Pettit v. Perry Cty. Commrs.

2011 Ohio 572

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: February 7, 2011
• Docket: 10-CA-07
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as Pettit v. Perry Cty. Commrs., 2011-Ohio-572.]

COURT OF APPEALS PERRY COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

: JUDGES: CAROLYN PETTIT : Julie A. Edwards, P.J. : John W. Wise, J. Plaintiff-Appellee : Patricia A. Delaney, J. : -vs- : Case No. 10-CA-07 : : PERRY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS : OPINION

Defendant-Appellant

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Civil Appeal from Perry County Court of Common Pleas Case No. 09-CV-00128

JUDGMENT: Reversed and Remanded

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: February 7, 2011

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant

VINCENT C. RUSSO MARK LANDES R. DAVID MCGLADE BRANDI L. DORGAN Magaziner & McGlad, LLC Isaac, Brant, Ledman & Teetor, LLP 44 South 6th Street, P.O. Box 970 250 East Broad Street, Suite 900 Zanesville, Ohio 43702-0970 Columbus, Ohio 43215-3742 [Cite as Pettit v. Perry Cty. Commrs., 2011-Ohio-572.]

Edwards, P.J.

{¶1} Defendant-appellant, Perry County Commissioners, appeal from the

January 28, 2010, Decision of the Perry County Court of Common Pleas denying its

Motion for Summary Judgment.

STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE

{¶2} On April 16, 2007, appellee Carolyn Pettit and her husband drove to the

licensing bureau in Perry County to renew their license plates. The property on which

the licensing bureau is located is owned and maintained by appellant. On the day in

question, it was light outside and there was no snow or rain on the ground. Because

the parking spots in front of the building were taken, appellee parked on a ramp located

on the north end of the building. The ramp goes from zero grade to an elevation of

approximately 8 to 10 inches. At the top of the ramp is a handicapped parking spot on a

flat area right next to the rear door of the building. When appellee exited her car, which

was parked on the far left edge of the ramp, she fell over the edge of the ramp,

sustaining injuries. At the time of appellee’s fall, the top edge of the ramp was painted

blue and the side of the ramp was painted yellow. According to appellee, a car was

parked in front of the edge, blocking view of the yellow paint.

{¶3} Launful Salyer, who was employed by appellant as a building

maintenance supervisor and foreman, painted the far left and far right top edges of the

ramp area with blue lines and painted two blue handicap stencils in the handicapped

spot. The purpose of the blue lines was to keep non-handicapped people from blocking

the area. He painted the top edge of the ramp blue to indicate that a driver was to pull

up and stop at such point. A vehicle parked in the handicapped spot would be right next Perry County App. Case No. 10-CA-07 3

to the building and beyond the ramp or any other parked vehicles. According to Salyer,

a sign directed people who wanted to park in the handicap space to pull up to the flat

area or to pull up to the back of the building. Salyer testified that he used yellow paint to

highlight curbs and that, although yellow paint “would have been better”, he used blue

paint to designate the handicapped spot because “when you designate a handicap spot,

it’s all got to be blue.” Deposition of Launful Salyer at 41.

{¶4} Appellee, on March 24, 2009, filed a complaint against appellant.

Subsequently, she filed an amended complaint. In her amended complaint, appellee

alleged that appellant was negligent in maintaining the parking lot due to the ramp and

in failing to warn her of the ramp. She specifically alleged that appellant violated a

building code by not having the design plans or specifications of the parking lot and/or

handicapped space submitted to the appropriate building official for inspection and

approval. On December 10, 2009, appellant filed a Motion for Summary Judgment.

Appellant, in its motion, alleged that it was immune from liability under Revised Code

2744.01 et seq. and that the ramp was open and obvious.

{¶5} As memorialized in a Decision filed on January 28, 2010, the trial court

overruled appellant’s Motion for Summary Judgment. The trial court, in its Decision,

found that the “physical defect” exception to immunity contained in R.C. 2744.02(B)(4)

applied and also that neither of the defenses to immunity contained in R.C.

