Smallwood v. Miami Univ.

2012 Ohio 3220

• Court: Ohio Court of Claims
• Decided: February 3, 2012
• Docket: 2011-12471-AD
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as Smallwood v. Miami Univ., 2012-Ohio-3220.]

Court of Claims of Ohio The Ohio Judicial Center 65 South Front Street, Third Floor Columbus, OH 43215 614.387.9800 or 1.800.824.8263 www.cco.state.oh.us

ANTHONY SMALLWOOD

Plantiff

v.

MIAMI UNIVERSITY

Defendant

Case No. 2011-12471-AD

Deputy Clerk Daniel R. Borchert

MEMORANDUM DECISION

FINDINGS OF FACT {¶1} On June 19, 2011, plaintiff, Anthony Smallwood, sustained property damage to his automobile when an employee of defendant, Miami University, negligently drove a golf cart and struck plaintiff’s vehicle. Specifically, the car suffered damage to the front bumper and passenger side signal lamp. Plaintiff seeks damages in the amount of $304.03, the cost of related repairs and reimbursement of the filing fee. Plaintiff indicated he maintains insurance coverage for the vehicle with a $250.00 deductible. The $25.00 filing fee was paid.¶ {¶2} Plaintiff asserted in the complaint that defendant’s insurer “falsely maintained, without any supporting evidence, that plaintiff was contributorily [sic] negligent for the accident and refused to discuss proposed changes to the settlement agreement.” {¶3} On December 5, 2011, defendant submitted an investigation report wherein defendant suggested that plaintiff’s filing was frivolous such that plaintiff should be directed to sign the standard release, denied reimbursement for payment of the filing fee, and assessed costs for filing the complaint. {¶4} On December 29, 2011, plaintiff filed a response asserting that the terms of the settlement agreement were unacceptable to him in that the release “allows the Defendant to absolve itself from liability while simultaneously reserving its rights to seek recovery against the Plaintiff.” {¶5} Upon review, the trier of fact finds that plaintiff did not engage in frivolous conduct by filing this complaint. R.C. 2323.51(A)(2)(a). See also Ruffian, LLC v. Hayes, Franklin App. No. 09AP-948, 2011-Ohio-831. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW {¶6} Defendant was charged with a duty to exercise reasonable care for the protection of plaintiff’s property. The evidence in the present claim establishes defendant’s employee was negligent in driving the golf cart and such conduct proximately caused plaintiff’s damage. Negligence on the part of defendant has been shown. Baker v. Miami University, Ct. of Cl. No. 2005-06309-AD, 2005-Ohio-5074. {¶7} R.C. 3345.40(B)(2) states in pertinent part: {¶8} “If a plaintiff receives or is entitled to receive benefits for injuries or loss allegedly incurred from a policy or policies of insurance or any other source, the benefits shall be disclosed to the court, and the amount of the benefits shall be deducted from any award against the state university or college recovered by plaintiff.” (Emphasis added.) {¶9} Thus, pursuant to the statutory requirement of R.C. 3345.40(B)(2), compensation for the automotive repair expenses shall be limited to $ 250.00, plaintiff’s stated insurance deductible. {¶10} Plaintiff has suffered damages in the amount of $250.00, plus the $25.00 filing fee, which may be reimbursed as compensable damages pursuant to the holding in Bailey v. Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (1990), 62 Ohio Misc. 2d 19, 587 N.E.2d 990. Court of Claims of Ohio The Ohio Judicial Center 65 South Front Street, Third Floor Columbus, OH 43215 614.387.9800 or 1.800.824.8263 www.cco.state.oh.us

Plaintiff

ENTRY OF ADMINISTRATIVE DETERMINATION

Having considered all the evidence in the claim file and, for the reasons set forth in the memorandum decision filed concurrently herewith, judgment is rendered in favor of plaintiff in the amount of $275.00, which includes the filing fee. Court costs are assessed against defendant.

DANIEL R. BORCHERT Deputy Clerk

Entry cc:

Jennifer L. Jung Paul S. Allen 5885 Pleasant Chapel Road Miami University Mechanicsburg, Ohio 43044 Roudebush Hall, Room 14 Oxford, Ohio 45056 SJM/laa 1/9 Filed 2/3/12 sent to S.C. Reporter 7/17/12