Stollar v. TRST, L.L.C.

2020 Ohio 3041

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: May 19, 2020
• Docket: 2019 CA 00051
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as Stollar v. TRST, L.L.C., 2020-Ohio-3041.]

COURT OF APPEALS FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

DAVID STOLLAR and : JUDGES: AMY STOLLAR : Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J. : Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J. Plaintiffs - Appellees : Hon. Earle E. Wise, J. : -vs- : : TRST, LLC, : Case No. 2019 CA 00051 : Defendant - Appellant : OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 19CV355

JUDGMENT: Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT: May 19, 2020

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiffs-Appellees For Defendant-Appellant

KHADINE L. RITTER BRUCE M. BROYLES ADAM J. SCHWENDEMAN The Law Offices of Bruce Broyles CAROLINE A. EVERSMAN 2670 North Columbus Street, Suite L THEISEN BROCK Lancaster, Ohio 43130 a legal professional association 424 Second Street Marietta, Ohio 45750 Fairfield County, Case No. 2019 CA 00051 2

Baldwin, J.

{¶1} TRST, LLC appeals the decision of the Fairfield County Court of Common

Pleas denying its motion for relief from judgment. Appellees are David Stollar and Amy

Stollar.

STATEMENT OF FACTS AND THE CASE

{¶2} David and Amy Stollar filed a complaint against TRST, LLC, alleging it had

breached a promissory note and a security agreement related to TRST's purchase of real

property from the Stollars’. Stollars’ alleged that TRST has not made payments due on

the note and that it violated the security agreement by transferring the property to a third

party. The complaint was served on Rick Starr, sole member of TRST, LLC via certified

mail.

{¶3} Starr claims that he responded to the complaint on behalf of TRST, LLC.

He allegedly voided the sales agreement to the third party and replaced it with a lease

purchase agreement and sent the new documents to the Stollars’ counsel. Stollars’

counsel denies receipt and the documents described by Starr are not part of the record.

TRST, LLC did not respond to the complaint by serving an answer on Stollars’ counsel

and did not file any documents with the court.

{¶4} The Stollars filed a motion for default judgment and the court granted it on

July 25, 2019. On September 17, 2019, TRST filed a motion for relief from judgment

alleging that it had meritorious defenses, that the motion was timely filed and that its

failure to answer the complaint was due to excusable neglect. TRST described the

excusable neglect as Rick Starr's failure to understand TRST's obligation to complete an Fairfield County, Case No. 2019 CA 00051 3

answer, serve a copy of it on Stollars’ counsel and file it with the trial court in compliance

with the Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure.

{¶5} The trial court found that TRST had alleged meritorious defenses in a timely

filed motion, but rejected its argument regarding excusable neglect. The trial court noted

that the documents TRST alleged comprised its response were not received by Stollars’

counsel or the court and without those documents, the issue of whether it would have

been an adequate response remains unresolved. Further, the trial court noted that TRST

did not present evidence of an "unexpected or unavoidable hindrance or accident, or

unusual or special circumstances" that prevented the filing of an answer. The trial court

concluded TRST had not shown that the failure to answer was the result of excusable

neglect and denied the motion.

{¶6} Appellant filed a timely appeal of the trial court's decision and submitted two

assignments of error:

{¶7} “I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING THE MOTION FOR RELIEF

FROM THE DEFAULT JUDGMENT WHEN APPELLANT TIMELY FILED A MOTION

DEMONSTRATING A MERITORIOUS DEFENSE.”

{¶8} “II. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING THE MOTION FOR RELIEF

FROM THE DEFAULT JUDGMENT WITHOUT CONDUCTING AN EVIDENTIARY

HEARING.”

STANDARD OF REVIEW

{¶9} The issue to be decided on an appeal from the denial of a Civ.R. 60 motion

for relief from judgment is whether the trial court abused its discretionary authority

provided by the rule. State, ex rel. Freeman, v. Kraft, 61 Ohio St.2d 284, 400 N.E.2d 1357 Fairfield County, Case No. 2019 CA 00051 4

(1980) as quoted in Moore v. Emmanuel Family Training Ctr., Inc., 18 Ohio St.3d 64, 66,

479 N.E.2d 879 (1985). A motion for relief from judgment under Civ.R. 60(B) is addressed

to the sound discretion of the trial court, and that court's ruling will not be disturbed on

appeal absent a showing of abuse of discretion. Griffey v. Rajan, 33 Ohio St.3d 75, 77,

514 N.E.2d 1122 (1987). (Citations omitted).

{¶10} To obtain relief from judgment under Civ.R. 60(B), a movant must

demonstrate that:

(1) the party has a meritorious defense or claim to present if relief is granted;

(2) the party is entitled to relief under one of the grounds stated in Civ.R.

