Bank

Trust, 9th Dist. No. 03CA0079, 2004-Ohio-4194, at ¶ 16 (stating “will not waive

the requirements imposed by the Civil Rules of Procedure simply because one of

the litigants is proceeding pro se”); Vanest v. Pillsbury Co., 124 Ohio App.3d 525,

537 (4th Dist.1997). Moreover, the record demonstrates Chivington failed to file

any responsive pleadings with the trial court prior to her attempt to file her answer

instanter, three days before the hearing on Lester’s Motion for Default Judgment.

Notably, Chivington’s attempt to file an answer with the trial court occurred

nearly six months after the service of the complaint and three months after she

received notice of Lester’s Motion for Default Judgment.

{¶23} In making its determination on this issue at the hearing, the trial court

reviewed relevant case law and stated the following on the record:

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The guideline for inexcusable neglect is when a party’s inaction could be classified for a complete disregard for the judicial system. * * *[A]lso if the party could have prevented the circumstances from occurring neglect will not be considered excusable. Reviewing that standard to what’s been provided in support of the Motion in this matter the Court finds that this— the conduct of Miss Chivington would fall within inexcusable neglect. [The] Court’s reviewed the summons, fairly standard language, makes it very clear that the Answer should have been filed with this Court * * *.

So applying the standards for excusable neglect the Court finds that the Defendants have failed to establish excusable neglect for properly responding to the Complaint in this matter, and the Motion to File Answers Instanter will be overruled.

(Trans. at 8-9). Based on the circumstances of this case and the fact that a Civ.R.

6(B) determination lies within the trial court’s sound discretion, we cannot say the

trial court erred in denying Chivington’s motion for leave to plead instanter. It

was within the trial court’s discretion to deny the motion, and we find such a

conclusion was not an abuse of discretion. Accordingly, the first assignment of

error is overruled.

Second Assignment of Error

{¶24} In her second assignment of error, Chivington argues that the trial

court erred in granting judgment against her in the amount of $12,500.00.

Specifically, Chivington asserts that Lester presented insufficient evidence to

prove that Chivington’s actions were the proximate cause of his damages.

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{¶25} In his complaint, Lester alleged that Chivington’s actions were the

proximate cause of his damages. When Chivington failed to file a responsive

pleading, those allegations were admitted as true. See Civ.R. 8(D);2 see also

Girard v. Leatherworks Partnership, 11th Dist. No.2004-T-0010, 2005-Ohio-

4779, at ¶ 38 (stating that “[w]hen a defendant fails to answer, default judgment is

appropriate because liability has been admitted or “confessed” by the omission of

statements in a pleading refuting the plaintiff’s claims”). Furthermore, based upon

Civ.R. 55, the trial court properly granted default judgment once Chivington failed

to plead or otherwise defend the action and Lester properly moved for default

judgment. “Once a default judgment has been entered, the only remaining triable

issue is the amount of damages.” Sokol v. Spigiel, 9th Dist. Lorain No.

05CA008839, 2006-Ohio-4408, ¶ 14.

{¶26} Accordingly, the issue of proximate cause was not before the trial

court during its “damages-only” hearing. Sokol at ¶ 15 (finding defendant’s

failure to respond to the complaint in a timely manner established such causation).

Moreover, the record demonstrates that Lester presented sufficient evidence to

support the trial court’s damage award. Chivington’s second assignment of error

is therefore overruled.

2 Civil Rule 8(D) states that: “Averments in a pleading to which a responsive pleading is required, other than those as to the amount of damage, are admitted when not denied in the responsive pleading. Averments in a pleading to which no responsive pleading is required or permitted shall be taken as denied or avoided.”

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{¶27} For all these reasons, the assignments of error are overruled and the

judgment is affirmed.

PRESTON, J., concurs.

WILLAMOWSKI, J., concurs in Judgment Only.

/jlr

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