[Cite as Robertson v. Meyers, 2024-Ohio-270.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO
SHAWN ROBERTSON, : APPEAL NO. C-230257 TRIAL NO. A-2202742 Petitioner-Appellant, :
vs. : O P I N I O N.
L. PAMELA MEYERS, :
Respondent-Appellee. :
Civil Appeal From: Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas
Judgment Appealed From Is: Reversed and Cause Remanded
Date of Judgment Entry on Appeal: January 26, 2024
Finney Law Firm, Christopher P. Finney, Casey A. Jones, Bradley M. Gibson, Jessica D. Gibson and Isaac T. Heintz, for Petitioner-Appellant,
Trenz & Knabe Co., LPA, and Alan R. Trenz, for Respondent-Appellee. OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
ZAYAS, Presiding Judge.
{¶1} Petitioner-appellant Shawn Robertson appeals the judgment of the
Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas dismissing his petition for discovery. In a
single assignment of error, he argues that the trial court erred in dismissing his
petition because the allegations in the petition—which the court must take as true—
meet the requirements of Civ.R. 34(D). For the following reasons, we sustain the
assignment of error, reverse the judgment of the trial court, and remand the cause for
further proceedings consistent with this opinion and the law.
I. Factual and Procedural History
{¶2} Petitioner filed a Civ.R. 34(D) petition for discovery, seeking discovery
from respondent-appellee L. Pamela Meyers. The petition alleges that respondent
became the acting trustee of the Patricia L. Robertson Living Trust (“the trust”) upon
Ms. Robertson’s death on January 11, 2021. Petitioner—one of three residuary
beneficiaries under the trust—asserts in the petition that Ms. Robertson—his mother—
told him prior to her death that the proceeds from the sale of her home—
approximately $200,000—were in a checking account held with U.S. Bank. The home
was allegedly held by the trust and sold two months prior to Ms. Robertson’s passing.
Petitioner asserts in the petition that it was his understanding—based on
conversations with his mother—that such proceeds were intended to be included
within the trust and distributed accordingly. Yet, the proceeds were not included
within the trust distribution. Accordingly, the petition requests information regarding
the U.S. Bank account to ascertain the identity of any potential joint account holders
and/or individuals who may have acted adversely to the wishes of his mother and the
interest of the trust for purposes of bringing a potential cause of action based on the
exclusion of the proceeds from the trust distribution. More specifically, the petition
2 OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
requested “statements or other documents showing the titling and account number of
any cash account that was not included in the distribution of the Trust in which Ms.
Robertson had an interest as of the date of her death.”
{¶3} The trust—which was attached and incorporated into the petition—
shows that Ms. Robertson transferred:
all my right, title, and interest in and to all of my property that
may legally be held in trust and that may be transferred to my trust by
this assignment. This assignment includes all of my real, personal,
tangible, and intangible property located in the United States, whether
separate property or community property, and whether acquired before
or after the execution of this instrument, except for these assets that are
expressly not transferred by this instrument * * *.
The trust also shows that petitioner was to receive one third of the “remaining trust
property (not distributed under prior Articles of [the trust]).” The trust became
irrevocable upon death. Additionally, a trustee’s deed—also attached and
incorporated into the petition—shows that real property of the trust was sold on
October 28, 2020, for $229,000. Lastly, an affidavit of petitioner—which was again
attached and incorporated into the petition—avers that petitioner requested the
information from respondent and/or respondent’s counsel on two separate occasions
to no avail.
{¶4} Respondent moved to dismiss the petition under Civ.R. 12(B)(6),
arguing that petitioner was not entitled to the requested information as the trust—
which was revocable prior to Ms. Robertson’s death—has been fully administered and
all residuary beneficiaries have received an identical amount under the trust. In other
words, the motion argued that all trust assets have been distributed and petitioner is
3 OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
not entitled to information on nontrust assets. Further, the motion asserted that
respondent had no right—in her capacity as trustee—to release any information on any
joint account, should one exist, as the account would not be an asset subject to her
supervision as trustee.