60(B)(1) through (5); and (3) the motion is made within a reasonable time,

and, where the grounds of relief are Civ.R. 60(B)(1), (2) or (3), not more

than one year after the judgment, order or proceeding was entered or taken.

GTE Automatic Elec., Inc. v. ARC Industries, Inc., 47 Ohio St.2d 146, 351 N.E.2d 113

(1976), paragraph two of the syllabus.

The above three requirements of the GTE Automatic test “are

independent of one another and in the conjunctive.” Technical Servs. Co. v.

Trinitech Internatl., 9th Dist. No. 21648, 2004-Ohio-965, 2004 WL 384352,

¶ 10. Accordingly, “if the movant fails to satisfy any one of these

requirements, the trial court must deny the motion.” Id. See also Stojkoski

v. Main 271 South, LLC, 9th Dist. No. 25407, 2011-Ohio-2117, 2011 WL

1734062, ¶ 5 (“The three-part test set forth in GTE Automatic is a

conjunctive one, therefore, the moving party's failure to satisfy any of these

three requirements will result in a denial of the motion.”). Fairfield County, Case No. 2019 CA 00051 5

Gamble Hartshorn, LLC v. Lee, 10th Dist. No. 17AP-35, 2018-Ohio-980, 108 N.E.3d 728,

¶ 11, appeal not allowed sub nom. Gamble Hartshorn, L.L.C. v. Lee, 153 Ohio St.3d 1441,

2018-Ohio-2834, 102 N.E.3d 499.

ANALYSIS

I.

{¶11} TRST's first assignment of error, that the trial court erred in denying the

motion for relief from the default judgment when appellant timely filed a motion

demonstrating a meritorious defense, suggests that by filing a timely motion containing a

meritorious defense it is entitled to a favorable judgment. TRST must also demonstrate

that it is entitled to relief under one of the categories described in Civ.R. 60(B) and it

recognizes that obligation within the text of its argument. TRST asserts that relief should

be granted because the failure to file an answer was the result of excusable neglect of its

sole member to understand legal procedure.

{¶12} TRST admits that the complaint was served upon it through its sole

member, Rick Starr. Star claims that, in response to the complaint, he terminated a sales

agreement and entered into a lease agreement and delivered documents reflecting those

changes to Stollars’ counsel. Affidavit of Rick Starr, p.2, attached to Motion for Relief from

Judgment, Sept. 29, 2019. Starr concludes his affidavit, stating: "Sending those

documents in response to the complaint to opposing counsel, I believed that I properly

responded to the complaint on behalf of TRST, LLC."

{¶13} First, Starr's affidavit suggests that his actions are perilously close to

unauthorized practice of law because he concedes he is acting on behalf of the limited

liability company, TRST. "The unauthorized practice of law consists of rendering legal Fairfield County, Case No. 2019 CA 00051 6

services for another by any person not admitted to practice in Ohio. Gov.Bar R. VII(2)(A);

R.C. 4705.01. Thus, only a licensed attorney may file pleadings and other legal papers in

court or manage court actions on another's behalf. Moreover, a non-lawyer may not

practice law in defense of a corporate entity merely because he holds some official

corporate position. Disciplinary Counsel v. Givens, 106 Ohio St.3d 144, 2005-Ohio-4104,

832 N.E.2d 1200, ¶¶ 7-8. (Citations omitted). Revised Code 4705.01 prohibits any person

not admitted to the Ohio Bar by order of the Supreme Court of Ohio from commencing,

conducting, or defending any legal action or proceeding in which the person is not a party

concerned. Cleveland Bar Assn. v. Boyd, 112 Ohio St.3d 331, 2006-Ohio-6590, 859

N.E.2d 930. Had Starr filed any documents with the court on behalf of TRST, those

documents would be subject to being stricken from the record as the unauthorized

practice of law. Bank of New York v. Miller, 5th Dist. No. 09-CA-20, 185 Ohio App.3d 163,

2009-Ohio-6117, 923 N.E.2d 651, ¶ 13.

{¶14} Because Starr is not an attorney, he could not file a valid answer on behalf

of TRST, so we cannot accept TRST’s reliance on a non-attorney to represent it as a

basis for an argument that the failure to file an answer was excusable neglect. To do so

would tacitly condone the unauthorized practice of law and we are not willing to overlook

this defect.

{¶15} Even if we disregarded Starr’s standing as a non-attorney and consider the

merits of TRST's argument, our decision remains unchanged. TRST relied upon a non-

attorney spokesman who now claims that, because he is a layperson unfamiliar with the

intricacies of legal procedure, the judgment should be vacated. TRST's argument that

the actions of its sole member was excusable neglect is not persuasive and Starr’s plea Fairfield County, Case No. 2019 CA 00051 7

for sympathy for an uneducated layman is belied by his past experience in litigation as

disclosed in appellee’s memorandum contra the motion for relief.

