Litton Systems, Inc. v. Tracy

728 N.E.2d 389, 88 Ohio St. 3d 568
CourtOhio Supreme Court
DecidedMay 31, 2000
DocketNo. 99-578
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 728 N.E.2d 389 (Litton Systems, Inc. v. Tracy) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Litton Systems, Inc. v. Tracy, 728 N.E.2d 389, 88 Ohio St. 3d 568 (Ohio 2000).

Opinion

Per Curiam.

In defining “sale” and “selling” in R.C. 5739.01(B)(5), the General Assembly provided:

[570]*570“Except as provided in section 5739.03 of the Revised Code, a construction contract pursuant to which tangible personal property is or is to be incorporated into a structure or improvement on and becoming a part of real property is not a sale of such tangible personal property. The construction contractor is the consumer of such tangible personal property * *

In Thomas Steel Strip Corp. v. Limbach (1991), 61 Ohio St.3d 340, 341, 575 N.E.2d 114, 115, we interpreted this provision:

“The consumer pays the sales tax to the vendor. R.C. 5739.03. Under R.C. 5739.01(B)(5), the consumer in a construction contract is the construction contractor, because a construction contract is not a sale of tangible personal property to the owner of the real property. The contractor must pay the tax on his purchase of the materials.”

Here, Litton argues that it incorporated the conveyors and material-handling systems into The Limited’s structures because Litton had physically affixed the equipment to The Limited’s distribution centers. Litton continues to argue that, within the meaning of this statute, Litton did not sell the equipment to The Limited. The commissioner replies that The Limited could easily remove the disputed equipment without damaging the structures, and, accordingly, Litton had not incorporated the equipment into the structures.

When Litton installed this equipment, between January 1991 and January 1992, the General Assembly defined “real property” and “land” in R.C. 5701.02(A)1 as:

“[L]and itself * * * and, unless otherwise specified, all buildings, structures, improvements, and fixtures of whatever kind on the land, and all rights and privileges belonging or appertaining thereto.”

A decade ago, in Green Circle Growers, Inc. v. Lorain Cty. Bd. of Revision (1988), 35 Ohio St.3d 38, 517 N.E.2d 899, we reiterated our past holdings and noted that the definition of “real property” contained in R.C. 5701.02 deviates from the traditional distinction between realty and personalty. According to the statutory definition, a structure or building located on land could be personal property but be treated as real property unless the General Assembly has otherwise specified. In Green Circle Growers, we affirmed the BTA’s decision and held that greenhouse structures “attached to the realty by placement of metal sleeves into post holes anchored in concrete” are structures on real estate.

Furthermore, in Thomas Steel Strip Corp., we observed that, under this definition, any property firmly attached to land is real property for tax purposes, [571]*571unless otherwise specified. We stated that we did not ask whether an improvement primarily benefited the land or the business on the land because the definition of “real estate” “does not require the fact-finder to make this distinction.” Thomas Steel Strip at 341, 575 N.E.2d at 115. We also refused to adopt a restrictive definition of “structures * * * of whatever kind” because “[t]his phrase places no limit on the type of structure that is, for tax purposes, real property.” Id. Finally, we concluded that the disputed items, rooms to house equipment and store material and floor plates to support people and transportation equipment, were structures.

The next year, in Kings Entertainment Co. v. Limbach (1992), 63 Ohio St.3d 369, 588 N.E.2d 777, we again ruled that the BTA need not determine whether a structure or improvement on the land primarily benefited the real property rather than the business on the land. This question need not be asked because the definition did not require the question. In Kings Entertainment, we questioned applying fixture analysis, set forth in Teaff v. Hewitt (1853), 1 Ohio St. 511, and Zangerle v. Std. Oil Co. (1945), 144 Ohio St. 506, 30 O.O.151, 60 N.E.2d 52, to structures and improvements on real property.

Teaff, decided a century and a half ago, is a landmark case on the legal requirements to identify a fixture. Teaff presents appropriate criteria to employ in determining whether an item is a fixture and, consequently, real property. Zangerle, however, too eagerly applied fixture analysis to structures or improvements on real property.

The Zangerle court had under its sights various types of buildings, structures, improvements, and fixtures built at an oil refinery. Rather than applying a separate analysis for each type of construction, the Zangerle court applied fixture analysis to all types of construction. The court emphasized the second criterion, whether the chattel is devoted primarily to the business conducted on the premises or primarily to the use of the land. Zangerle at paragraph four of the syllabus. The application of fixture analysis to buildings, structures, and improvements, and this overriding emphasis on this second criterion were the crux of our disagreement in Kings Entertainment. We will not employ fixture analysis for buildings, structures, and improvements; we will employ fixture analysis for fixtures because R.C. 5701.02(A) contains this term and, therefore, requires us to determine whether a contested item is a fixture.

A complete analysis under R.C. 5701.02, in any event, requires a decision on whether the disputed item is a building, a structure, an improvement, or a fixture. Since the instant transactions occurred before the General Assembly provided definitions for these terms in July 1992, 144 Ohio Laws, Part 1, 1528-1529, we will apply dictionary definitions as we undertake this complete analysis. R.C. 1.42.

The Dictionary of Real Estate Appraisal (1984) 39, defines “building” as:

[572]*572“A structure, usually roofed and walled, that is erected for permanent use.”

The disputed conveyors and material-handling systems are not structures erected for permanent use. Litton has attached this equipment to elements of a building. The Limited can easily remove or reconfigure the equipment without damaging the building. Thus, the disputed items are not buildings.

This dictionary, at 294, defines “structure” as:

“An edifice or building; an improvement.”

The disputed equipment is not a structure under this definition; it is not an edifice or building.

The same dictionary, at 158, defines “improvements” as:

“Buildings or other relatively permanent structures or developments located on, or attached to, land.”

The disputed equipment is not an “improvement” as defined in this dictionary. The conveyors and material-handling systems are neither buildings nor other relatively permanent structures located on or attached to the land. The Limited can remove, replace, or reconfigure the equipment without damaging the building.

Finally, we consider whether this equipment is a fixture.

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Bluebook (online)
728 N.E.2d 389, 88 Ohio St. 3d 568, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/litton-systems-inc-v-tracy-ohio-2000.