{¶5} After responsive briefing and oral argument, the trial court ultimately
granted the motion to dismiss, finding that petitioner failed to meet his burden under
Civ.R. 34(D) as the petition was based on “a large amount of speculation.” Petitioner
now appeals.
II. Law and Analysis
{¶6} We review the trial court’s decision on a Civ.R. 12(B)(6) motion to
dismiss a petition for discovery de novo. TILR Corp. v. TalentNow, LLC, 1st Dist.
Hamilton No. C-220323, 2023-Ohio-1345, ¶ 9-12. When ruling on a motion to dismiss
a petition for discovery, the trial court must accept all factual allegations in the
pleading as true, draw all reasonable inferences in favor of the nonmoving party, and
find that it appears, beyond doubt, that the petitioner can prove no set of facts entitling
him or her to recovery. Id. at ¶ 12, citing Fry v. City of Cincinnati, 1st Dist. Hamilton
No. C-210482, 2022-Ohio-1248.
{¶7} Civ.R. 34(D) permits “a person who claims to have a potential cause of
action” to file a petition to obtain discovery in accordance with the rule.
Prior to filing a petition for discovery, the person seeking
discovery shall make reasonable efforts to obtain voluntarily the
information from the person from whom the discovery is sought. The
petition shall be captioned in the name of the person seeking discovery
and be filed in the court of common pleas in the county in which the
person from whom the discovery is sought resides, the person’s
4 OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
principal place of business is located, or the potential action may be
filed. The petition shall include all of the following:
(a) A statement of the subject matter of the petitioner’s potential
cause of action and the petitioner’s interest in the potential cause
of action;
(b) A statement of the efforts made by the petitioner to obtain
voluntarily the information from the person from whom the
discovery is sought;
(c) A statement or description of the information sought to be
discovered with reasonable particularity;
(d) The name and addresses, if known, of any person the petitioner
expects will be an adverse party in the potential action;
(e) A request that the court issue an order authorizing the petitioner
to obtain the discovery.
Civ.R. 34(D)(1).
{¶8} The court must issue and authorize the petitioner to obtain the
discovery if the court finds all the following:
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[Cite as Robertson v. Meyers, 2024-Ohio-270.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO
SHAWN ROBERTSON, : APPEAL NO. C-230257 TRIAL NO. A-2202742 Petitioner-Appellant, :
vs. : O P I N I O N.
L. PAMELA MEYERS, :
Respondent-Appellee. :
Civil Appeal From: Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas
Judgment Appealed From Is: Reversed and Cause Remanded
Date of Judgment Entry on Appeal: January 26, 2024
Finney Law Firm, Christopher P. Finney, Casey A. Jones, Bradley M. Gibson, Jessica D. Gibson and Isaac T. Heintz, for Petitioner-Appellant,
Trenz & Knabe Co., LPA, and Alan R. Trenz, for Respondent-Appellee. OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
ZAYAS, Presiding Judge.
{¶1} Petitioner-appellant Shawn Robertson appeals the judgment of the
Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas dismissing his petition for discovery. In a
single assignment of error, he argues that the trial court erred in dismissing his
petition because the allegations in the petition—which the court must take as true—
meet the requirements of Civ.R. 34(D). For the following reasons, we sustain the
assignment of error, reverse the judgment of the trial court, and remand the cause for
further proceedings consistent with this opinion and the law.
I. Factual and Procedural History
{¶2} Petitioner filed a Civ.R. 34(D) petition for discovery, seeking discovery
from respondent-appellee L. Pamela Meyers. The petition alleges that respondent
became the acting trustee of the Patricia L. Robertson Living Trust (“the trust”) upon
Ms. Robertson’s death on January 11, 2021. Petitioner—one of three residuary
beneficiaries under the trust—asserts in the petition that Ms. Robertson—his mother—
told him prior to her death that the proceeds from the sale of her home—
approximately $200,000—were in a checking account held with U.S. Bank. The home
was allegedly held by the trust and sold two months prior to Ms. Robertson’s passing.