{¶16} The Ohio Supreme Court has defined “excusable neglect” in the negative

by stating that, “* * * the inaction of a defendant is not ‘excusable neglect’ if it can be

labeled as a ‘complete disregard for the judicial system.’ ” Kay v. Marc Glassman, Inc.

(1996), 76 Ohio St.3d 18, 20, 665 N.E.2d 1102, citing GTE, supra, at 153, 351 N.E.2d

113. Although excusable neglect is an “elusive concept,” Kay v. Marc Glassman, Inc.,

supra, “the failure to plead or respond after admittedly receiving a copy of a complaint is

generally not excusable neglect.” Dutton v. Potroos, 5th Dist. No. 2010CA00318, 2011-

Ohio-3646 quoting LaSalle Nat. Bank v. Mesas, 9th Dist. No. 02CA008028, 2002-Ohio-

6117, ¶ 13. It has been held that “[o]nly where the failure to respond is coupled with a

complete lack of notice of the original motion may excusable neglect lie.” Chuck Oeder

Inc. v. Bower, 9th Dist. No. 23785, 2007-Ohio-7032, at ¶ 8, quoting Zimmerman v.

Rourke, 9th Dist. No. 04CA008472, 2004-Ohio-6075, at ¶ 9. Excusable neglect has been

further defined as some action “not in consequence of the party's own carelessness,

inattention, or willful disregard of the process of the court, but in consequence of some

unexpected or unavoidable hindrance or accident.” Emery v. Smith, 5th Dist. Nos.

2005CA00051, 2005CA00098, 2005-Ohio-5526, ¶ 16 quoting Vanest v. Pillsbury Co.

(1997), 124 Ohio App.3d 525, 536 fn. 8, 706 N.E.2d 825.

{¶17} “In addition, ‘[w]hile unusual or special circumstances can justify neglect, if

a party could have controlled or guarded against the happening or event he later seeks

to excuse, the neglect is not excusable.’ ” Sandifer v. Yoder, 5th Dist. Tuscarawas No.

2015 AP 02 0008, 2015-Ohio-4270, ¶ 20, quoting National City Bank v. Kessler, 10th Dist. Fairfield County, Case No. 2019 CA 00051 8

No. 03AP–312, 2003–Ohio–6938, ¶ 14, See Also Stevens v. Stevens, 5th Dist. Fairfield

No. 16-CA-17, 2016-Ohio-7925, ¶ 14 (“Excusable neglect is not present if the party

seeking relief could have prevented the circumstances from occurring.”)

{¶18} TRST relies upon the inexperience and lack of knowledge of its

representative as a basis for its argument that the failure to file an answer was excusable

neglect. TRST is implicitly arguing that it was acting pro se through its sole member, Rick

Starr. Because we have found that any action by Starr on behalf of TRST could be

considered unauthorized practice of law and subject to being stricken sua sponte, this

argument is unconvincing, but even if we could accept the assertion TRST was

proceeding pro se, it would lack merit.

{¶19} Civil Rule 60(B) is not intended to afford pro se litigants relief from mistakes

from the lack of legal counsel or from a pro se litigant's unfamiliarity with the legal system,

confusion, or misunderstanding of the law. Sydnor v. Qualls, 4th Dist. Scioto No.

15CA3701, 2016-Ohio-8410; Huntington Nat'l Bank v. D'Egidio, 9th Dist. Lorain No.

05CA008647, 2005-Ohio-5497; Lebanon Auto Parts v. Dracakis, 12th Dist. Warren No.

CA99-09-110, 2000 WL 433240 (April 17, 2000); Gamble Hartshorn LLC v. Lee, 10th

Dist. Franklin No. 17AP-35, 2018-Ohio-980; Dayton Power and Light v. Holdren, 4th Dist.

Highland No. 07CA21, 2008-Ohio-5121. Additionally, this Court has previously held that

an appellant's legal inexperience does not equate to excusable neglect and the failure to

seek legal advice after receiving a complaint is not excusable neglect under Civil Rule

60(B)(1). Long v. Ferrell, 5th Dist. Stark No. 2017CA00066, 2018-Ohio-15.

Acting pro se * * * is neither excusable neglect nor any other reason

justifying relief from judgment. A party has a right to represent himself, but Fairfield County, Case No. 2019 CA 00051 9

if he does so, he is subject to the same rules and procedures as litigants

with counsel. If the fact that a party chose not to be represented by counsel

and was unsuccessful in pursuing his rights entitled that party to relief from

judgment, every judgment adverse to a pro se litigant could be vacated to

permit a second attempt, this time with counsel. Such a circumstance would

be unjust to the adverse party.