2744.03(A)(3) or (A)(5) applied. The trial court also found that there were genuine

issues of material fact in dispute as to whether or not the ledge/drop off created by the

ramp was an open and obvious danger.

{¶6} Appellant now raises the following assignments of error on appeal: Perry County App. Case No. 10-CA-07 4

{¶7} “I. AS A MATTER OF LAW, THE PROXIMITY OF THE RAMP IN A

PARKING LOT TO THE HANDICAPPED PARKING SPACE IS NOT A PHYSICAL

DEFECT UNDER R.C. 2744.02.

{¶8} “II. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FINDING THAT AN ISSUE OF FACT

EXISTS REGARDING WHETHER THE RAMP IN THE PARKING LOT WHERE

PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE FELL WAS NOT OPEN AND OBVIOUS.”

{¶9} Summary judgment proceedings present the appellate court with the

unique opportunity of reviewing the evidence in the same manner as the trial court.

Smiddy v. The Wedding Party, Inc. (1987), 30 Ohio St.3d 35, 36, 506 N.E.2d 212. As

such, we must refer to Civ.R. 56 which provides, in pertinent part: “Summary judgment

shall be rendered forthwith if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories,

written admissions, affidavits, transcripts of evidence in the pending case and written

stipulations of fact, if any, timely filed in the action, show that there is no genuine issue

as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of

law. * * * A summary judgment shall not be rendered unless it appears from the

evidence or stipulation, and only from the evidence or stipulation, that reasonable minds

can come to but one conclusion and that conclusion is adverse to the party against

whom the motion for summary judgment is made, that party being entitled to have the

evidence or stipulation construed most strongly in the party's favor.”

{¶10} Pursuant to the above rule, a trial court may not enter summary judgment

if it appears a material fact is genuinely disputed. The party moving for summary

judgment, bears the initial burden of informing the trial court of the basis for its motion

and identifying those portions of the record that demonstrate the absence of a genuine Perry County App. Case No. 10-CA-07 5

issue of material fact. The moving party may not make a conclusory assertion that the

non-moving party has no evidence to prove its case. The moving party must specifically

point to some evidence which demonstrates the non-moving party cannot support its

claim. If the moving party satisfies this requirement, the burden shifts to the non-moving

party to set forth specific facts demonstrating there is a genuine issue of material fact for

trial. Vahila v. Hall, 77 Ohio St.3d 421, 429, 1997-Ohio-259,674 N.E .2d 1164, citing

Dresher v. Burt , 75 Ohio St.3d 280, 1996-Ohio- 207, 662 N.E.2d 264.

{¶11} It is based upon this standard that we review appellant's assignments of

error.

I

{¶12} Appellant, in its first assignment of error, argues that the trial court erred in

finding that appellant was not immune from liability under R.C. 2744.01 et seq. We

agree.

{¶13} Appellant has appealed from the trial court's denial of its Motion for

Summary Judgment. Typically the denial of a motion for summary judgment is not a

final appealable order. However, R.C. 2744.02(C) states that “[a]n order that denies a

political subdivision or an employee of a political subdivision the benefit of an alleged

immunity from liability * * * is a final order.” Consequently, this court has jurisdiction over

this appeal to the extent that it challenges the denial of statutory immunity to appellant.

{¶14} R.C. 2744.02(A)(1) provides that political subdivisions are “not liable in

damages in a civil action for injury, death, or loss to person or property allegedly caused

by any act or omission of the political subdivision or an employee of the political

subdivision in connection with a governmental or proprietary function.” Perry County App. Case No. 10-CA-07 6

{¶15} In the case sub judice, the parties do not dispute that appellant is a

political subdivision, that the building and parking lot in which appellee fell is owned by

appellant and that appellant was performing a governmental function. R.C.