Petitioner asserts in the petition that it was his understanding—based on
conversations with his mother—that such proceeds were intended to be included
within the trust and distributed accordingly. Yet, the proceeds were not included
within the trust distribution. Accordingly, the petition requests information regarding
the U.S. Bank account to ascertain the identity of any potential joint account holders
and/or individuals who may have acted adversely to the wishes of his mother and the
interest of the trust for purposes of bringing a potential cause of action based on the
exclusion of the proceeds from the trust distribution. More specifically, the petition
2 OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
requested “statements or other documents showing the titling and account number of
any cash account that was not included in the distribution of the Trust in which Ms.
Robertson had an interest as of the date of her death.”
{¶3} The trust—which was attached and incorporated into the petition—
shows that Ms. Robertson transferred:
all my right, title, and interest in and to all of my property that
may legally be held in trust and that may be transferred to my trust by
this assignment. This assignment includes all of my real, personal,
tangible, and intangible property located in the United States, whether
separate property or community property, and whether acquired before
or after the execution of this instrument, except for these assets that are
expressly not transferred by this instrument * * *.
The trust also shows that petitioner was to receive one third of the “remaining trust
property (not distributed under prior Articles of [the trust]).” The trust became
irrevocable upon death. Additionally, a trustee’s deed—also attached and
incorporated into the petition—shows that real property of the trust was sold on
October 28, 2020, for $229,000. Lastly, an affidavit of petitioner—which was again
attached and incorporated into the petition—avers that petitioner requested the
information from respondent and/or respondent’s counsel on two separate occasions
to no avail.
{¶4} Respondent moved to dismiss the petition under Civ.R. 12(B)(6),
arguing that petitioner was not entitled to the requested information as the trust—
which was revocable prior to Ms. Robertson’s death—has been fully administered and
all residuary beneficiaries have received an identical amount under the trust. In other
words, the motion argued that all trust assets have been distributed and petitioner is
3 OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
not entitled to information on nontrust assets. Further, the motion asserted that
respondent had no right—in her capacity as trustee—to release any information on any
joint account, should one exist, as the account would not be an asset subject to her
supervision as trustee.
{¶5} After responsive briefing and oral argument, the trial court ultimately
granted the motion to dismiss, finding that petitioner failed to meet his burden under
Civ.R. 34(D) as the petition was based on “a large amount of speculation.” Petitioner
now appeals.
II. Law and Analysis
{¶6} We review the trial court’s decision on a Civ.R. 12(B)(6) motion to
dismiss a petition for discovery de novo. TILR Corp. v. TalentNow, LLC, 1st Dist.
Hamilton No. C-220323, 2023-Ohio-1345, ¶ 9-12. When ruling on a motion to dismiss
a petition for discovery, the trial court must accept all factual allegations in the
pleading as true, draw all reasonable inferences in favor of the nonmoving party, and
find that it appears, beyond doubt, that the petitioner can prove no set of facts entitling
him or her to recovery. Id. at ¶ 12, citing Fry v. City of Cincinnati, 1st Dist. Hamilton
No. C-210482, 2022-Ohio-1248.
{¶7} Civ.R. 34(D) permits “a person who claims to have a potential cause of
action” to file a petition to obtain discovery in accordance with the rule.
Prior to filing a petition for discovery, the person seeking
discovery shall make reasonable efforts to obtain voluntarily the
information from the person from whom the discovery is sought. The
petition shall be captioned in the name of the person seeking discovery
and be filed in the court of common pleas in the county in which the
person from whom the discovery is sought resides, the person’s
4 OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
principal place of business is located, or the potential action may be
filed. The petition shall include all of the following:
(a) A statement of the subject matter of the petitioner’s potential
cause of action and the petitioner’s interest in the potential cause
of action;
(b) A statement of the efforts made by the petitioner to obtain
voluntarily the information from the person from whom the
discovery is sought;
(c) A statement or description of the information sought to be
discovered with reasonable particularity;
(d) The name and addresses, if known, of any person the petitioner
expects will be an adverse party in the potential action;
(e) A request that the court issue an order authorizing the petitioner
to obtain the discovery.
