Nicolazzo v. Yoingco

2007 Ohio 7269, 898 N.E.2d 94, 149 Ohio Misc. 2d 44
CourtClermont County Court of Common Pleas
DecidedSeptember 14, 2007
DocketNo. 2007 CVC 0354
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 2007 Ohio 7269 (Nicolazzo v. Yoingco) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Clermont County Court of Common Pleas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Nicolazzo v. Yoingco, 2007 Ohio 7269, 898 N.E.2d 94, 149 Ohio Misc. 2d 44 (Ohio Super. Ct. 2007).

Opinion

Haddad, Judge.

{¶ 1} This matter came before the court on September 7, 2007, pursuant to a motion to dismiss filed by the defendant, Dennis Yoingco. The plaintiffs, Flora and Robert Nicolazzo, and the defendant, Yoingco, signed an agreed entry, dated March 26, 2007, in which the defendant admitted that he is in fact the defendant Christy Belltone for the purposes of this action. Further, the parties agreed that the defendant Yoingco is in fact the defendant Cincinnati Bulldogs for the purposes of this action. Upon hearing oral arguments on the motion, the court took the matter under advisement and now renders the following decision.

[50]*50FINDINGS OF FACT

{¶ 2} Flora Nicolazzo purchased a bulldog puppy from Yoingco in early 2006. A dispute arose when Nicolazzo ceased making payments to the defendant. Yoingco filed a civil complaint in Warren County, and judgment was entered in favor of Yoingco. Nicolazzo was then served with notice of a judgment debtor examination. Nicolazzo completed the questionnaire provided by the court, which cancelled the scheduled examination. Yoingco, alleging that he had additional questions, asked the Warren County Court to issue an order directing Nicolazzo to appear to answer his additional questions. Nicolazzo failed to appear for that examination, and a civil contempt bench warrant was issued. Nicolazzo was arrested and posted bond. Nicolazzo appeared in the Warren County Court, and the judge made “no finding of contempt” and ordered a payment schedule for Nicolazzo’s debt. The plaintiffs allege that Yoingco repeatedly called and emailed them, using threatening and outrageous language. The plaintiffs further allege that the defendant posted websites and other messages on the Internet that defamed the plaintiffs, including a copy of Nicolazzo’s driver’s license and a mock wanted poster.

{¶ 3} The plaintiff filed a verified complaint on February 26, 2007, alleging defamation, false light, abuse of process, telecommunications harassment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The plaintiffs also sought a temporary restraining order (“TRO”) and a preliminary injunction. The parties agreed on March 26, 2007, that the defendant Yoingco and the defendants Christy Belltone and Cincinnati Bulldogs are in fact the same person, that person being Dennis Yoingco. The parties further agreed that Yoingco would refrain from communicating with third persons regarding the plaintiffs in any manner or media, except as required by law, in the pending Warren County Court action, or in the within action in this court pending a final ruling in this case. Pursuant to this agreed entry, and upon confirming that the defendant had removed the alleged website from the Internet, the plaintiffs withdrew their requests for the TRO and preliminary injunction. The defendant then filed a motion to dismiss on March 26, 2007.

{¶ 4} The court notes that at an oral hearing held on July 26, 2007, regarding the defendant’s motion to compel, the parties discussed the need to convert the defendant’s motion to dismiss to a motion for summary judgment. The court put the parties on notice at that time that to the extent necessary, it would convert the defendant’s motion pursuant to Civ.R. 12(B). The parties then agreed at the hearing on the motion to dismiss, held on September 7, 2007, that to the extent necessary, the defendant’s motion to dismiss would in fact be converted to a motion for summary judgment.

[51]*51THE LEGAL STANDARD

{¶ 5} In order for the court to grant a Civ.R. 12(B)(6) motion for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, “it must appear beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his claim which would entitle him to relief.” Avery v. Rossford Transp. Improvement Dist. (2001), 145 Ohio App.3d 155, 164, 762 N.E.2d 388. See also Guess v. Wilkinson (1997), 123 Ohio App.3d 430, 434, 704 N.E.2d 328, 330, citing York v. Ohio State Hwy. Patrol (1991), 60 Ohio St.3d 143, 144, 573 N.E.2d 1063. All factual allegations of the complaint must be taken as true, and all reasonable inferences must be drawn in favor of the nonmoving party. Avery at 164, 762 N.E.2d 388, citing Mitchell v. Lawson Milk Co. (1988), 40 Ohio St.3d 190, 192, 532 N.E.2d 753. However, the court does not have to presume the truth of conclusions unsupported by factual allegations. Guess at 434, 704 N.E.2d 328. The court can consider only materials and evidence found within the complaint when determining a Civ.R. 12(B)(6) dismissal. Should the court consider evidence outside of the pleadings, it must convert the 12(B)(6) motion into a motion for summary judgment. The parties must be given notice of the court’s intent to do so. Civ.R. 12(B).

{¶ 6} In considering a motion for summary judgment, the court will look at the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, written admissions, affidavits, transcripts of evidence in the pending case, and written stipulations of fact. Civ.R. 56(C). Pursuant to Civ.R. 56(C), summary judgment is proper when (1) there is no genuine issue of material fact, (2) the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law, and (3) reasonable minds can come to but one conclusion, and that conclusion is adverse to the nonmoving party, who is entitled to have the evidence construed most strongly in his favor. Harless v. Willis Day Warehousing Co. (1978), 54 Ohio St.2d 64, 66, 8 O.O.3d 73, 375 N.E.2d 46.

{¶ 7} The party requesting summary judgment bears the burden of showing that no genuine issue of material fact exists and that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Id. at 66, 8 O.O.3d 73, 375 N.E.2d 46; Dresher v. Burt (1996), 75 Ohio St.3d 280, 292-293, 662 N.E.2d 264. In determining whether a genuine issue of material fact exists, the court must answer the following inquiry: “Does the evidence present a sufficient disagreement to require submission to a jury or is it so one-sided that one party must prevail as a matter of law?” Wilson v. Maple, Clermont App. No. CA2005-08-075, 2006-Ohio-3536, 2006 WL 1880505, ¶ 18, citing Turner v. Turner (1993), 67 Ohio St.3d 337, 340, 617 N.E.2d 1123. The moving party cannot discharge its initial burden by making conclusory assertions that the nonmoving party has no evidence to prove its case. Dresher at 293, 662 N.E.2d 264. The moving party must specifically point to evidence that affirmatively demonstrates that the nonmoving party has no evidence to support its claim. Id.

[52]*52{¶ 8} Once the moving party satisfies its burden, “the nonmoving party may not rest on the mere allegations of his pleading, but his response, by affidavit or as otherwise provided in Civ.R.

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Bluebook (online)
2007 Ohio 7269, 898 N.E.2d 94, 149 Ohio Misc. 2d 44, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/nicolazzo-v-yoingco-ohctcomplclermo-2007.