2744.01(C)(2)(e) defines a governmental function as including “the regulation of the use

of, and maintenance and repair of roads, highways, streets, avenues, alleys, sidewalks,

bridges, aqueducts, viaducts, and public grounds.” In the case sub judice, the parking

lot where appellee fell was on public grounds.

{¶16} The parties do dispute, however, whether or not an exception to immunity

contained in R.C. 2744.02(B) applies. The exceptions to immunity listed in R.C.

2744.02(B) are as follows: (1) the negligent operation of a motor vehicle by an

employee of the political subdivision, (2) negligent performance of acts by employees of

the political subdivision with respect to “proprietary functions” of the political subdivision,

(3) negligent failure of the political subdivision to keep public roads in good repair, (4)

negligent creation or failure to remove physical defects in buildings and grounds; and

(5) where civil liability is expressly imposed upon a political subdivision by another

section of the Revised Code. If any of the exceptions apply, the court must further

analyze whether any of the defenses in R.C. 2744.03(A) apply, providing the political

subdivision with a defense against liability. See Cater v. Cleveland, 83 Ohio St.3d 24,

28, 1998-Ohio-421, 697 N.E.2d 610.

{¶17} Appellee argued, and the trial court agreed, that the exception to immunity

contained in R.C. 2744.02(B)(4) applied. To trigger the immunity exception set forth in

R.C. 2744.02(B)(4), appellee was required to demonstrate both that (1) her injury was

caused by the negligence of appellant’s employee and (2) that the injury was due to a Perry County App. Case No. 10-CA-07 7

“physical defect within or on the grounds of” the subject building. See Dunfee v. Oberlin

School District, Lorain App. No. 08CA009497, 2009-Ohio-3406 at paragraph 13.

{¶18} In Dynowski v. City of Solon, 183 Ohio App.3d 364, 2009-Ohio-3297, 917

N.E.2d 286, a golfer filed a negligence action against the city of Solon after he was

injured after he slipped and fell while walking down a ramp constructed of railroad ties.

The ramp was located outside of a pro shop on the grounds of a golf course owned and

operated by the city of Solon. After the trial court denied the city’s motion for summary

judgment, the city appealed.

{¶19} On appeal, the appellee relied on his own deposition testimony and an

expert report to support his allegation that the ramp was physically defective. The

appellee argued that the ramp was not designed and installed in compliance with

applicable building codes and that it was negligently maintained because it was only

partially covered with a nonskid surface and had a handrail installed only on the side

with the nonskid surface. In turn, the appellant argued, in part, that the “physical defect”

exception contained in R.C. 2744.02(B)(4) did not apply because the ramp was not

required to comply with local building codes.

{¶20} In holding that the “physical defect” exception did not apply and that the

city of Solon was immune from liability, the court, in Dynowski, stated, in relevant part,

as follows: “Appellee has failed to present sufficient evidence that would expose

appellant to liability under the ‘physical defect’ exception to immunity at R.C.

2744.02(B). While it has presented evidence that the ramp in question violated certain

nonspecific building codes, it has presented no evidence that the ramp was required to Perry County App. Case No. 10-CA-07 8

comply with those codes to begin with. In short, appellant cannot be in violation of a law

it is not required to follow.” Id at paragraph 19.

{¶21} In the case sub judice, appellee argued that the ledge/drop off was a

physical defect given its proximity to the handicap parking spot, its location in the

ingress from such spot to the front door of the license bureau, and the fact that the top

edge of the ledge/drop off was painted blue rather than yellow. Appellee notes that

curbs and potential hazards in the parking lot were painted yellow. The trial court found

that the “apparent handicap spots proximity to the drop off resulted in a physical defect

being present on [appellant’s] property” and that the exception contained in R.C.

2744.02(B)(4) therefore applied.

