Thompson v. Summit Pain Specialists, Inc.

2016 Ohio 7030
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedSeptember 28, 2016
Docket27635, 27638
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 2016 Ohio 7030 (Thompson v. Summit Pain Specialists, Inc.) 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
Thompson v. Summit Pain Specialists, Inc., 2016 Ohio 7030 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016).

Opinion

[Cite as Thompson v. Summit Pain Specialists, Inc., 2016-Ohio-7030.]

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

JERADINE THOMPSON, et al. C.A. Nos. 27635 27638 Appellants

v. APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT SUMMIT PAIN SPECIALISTS, INC., et al. ENTERED IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS Appellees COUNTY OF SUMMIT, OHIO CASE No. CV 2013 05 2353

DECISION AND JOURNAL ENTRY

Dated: September 28, 2016

CARR, Judge.

{¶1} Appellants James Bressi, D.O., and Annette Consentino-Bressi appeal the

judgment of the Summit County Court of Common Pleas that ordered the release of bond money

deposited on behalf of Dr. Bressi in his criminal case, and denied Dr. Bressi’s motions for relief

from judgment and to discharge the prejudgment attachment. Dr. Bressi appealed and raises four

assignments of error. Ms. Annette Consentino-Bressi raises one assignment of error. As some

assignments of error are untimely or proffered by a non-party below, this Court is precluded

from considering those portions of the appeals; and they are dismissed to that extent. Where Dr.

Bressi raises timely issues which this Court may properly review, we affirm the trial court’s

judgment.

I.

{¶2} Bressi was a practicing physician and part-owner of Summit Pain Specialists, Inc.,

where he used techniques including osteopathic manipulative therapy to alleviate patients’ pain. 2

Bressi was indicted on 27 criminal charges including rape, gross sexual imposition, and sexual

imposition based on allegations of improper touching in the workplace. In addition, dozens of

patients and some employees ultimately filed a series of complaints against Bressi alleging

multiple personal injury claims arising out of Bressi’s alleged non-consensual touching during

treatments, as well as claims for fraudulent transfer of property or assets. The civil complaint

underlying this appeal has been amended multiple times and included claims by eight plaintiffs

at the time the trial court issued the December 1, 2014 order from which appellants appeal.

{¶3} Shortly after the plaintiffs filed their initial complaint, they filed a motion for an

emergency order of attachment without notice or hearing. Bressi opposed the motion, and the

parties filed multiple supplemental briefs in support of their respective positions. The trial court

held a hearing on the issue and permitted the parties to file post-hearing supplemental briefs. On

February 21, 2014, the trial court granted the plaintiffs’ motion for a prejudgment order of

attachment as it related to Bressi’s property. The order encompassed a $100,000.00 cash bond

held by the Summit County Clerk of Courts relative to Bressi’s criminal case that the court

ordered be released to the plaintiffs’ attorney for retention in his IOLTA account at the

termination of the criminal case. Bressi did not appeal the order of attachment.

{¶4} In his criminal case, Bressi was ultimately found guilty of one count of sexual

imposition and acquitted of the remaining 26 sexually oriented offense counts. The attorney who

represented him in the criminal case (the “criminal attorney”) filed a motion in the civil case to

release the bond money based on a bond assignment executed by Bressi and his wife. The

plaintiffs opposed that motion, arguing that the bond money was subject to the order of

attachment and was to be released to the plaintiffs’ counsel. The trial court declined to rule on

the criminal attorney’s motion, noting that there were two mechanisms to overturn an order of 3

attachment, specifically, a Civ.R. 60(B) motion for relief from judgment, and a motion to

discharge the attachment, and that neither of which had been filed in the civil case. Shortly

thereafter, the criminal attorney filed a motion for relief from judgment pursuant to Civ.R. 60(B)

and a motion to discharge pursuant to R.C. 2715.44 on behalf of Bressi. In the Civ.R. 60(B)

motion, Bressi argued that the order of attachment should be vacated pursuant to subsections (4)

and (5), because it was no longer equitable that the order have prospective application. He did

not argue for relief from judgment pursuant to Civ.R. 60(B)(2) on the basis of newly discovered

evidence. In support of the discharge of the order pursuant to R.C. 2715.44, Bressi argued that

the monies used to post his $100,000.00 bond belonged solely to his wife or were borrowed from

his brother. The plaintiffs filed a brief in opposition to the motions.

{¶5} The trial court held a hearing on Bressi’s motions for relief from judgment and to

discharge the order of attachment on September 17, 2014. The same day, it issued an order

permitting the release of certain funds in Bressi’s IRA account to pay the criminal attorney for

his representation of Bressi in the criminal matter. Subsequently, one of two attorneys who

represented Bressi in the civil case (the “civil attorney”), filed on behalf of Bressi a motion for

relief from judgment pursuant to Civ.R. 60(B) and a motion to discharge, both relevant to the

February 21, 2014 order of attachment. In addition to subsections (4) and (5), Bressi premised

this motion for relief from judgment on Civ.R. 60(B)(2) as well, arguing that his acquittal on 26

of 27 criminal charges constituted new evidence. In addition, he argued that discharge of the

order was appropriate because there was no evidence that the 62 plaintiffs in all the civil cases

pending against Bressi were likely to obtain judgment against him given that he had been

acquitted of all but one criminal charge. 4

{¶6} The plaintiffs opposed Bressi’s second set of motions both on the merits, as well

as arguing that the trial court had already heard the identical motions filed by the criminal

attorney. The civil attorney replied, stating that he had not received notice of the September 17,

2014 hearing. He further argued that, given Bressi’s acquittals, the witnesses who testified in

support of the order of attachment lacked credibility.

{¶7} On December 1, 2014, the trial court issued an order ruling on the motions for

relief from judgment and to discharge the order of attachment. It noted that it had conducted a

hearing on the first set of motions, that all counsel for Bressi were in attendance, and that it heard

the testimony of one of Bressi’s former patients who did not testify at his criminal trial. The trial

court refused to hold a separate hearing on the second motion for relief from judgment,

explaining that no hearing was required in the absence of operative facts demonstrating that

relief was warranted. Specifically, the court reasoned that, given the stark difference in the

burdens of proof and elements of charges/claims between criminal and civil actions, the fact of

Bressi’s acquittal on 26 of 27 charges did not constitute newly discovered evidence tending to

demonstrate that the plaintiffs were not likely to prevail in their civil claims, thereby negating

any basis for the order of attachment.

{¶8} Bressi and Ms. Consentino-Bressi each filed notices of appeal from the December

1, 2014 order. This Court consolidates some assignments of error to facilitate discussion.

II.

JAMES BRESSI’S ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR I

THE TRIAL COURT VIOLATED SUMMIT COUNTY LOCAL RULE 23.02, R.C.

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Thompson v. Summit Pain Specialists, Inc.
2016 Ohio 7030 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2016)

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