Civ.R. 34(D)(1).
{¶8} The court must issue and authorize the petitioner to obtain the
discovery if the court finds all the following:
(a) The discovery is necessary to ascertain the identity of a potential
adverse party;
(b) The petitioner is otherwise unable to bring the contemplated action;
(c) The petitioner made reasonable efforts to obtain voluntarily the
information from the person from whom the discovery is sought.
Civ.R. 34(D)(3).
{¶9} This rule is “designed ‘to avoid needlessly joining as defendants non-
liable parties who may have valuable information.’ ” TILR Corp., 1st Dist. Hamilton
5 OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
No. C-220323, 2023-Ohio-1345, at ¶ 13, quoting Cruz v. Kettering Health Network,
2d Dist. Montgomery No. 24465, 2012-Ohio-24, ¶ 30. While presuit document
requests must assist in the identification of a potential adverse party, the existence of
a known adverse party is not fatal to a party attempting to ascertain additional
potential adverse parties. Id. at ¶ 16, citing In re F.D. Johnson Co., 11th Dist. Lake No.
2018-L-009, 2018-Ohio-4803, ¶ 23. Rather, courts have adopted a more reasonable
interpretation of the rule, requiring that the discovery “ ‘must be necessary to ascertain
the identity of an adverse party, regardless of how many known adverse parties
exist.’ ” Id., citing Cruz at ¶ 23.
{¶10} Here, taking all allegations in the petition as true, petitioner alleged
facts sufficient to meet the requirements of Civ.R. 34(D). Petitioner stated the subject
matter of his potential cause of action: misappropriation of account funds or trust
assets in which he may have an interest. He made a statement of the efforts to obtain
the information voluntarily: two requests to respondent and/or respondent’s counsel
to no avail. He stated what information he sought with reasonable particularity:
account statements from the account in which his mother had an interest, which no
one challenges as unidentifiable. He identified the respondent as a possible adverse
party, either in her capacity as trustee or as a potential joint account holder. Lastly,
he requested that the court authorize him to obtain “statements or other documents
showing the titling and account number of any cash account that was not included in
the distribution of the [t]rust in which Ms. Robertson had an interest as of the date of
her death.”
{¶11} Further, the allegations show that the requested discovery is necessary
to ascertain the identity of any individual who may have had an interest in or access to
the account that may be an adverse party. The allegations further show that discovery
6 OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
is also necessary to bring the contemplated action as plaintiff does not know if the
alleged misappropriation was done by the respondent in relation to the trust, the
respondent in her personal capacity as a potential joint account holder, or by another
unknown individual in association with the account and unrelated to the trust. Lastly,
the allegations show that petitioner attempted to obtain the information voluntarily
from respondent and/or her counsel on two separate occasions. Petitioner claims that
respondent is the individual likely to have such information as she was the trustee of
the trust and a potential joint account holder of the bank account as Ms. Robertson’s
sister.
{¶12} Based on all the foregoing, we hold that petitioner alleged facts
sufficient to survive a Civ.R. 12(B)(6) motion to dismiss in relation to his petition for
discovery under Civ.R. 34(D). Therefore, we sustain the assignment of error and
reverse the judgment of the trial court.
III. Conclusion
{¶13} Having sustained the assignment of error, we reverse the judgment of
the trial court and remand the cause for further proceedings consistent with this
opinion and the law.
{¶14} We note that, “ ‘once the plaintiff has passed the Civ.R. 12(B)(6) hurdle,
discovery should proceed according to the civil rules, and the trial court enjoys broad
discretion to decide if matters are privileged or are otherwise proper subjects for
discovery.’ ” TILR Corp., 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-220323, 2023-Ohio-1345, at ¶ 12,
quoting Wheeler v. Girvin, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-980302, 1999 Ohio App. LEXIS
1568, 12 (Apr. 9, 1999).
Judgment reversed and cause remanded.
BOCK and KINSLEY, JJ., concur.
7 OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
Please note:
The court has recorded its own entry this date.