Thomas v. Steps

2014 Ohio 5018

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: November 12, 2014
• Docket: 27187
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as Thomas v. Steps, 2014-Ohio-5018.]

STATE OF OHIO ) IN THE COURT OF APPEALS )ss: NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COUNTY OF SUMMIT )

DAVID THOMAS C.A. No. 27187

Appellant

v. APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT ENTERED IN THE TONY STEPS AKRON MUNICIPAL COURT COUNTY OF SUMMIT, OHIO Appellant CASE No. 13CV104468

DECISION AND JOURNAL ENTRY

Dated: November 12, 2014

PER CURIAM.

{¶1} Appellant, David Thomas, appeals the judgment of the Akron Municipal Court.

This Court affirms.

I.

{¶2} On June 14, 2013, Thomas filed a complaint in the Akron Municipal Court

alleging that Steps assaulted him and caused him physical and emotional distress in the amount

of $3000. A small claims hearing was held before a magistrate on October 3, 2013. Thomas

appeared without counsel, and Steps did not appear. The magistrate subsequently issued a

decision finding that Thomas had not demonstrated that he could prevail on his claim. Thomas

filed timely objections to the magistrate’s decision. On November 15, 2013, the trial court

issued a judgment entry overruling Thomas’ objections and adopting the magistrate’s decision.

In reaching this conclusion, the trial court noted that it was required to accept the magistrate’s

findings of fact because Thomas had failed to provide a transcript from the hearing. 2

{¶3} On appeal, Thomas raises one assignment of error.

II.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR

THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY NOT ENFORCING THE LAW PURSUANT TO [CIV.R.] 58(B) WHICH ENCOMPASSES, “DEFAULT BY FAILURE TO APPEAR.” ON OCTOBER 3, 2013[,] THE TRIAL COURT HELD A SMALL CLAIMS HEARING IN WHICH THE APPELLE[E], TONY STEPS, DID NOT APPEAR.

{¶4} In his merit brief, Thomas sets forth a one-paragraph argument that tracks the

language of his assignment of error.

{¶5} Pursuant to R.C. 1925.05(A), once a defendant has received the statutorily

required notice, the trial court may enter default judgment against a defendant who fails to

appear at a hearing. Miller v. McStay, 9th Dist. Summit No. 23369, 2007-Ohio-369, ¶ 8. While

a trial court may grant default judgment, it is not required to do so. Haynes v. Straub, 10th Dist.

Franklin No. 09AP-1009, 2010-Ohio-4089, ¶ 12. A trial court’s decision to either grant or deny

default judgment is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. McStay at ¶ 5, citing Natl. City Bank v.

Shuman, 9th Dist. Summit No. 21484, 2003-Ohio-6116, ¶ 6. Thus, absent a demonstration that

the trial court abused its discretion in declining to enter default judgment, Thomas cannot prevail

on his claim. Tikaradze v. Kenwood Garden Apts, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-11-1217, 2012-Ohio-

3735, ¶ 6. Under an abuse of discretion standard, an appellate court may not substitute its

judgment for that of the trial court. Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219 (1983).

{¶6} In his merit brief, Thomas has not set forth an argument explaining how the trial

court abused its discretion in failing to enter default judgment in this case. With respect to what

transpired at the hearing, we note that the trial court stated in its judgment entry that it was

required to accept the magistrate’s factual determination that Thomas had not proven the 3

allegations in his complaint given that Thomas did not provide a hearing transcript. Pursuant to

Civ.R. 53(D)(3)(b)(iii), “[a]n objection to a factual finding * * * shall be supported by a

transcript of all the evidence submitted to the magistrate relevant to that finding or an affidavit of

that evidence if a transcript is not available.” “This Court has held that when a party fails to file

a transcript or an affidavit as to the evidence presented at the magistrate’s hearing, the trial court,

when ruling on the objections, is required to accept the magistrate’s findings of fact and review

only the magistrate’s conclusions of law based upon those factual findings.” Conley v. Conley,

9th Dist. Summit No. 21759, 2004-Ohio-1591, ¶ 7. Under these circumstances where Thomas

has not demonstrated that the trial court abused its discretion in declining to enter default, we are

compelled to affirm the trial court’s judgment.

{¶7} The assignment of error is overruled.

III.

{¶8} Thomas’ assignment of error is overruled. The judgment of the Akron Municipal

Court is affirmed.

Judgment affirmed.

There were reasonable grounds for this appeal.

We order that a special mandate issue out of this Court, directing the Akron Municipal

Court, County of Summit, State of Ohio, to carry this judgment into execution. A certified copy

of this journal entry shall constitute the mandate, pursuant to App.R. 27.

Immediately upon the filing hereof, this document shall constitute the journal entry of

judgment, and it shall be file stamped by the Clerk of the Court of Appeals at which time the

period for review shall begin to run. App.R. 22(C). The Clerk of the Court of Appeals is 4

instructed to mail a notice of entry of this judgment to the parties and to make a notation of the

mailing in the docket, pursuant to App.R. 30.

Costs taxed to Appellant.

DONNA J. CARR FOR THE COURT

BELFANCE, P. J. CARR, J. MOORE, J. CONCUR.

APPEARANCES:

DAVID THOMAS, pro se, Appellant.

TONY STEPS, pro se, Appellee.