State ex Herbert v. Inland Bonding Co.

46 N.E.2d 623, 37 Ohio Law. Abs. 211
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedMarch 9, 1942
DocketNo. 3428
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 46 N.E.2d 623 (State ex Herbert v. Inland Bonding Co.) 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
State ex Herbert v. Inland Bonding Co., 46 N.E.2d 623, 37 Ohio Law. Abs. 211 (Ohio Ct. App. 1942).

Opinions

OPINION

By GEIGER, PJ.

This case is before this Court on an appeal from a judgment of the Municipal Court of the City of Columbus on questions of law only.

The petition filed by the State of Ohio in the trial court alleges the official capacity of the parties and the authority of the Bonding Company to do business in the State of Ohio. It is asserted that Esther D’Errico made application for D-3 liquor permit to the Department of Liquor Control issued, in accordance with §6064-15 GC; that as a prerequisite to obtaining-said permit she was required under §6064-18 GC, to give bond to [212]*212the State of Ohio, conditioned that if she should pay according to the terms of the Ohio Liquor Control Act and other laws of the State of Ohio all permit fees and penalties imposed under said Liquor Control Act and said laws of the State, and all taxes levied .under the provisions thereof for which she may be liable upon sales made by her of any kind of nonintoxicating or intoxicating beverages, whether under authority of her permit or otherwise, and faithfully observe the terms attached to the issuance of her permit and comply with all the laws of the State of Ohio and the rules of the Department of Liquor Control and the Tax Commission, the obligation would be null and void; otherwise, to be in full force.

It is alleged that she, as principal, gave bond in the sum of $1000.00 to the State with the defendant, The Inland Bonding Company as surety, conditioned as 'above set forth; that upon receipt of said application and the delivery of the bond, the Department of Liquor Control issued to her a liquor permit; that subsequently during the period from January 1st, 1937, through June 14, 1937, she, a vendor, subject to the retail sales act, made retail sales of certain taxable merchandise including both intoxicating and nonintoxicating liquors upon which sale the taxes were never paid to the State of Ohio.

It is alleged that by virtue of this failure to pay the retail sales tax upon the sales made she and the defendant as surety under said bond owe to the State of Ohio the sum of $82.81 as sales tax and an additional sum of $12.42 as penalty; that the defendant refuses to comply with the obligation of the bond. Judgment is asked against the bondsman in the sum of $95.23.

An answer was filed by the bonding company admitting certain formal matters, and that Esther D’Errieo made application to be issued a permit in accordance with §6064-15 GC; that as a prerequisite to obtaining said permit she was required by §6064-18 GC; to give a bond, and that she did give said bond in the sum of $1000.00 with the defendant as surety; that upon the receipt of the application and the delivery of the bond the Department of Liquor Control issued to her a liquor permit; that subsequently during the period stated in the petition she, a vendor, subject to the retail sales act, made retail sales of certain taxable merchandise, upon which sales the tax was never paid to the State of Ohio.

It is further alleged that on January 27, 1941, the Hearing Board of the Division of Sales and Excise Taxes of the Department of Taxation determined that during the period from January 1st,. 1937, to June 14, 1937, she made sales subject to the sales tax in the following amounts:

Food sales, $328.00; tobacco» $164.00; soft drinks, $123.00; liquor, $3283.54; miscellaneous sales, $82.00; total, $3980.54.

That by virtue of the sales there was due to the State under the retail sales act the sum of $119.41; that she had purchased prepaid tax receipts in the amount of $36.61; that there remains due and unpaid by virtue of said assessment the sum of $82.81 with penalty in the sum of $12.42.

The defendant further alleges that even though she may be and is m default for the tax as levied under the sales act, her failure to pay said tax does not constitute and is not a breach of the terms of said bond, and that said failure is not covered by the terms of the bond.

[213]*213The plaintiff demurs to this answer on the ground that the things therein contained are insufficient in law to constitute a defense.

Thereupon the cause came on for hearing upon the demurrer and the same was sustained and the defendant, not asking to plead further, the Court found upon the pleading that the defendant is indebted to the plaintiff in the sum of $95.23, for which judgment is awarded against the surety.

Upon notice of appeal the matter is now for the consideration of this Court, on question of law only.

Assignment of Errors.

The defendant-appellant assigns seven grounds of prejudicial error, which we state briefly:

The Municipal Court erred, (1) In entering final judgment in favor of the plaintiff;

(2) In sustaining the demurrer of the plaintiff to the answer;

(3) In failing to overrule the demurrer;

(4) In finding that the petition stated facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action;

(5) In Sliding that the answer of the defendant was insufficient;

(6) In finding that the surety bond, a bond issued in order to obtain a liquor permit, is liable for the failure of the permit holder to ■collect and pay retail sales taxes.

(7) In finding that the failure of the liquor permit holder to pay retail sales tax is a breach of the ■condition of the bond given in pursuance of §8064-18 GC.

It is alleged that by reason of the errors the defendant-appellant is entitled to have said judgment reversed with instructions to the Municipal Court to overrule the demurrer of the plaintiff.

While the amount involved in this particular case is small, the Court is informed that there are numerous other similar cases in which a judgment against this and other bondsmen in very substantial amounts might be recovered, and we therefore feel justified in considering the case at some length.

Question for Determination

The sole question is whether the failure of a liquor permit holder to collect and pay the taxes on retail sales levied under §5546-2 GC, constitutes a breach of the condition of the bond required by §6064-18 GC. The Attorney General maintains that the bond is liable for the payment of the retail taxes which the permit holder failed to pay, and urges that the Legislature in order to protect the public placed restrictions upon those who desired to vend liquor; that this privilege is not an inherent right, and that, therefore, one desiring the privilege can not complain that in return therefor he is subject to regulations, not imposed upon one not engaged in the sale of liquor.

The permit involved is a D-3 permit, and was obtained by reason of the fact that the permittee operated a duly licensed restaurant. All restaurants are required to obtain a vendor’s license and pay retail sales tax upon items sold, including food, liquor, soft drinks, etc. The State maintains that the permit holder, having met one of the legal requirements for obtaining a liquor permit, to-wit, being a duly licensed restaurant keeper, any condition imposed by law upon the operation of the restaurant, such as the collection and payment of the retail sales tax, becomes a part of the permit and the surety, under the principal’s default, becomes liable.

The defendant-appellant, Tha Inland Bonding Company, agrees [214]

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Bluebook (online)
46 N.E.2d 623, 37 Ohio Law. Abs. 211, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-ex-herbert-v-inland-bonding-co-ohioctapp-1942.