N. Orange Homeowners Assn., Inc. v. Suarez, 5th Dist. Delaware No. 2019 CAE 02 0015,

2019-Ohio-4416, ¶45 quoting Ragan v. Akron Police Dept., 9th Dist. Summit No. 16200,

1994 WL 18641 (Jan. 19, 1994).

{¶20} TRST and its sole member deliberately failed to seek legal advice after

receiving the complaint and instead assumed that Starr's actions were sufficient, without

justification. TRST could have controlled or guarded against the delinquent filing by

consulting counsel but chose to rely on a non-attorney. The failure to file the answer was

the result of TRST’s willful disregard of the process of the court, and unrelated to any

unexpected or unavoidable hindrance or accident. These actions are not excusable

neglect but instead a deliberate disregard for the judicial system.

{¶21} Appellant's first assignment of error is overruled.

II.

{¶22} In its second assignment of error, TRST contends the trial court erred in

denying the motion for relief from the default judgment without conducting an evidentiary

hearing. TRST argues that because it "timely filed a motion for relief from judgment***

[and] that motion set forth evidentiary quality evidence establishing the existence of a

meritorious defense" the trial court was obligated to conduct a hearing before rendering Fairfield County, Case No. 2019 CA 00051 10

a decision. This argument overlooks the need to establish that TRST was entitled to relief

to be entitled to a hearing under Civ.R. 60(B) and therefor has no merit.

{¶23} The Supreme Court of Ohio addressed the standard for obtaining a hearing

in Kay v. Marc Glassman, Inc., 76 Ohio St.3d 18, 1996-Ohio-430, 665 N.E.2d 1102

(1996):

Appellant initially contends that the trial court erred in denying its

motion for relief from judgment without first conducting an evidentiary

hearing. This issue was discussed in Coulson v. Coulson (1983), 5 Ohio

St.3d 12, 16, 5 OBR 73, 76–77, 448 N.E.2d 809, 812. In Coulson, this court

adopted the following rule set forth in Adomeit v. Baltimore (1974), 39 Ohio

App.2d 97, 105, 68 O.O.2d 251, 255, 316 N.E.2d 469, 476: “If the movant

files a motion for relief from judgment and it contains allegations of operative

facts which would warrant relief under Civil Rule 60(B), the trial court should

grant a hearing to take evidence and verify these facts before it rules on the

motion.

{¶24} To warrant relief under Civ R. 60(B), TRST must file a timely motion that

alleges a meritorious defense and that supports relief from judgment under Civ.R 60(B).

TRST has filed a timely motion and alleged a meritorious defense, but the trial court held,

and we agree, that the facts alleged in the affidavit and argued in the pleadings do not

support a conclusion that the failure to file a timely answer was excusable neglect

warranting relief from judgment. A hearing therefor, was unnecessary.

{¶25} TRST relies upon our decision in Cogswell v. Cardio Clinic of Stark Cty.,

Inc., 5th Dist. Stark No. CA-8553, 1991 WL 242070, but that case focused upon the grant Fairfield County, Case No. 2019 CA 00051 11

of the motion for relief from judgment in the context of a lack of evidence presented at the

hearing. Even in that case we noted that due to lack of evidence in the motion "had the

court denied the request for a hearing, it would not have acted contrary to law; nor would

it have abused discretion." Id at 2.

{¶26} TRST also cites Stevens v. Stevens, 5th Dist. Fairfield No. 16-CA-17, 2016-

Ohio-7925, in support of its argument that a hearing was necessary. In that matter we

did address the requirement of a hearing to address the issue of a meritorious defense.

However, the trial court in Stevens found, without a hearing, that there was no excusable

neglect under Civ. R. 60(B) and we found that the trial court did not abuse its discretion.

{¶27} Finally, TRST refers to our decision in Capital One Bank (USA), N.A. v.

King, 5th Dist. Stark No. 2014CA00232, 2015-Ohio-3600, where we found that the trial

court abused its discretion when it found King presented a meritorious defense and

granted the motion for relief from judgment without the support of evidentiary quality

affidavits or an evidentiary hearing. We relied upon the holding in Kay, supra, to find an

abuse of discretion due to the lack of proper evidence to support a meritorious defense

and we separately found that it was "abuse of discretion for the trial court to determine

the failure of the debt consolidation company to pay the debt was an extraordinary

circumstance pursuant to Civ.R.60(B)(5) relieve King of the default judgment." Id. ¶ 23.

{¶28} In this case we find that the information presented in the motion did not

warrant relief under Civ.R. 60(B) because it cited facts that did not show excusable

neglect and, therefore, we hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by not

conducting a hearing.

{¶29} The second assignment of error is overruled. Fairfield County, Case No. 2019 CA 00051 12

{¶30} The decision of the Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.

By: Baldwin, J.

Gwin, P.J. and

Wise, Earle, J. concur.