{¶22} However, while appellant, in her amended complaint, alleged that the

handicapped space and/or ramp failed to meet building standards, appellee has not

produced evidence the ramp in question violated any building codes or laws. As noted

by appellant, appellee “has failed to come forth with any evidence that the proximity of

the handicapped parking space to the ramp was in any way a violation of any standards

or building codes, despite the allegations in the Amended Complaint.” Moreover, there

is no evidence that the blue markings on the ramp (the blues lines along the top edge

and side edges of the ramp) as opposed to yellow lines constituted a defect.

{¶23} Based on the foregoing, we find that the exception to immunity contained

in R.C. 2744.02(B)(4) did not apply and that appellant, therefore, was entitled to

immunity under R.C. 2744.01 et seq. We further find that the trial court erred in

overruling appellant’s Motion for Summary Judgment.

{¶24} Appellant’s first assignment of error is, therefore, sustained. Perry County App. Case No. 10-CA-07 9

II

{¶25} Appellant, in its second assignment of error, argues that the trial court

erred in finding that there were genuine issues of material facts as to whether or not the

ramp was open and obvious.

{¶26} Based on our disposition of appellant’s first assignment of error,

appellant’s second assignment of error is moot.

{¶27} Accordingly, the judgment of the Perry County Court of Common Pleas is

reversed and this matter is remanded to the trial court for further proceedings.

By: Edwards, P.J.

Wise, J. concur

Delaney, J., dissents

______________________________

JUDGES

JAE/d0819 Perry County App. Case No. 10-CA-07 10

Delaney, J., dissenting

{¶28} I respectfully dissent from the majority’s conclusion that the exception to

immunity contained in R.C. 2744.02(B)(4) does not apply as a matter of law.

{¶29} The trial court correctly concluded that based upon the deposition

testimony of Mr. Salyer, reasonable minds could conclude that the appellant “was

negligent in painting the area at issue with blue lines and a handicap wheelchair stencil,

which gave the area adjacent to the drop off the appearance of a handicap parking

space” and the “apparent handicap spots proximity to the drop off resulted in a physical

defect being present on the [appellant’s] property.” A simple look at the photographs in

the record demonstrates the appearance of a handicap parking space despite

appellant’s protestations that appellee did not park her vehicle in a parking space.

{¶30} Appellant asserts in the first assignment of error that because appellee

failed to produce evidence that the proximity of the handicap parking space to the drop

off violated any building codes or laws it cannot be a physical defect under R.C.

2744.02(B)(4), relying on the Eighth District’s decision in Dynowski v. City of Solon. I

believe appellant and the majority reads the Dynowski decision too broadly. There is no

language in R.C. 2744.02(B)(4) that limits the term “physical defect” to a condition that

allegedly violates administrative building codes or unspecified laws. Rather, the issue

of regulatory compliance, as noted by the Dynowski court, pertains to the analysis of

whether a duty is owed by a premises owner or occupier to a business invitee, and not

to the issue of whether a physical defect did or did not exist on the property. See, Lang

v. Holly Hill Motel, Inc., 122 Ohio St.3d 120, 2009-Ohio-2495, 909 N.E.2d 120; Jackson Perry County App. Case No. 10-CA-07 11

v. Bd. of Cty. Commr., 4th Dist. No. 10CA805, 2010-Ohio-4875. This is an important

distinction in our analysis of the immunity exception.

{¶31} Accordingly, I would overrule the first assignment of error.

______________________________ JUDGE PATRICIA A. DELANEY [Cite as Pettit v. Perry Cty. Commrs., 2011-Ohio-572.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR PERRY COUNTY, OHIO

FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

CAROLYN PETTIT : : Plaintiff-Appellee : : : -vs- : JUDGMENT ENTRY : PERRY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS : : Defendant-Appellant : CASE NO. 10-CA-07

For the reasons stated in our accompanying Memorandum-Opinion on file, the

judgment of the Perry County Court of Common Pleas is reversed and this matter is

remanded to the trial court for further proceedings. Costs assessed to appellee.

_________________________________