Ohmer v. Ohmer

2008 Ohio 6099, 898 N.E.2d 106, 149 Ohio Misc. 2d 60
CourtClermont County Court of Common Pleas
DecidedJuly 2, 2008
DocketNo. 2005 CVH 1886
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 2008 Ohio 6099 (Ohmer v. Ohmer) 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
Ohmer v. Ohmer, 2008 Ohio 6099, 898 N.E.2d 106, 149 Ohio Misc. 2d 60 (Ohio Super. Ct. 2008).

Opinion

Haddad, Judge.

{¶ 1} This matter was before the court on February 19, 2008, pursuant to the defendant’s motion to strike the affidavit of the plaintiff, Charles Ohmer Sr., and the defendant’s motion for partial summary judgment on the first, second, third, seventh, eighth, and ninth claims of the plaintiffs complaint. Upon hearing oral arguments on the motion, the court took the matter under advisement and now renders the following decision.

FINDINGS OF FACT

{¶ 2} It is alleged in this case that the plaintiffs, Charles E. Ohmer Sr. and Lawrence Ohmer, transferred property to the defendant, Charles E. Ohmer Jr., by quitclaim deed in 2002. The plaintiffs allege that the defendant then promised them that they could reside on the property for the remainder of their joint lives, but the defendant has failed to permit their occupancy. The alleged agreement between the parties was that the defendant would construct one house on the property for him and his family, and the plaintiffs would construct a second house on the same property, with all parties sharing a driveway. Sometime after the conveyance of the real estate, the defendant and his wife divorced. The plaintiffs allege that following the divorce, they agreed with the defendant to construct only one house on the property and that all parties involved would live in the same household.

{¶ 8} The plaintiff and the defendant then sold a piece of real estate that was jointly owned, recouping a profit of $127,000, which was given to the defendant so that he could construct a house. The plaintiffs allege that the defendant promised them that they could reside in this house for the remainder of their joint lives. Again, the plaintiffs allege that the defendant has refused their occupancy.

[65]*65{¶ 4} In addition, the plaintiffs provided $12,000 to the defendant so that a garage could be constructed upon the property. The plaintiffs also provided another $15,000 for the construction of sidewalks, water and sewage lines, and a driveway. The plaintiffs again allege that the funding was providing pursuant to a promise that they could live in the house for the remainder of their joint lives. Despite the fact that the plaintiffs resided in the house for a period of time, they allege that the defendant has failed to permit their occupancy.

{¶ 5} The court would note that the plaintiff Lawrence Ohmer is now deceased. The defendant has filed a motion for an order directing Jonathon Smith, former attorney for the plaintiffs, to answer questions relating to his representation of Lawrence Ohmer. By agreement of the parties, that motion is to remain pending until the defendant’s motion for summary judgment is resolved.

LEGAL ANALYSIS

Motion to Strike Affidavit

{¶ 6} The court will first address the defendant’s motion to strike the affidavit of Charles Ohmer Sr. The defendant argues that the affidavit lacks the prerequisites for an affidavit in a motion for summary judgment. Specifically, the defendant argues that competency has not been shown, nor has the plaintiff shown that he has personal knowledge of the facts attested to in the affidavit. The plaintiff argues in response that he has personal knowledge of all statements contained within the affidavit.

{¶ 7} In order for an affidavit to be considered in a motion for summary judgment, it “shall be made on personal knowledge, shall set forth such facts as would be admissible in evidence, and shall show affirmatively that the affiant is competent to testify to the matters stated in the affidavit.” Civ.R. 56(E). Personal knowledge means “ ‘[kjnowledge gained through firsthand observation or experience, as distinguished from a belief based on what someone else has said.’ ” Bonacorsi v. Wheeling & Lake Erie Ry. Co., 95 Ohio St.3d 314, 2002-Ohio-2220, 767 N.E.2d 707, at ¶ 26, quoting Black’s Law Dictionary (7th Ed.1999) 875.

{¶ 8} The court has read the entire affidavit of Charles Ohmer Sr. and finds that the statements contained therein are based upon facts of which he would have personal knowledge, that these statements would be admissible as evidence, and that the plaintiff is competent to testify as to these matters. The court, therefore, denies the defendant’s motion to strike the affidavit of Charles Ohmer Sr.

[66]*66 Motion for Partial Summary Judgment

{¶ 9} 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). According 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. See also Zivich v. Mentor Soccer Club, Inc. (1998), 82 Ohio St.3d 367, 369-370, 696 N.E.2d 201. 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. Harless 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, at ¶ 18, quoting Turner v. Turner (1993), 67 Ohio St.3d 337, 340, 617 N.E.2d 1123. The moving party must specifically point to evidence that affirmatively demonstrates that the nonmoving party has no evidence to support its claim. Dresher at 293, 662 N.E.2d 264.

{¶ 10} 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. 56, must set forth specific facts showing the existence of a genuine triable issue.” Mootispaw v. Eckstein (1996), 76 Ohio St.3d 383, 385, 667 N.E.2d 1197; Civ.R. 56(E). Doubts must be resolved in favor of the nonmoving party. Murphy v. Reynoldsburg (1992), 65 Ohio St.3d 356, 359, 604 N.E.2d 138.

Claim 1: Setting Aside the Deed

{¶ 11} The defendant argues in relation to Claim One that the facts alleged in the plaintiffs deposition do not support the allegations contained in the complaint. The plaintiff bases his claim upon an alleged oral promise by the defendant that the plaintiffs, Charles Ohmer Sr.

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Bluebook (online)
2008 Ohio 6099, 898 N.E.2d 106, 149 Ohio Misc. 2d 60, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ohmer-v-ohmer-ohctcomplclermo-2008.