Ohio National Bank v. Boone

35 N.E.2d 893, 33 Ohio Law. Abs. 555, 1941 Ohio App. LEXIS 1042
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 21, 1941
DocketNo 3312
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 35 N.E.2d 893 (Ohio National Bank v. Boone) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ohio National Bank v. Boone, 35 N.E.2d 893, 33 Ohio Law. Abs. 555, 1941 Ohio App. LEXIS 1042 (Ohio Ct. App. 1941).

Opinion

OPINION

By GEIGER, PJ.

This case is before us on appeal from a judgment of the Probate Court of Franklin County entered November 6, 1S40.

Helen Bright Boone, one of the defendants in the Probate Court gave notice of her intention to appeal on questions of law to the Court of Appeals of Franklin County, Ohio, from this judgment.

Louise M. Drennan, one of the defendants, likewise gave notice of appeal to the Court of Appeals upon questions of law from the same judgment, “determining the heirs of George W. Bright, deceased, and construing the last will and testament of George W. Bright.”

In this Court a motion is filed by counsel for Tom Pittman and Cloehe Hawkins, for an order dismissing the attempted appeal of the appellants for the reason “that the second paragraph of §10501-56 GC, under which this appeal is attempted, is in contravention of the Constitution and this Court has no jurisdiction to entertain the same.”

The statute in question, which is asserted to be unconstitutional, was passed as an amendment to the original §10501-56, effective June 26, 1939. In commenting upon the statute we will indicate what we think are important provisions by proper emphasis.

The present statute is captioned, “Cases Appealable from Probate Court to Court of Appeals; Appeal to Common Pleas Court, When.” It provides, in substance, that an appeal on questions of law and fact may be taken to the Court of Appeals in all cases in which the Court of Appeals has appellate jurisdiction, provided by law for prosecution of such appeals from the Common Pleas Court to the Court of Appeals. The cause so appealed shall be tried and decided in the Court of Appeals in the same manner as such appeals from the Court of Common Pleas are tried, etc. From any final order of the Probate Court, an appeal on questions of law may be prosecuted to [557]*557the Court of Appeals in the manner provided by law for the prosecution of such appeals from the Court of Common Pleas to the Court of Appeals. For the purpose of prosecuting appeals on questions of law. and of law and fact from the Probate Court, the Probate Court shall hereafter be deemed to be exercising judicial functions inferior only to the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. If, for any reason, a record has not been taken at the hearing of any matter before the Probate "Court so that a bill of exceptions or complete record may be prepared as provided by law in Courts of Common Pleas, then an appeal on questions of. law and fact may be taken to the Court of Common Pleas by a person against whom it is made from any judgment of the Probate Court in the manner provided by law for the prosecution of such appeal from the Court of Common Pleas to the Court of Appeals.

The “COMMENT” following the amended statute probably presents the question now for our decision in as concise a form as may be done, and we suggest its reading, with citations.

Counsel filing the motion to dismiss claim that §10501-56 GC, as now effective, contravenes the Constitution in that it is not of uniform operation. They point to the fact that the predecessor of this statute was held unconstitutional in the case of Squire v Bates, 132 Oh St 161, and for the same reason they assert that this section likewise contravenes the Constitution; that the jurisdiction of the two courts involved is a matter of general nature and as such must have uniform operation. They rely largely upon Squire v Bates, 132 Oh St 161, supra. They also cite with confidence Wallace v Leiter, 76 Oh St 185, and Kelly v State, 6 Oh St 270.

On the other hand, counsel for appellants assert that the motion to dismiss should be denied for the reason,

(1) All parts of the statute are of uniform operation as to all persons upon whom it is designed to operate.

(2) That if there be a classification, the same is not arbitrary or unreasonable.

(3) Even though it should be held that the latter part of the statute is invalid, it is separable from the rest of the statute.

(4) That the instant case is not comprehended by the portion of the statute assailed because there is a complete record and bill of exceptions and the question presented is purely one of law.

(5) That the appeal is good under §12223-1 GC.

The former statute was attacked in the case of Squire v Bates, 132 Oh St 161, and held to be unconstitutional for the reasons disclosed in the decision. In examining this opinion, we must, keep constantly in mind the reasons given by the Court for declaring it unconstitutional. The court first holds that the settlement of the account of a testamentary trustee is not a chancery case and not appealable as such from the Probate Court to the Court of Appeals. The present action in the Probate Court is not a chancery case. The appeal of all parties is on questions of law. The Court in the Squire case held that §10501-56 GC, authorizing appeals from the Probate Court to the Common Pleas Court and §10501-62 GC, prohibiting appeals to the Court of Common Pleas and permitting appeals to the Court of Appeals are related and must be read together and are laws of a general nature. The basis of the decision was that since all the judges of the Probate Courts do not have qualifications provided by law for judges of the Courts of Common Pleas, the operative effect of the section creates a condition whereby appeal from the Probate Court to the Court of Common Pleas is the only allowable procedure in some counties, while the appeal from the Probate Court to the Court of Appeals is essential in others, and that §10501-62 GC was unconstitutional. This section has been repealed and is not now on the statute books, but the present attack upon §10501-56 is made [558]*558by virtue of the decision above alluded to.

We think that the question presented and decided in the Squire case does not require us to hold that the present section is unconstitutional.

The present case is not one involving a question of law and fact, nor is the appeal made upon that ground, so that the first paragraph of the section has no application. The next paragraph relates to an appeal on questions of law but provides that it may be prosecuted to the Court of Appeals in the same manner as appeals from the Court of Common Pleas. It also provides that for the purpose of prosecuting appeals on questions of law and of law and fact from the Probate Court, the Probate Court shall be deemed to be exercising judicial functions inferior to the Court ' of Appeals and the Supreme Court. This would indicate a legislative intent to eliminate an appeal from the Probate Court to the Court of Common Pleas but the section further provides that if, for any reason, a record has not been taken at the hearing before the Probate Court so that a bill of exceptions may be prepared as provided in Courts of Common Pleas, then an appeal on questions of law and fact maybe taken to the Common Pleas Court.

The provision is that on an appeal from the Probate Court on questions of law the same shall be directly to the Court of Appeals, but that on questions of law and fact, where no record is made or can be made in the Probate Court, then the appeal on questions of law and fact may - be taken to the Common Pleas Court.

We are not of the opinion that there is a failure of uniformity in the operation of the statute.

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Bluebook (online)
35 N.E.2d 893, 33 Ohio Law. Abs. 555, 1941 Ohio App. LEXIS 1042, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ohio-national-bank-v-boone-ohioctapp-1941.