Walsh v. Jellen

359 N.E.2d 728, 51 Ohio Misc. 97, 5 Ohio Op. 3d 176, 1977 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 49
CourtCuyahoga County Common Pleas Court
DecidedJanuary 31, 1977
DocketNo. 958217
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 359 N.E.2d 728 (Walsh v. Jellen) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Walsh v. Jellen, 359 N.E.2d 728, 51 Ohio Misc. 97, 5 Ohio Op. 3d 176, 1977 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 49 (Ohio Super. Ct. 1977).

Opinion

McMonagle, J.

This is an action in which the plaintiff sued the defendant Sandra L. Jellen to recover damages allegedly suffered in an automobile collision on October 19, 1975. Defendant filed an answer on November 1, 1976, and on November 19, 1976, filed a third-party complaint against the defendant, Eichard T. Zytkowski. The following are the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th paragraphs and the prayer of the third-party complaint:

[98]*98“4. Defendant-third party, plaintiff, Sandra L. Jellen, says as one of her affirmative defenses in said answer that her negligence, if any, was not the proximate cause of the accident set forth in the complaint filed against her, but rather that said accident was caused solely by the negligence of Richard T. Zytkowski, who is mentioned in paragraph 3 of the complaint.
“5. Defendant-third party plaintiff, Sandra L. jellen, further says that on or about October 19, 1975, she was operating an automobile in an eastbound direction on Lo-rain Road, North Olmsted, Ohio, when by reason of the negligence of third party defendant, Richard T. Zytkowski, who was operating a vehicle in a northbound direction on Brenden Lane, her automobile was struck by the automobile being operated by third party defendant, causing her automobile to strike the automobile being operated by plaintiff Gerald A. Walsh, Sr., which automobile was facing in a westerly direction on said Lorain Road.
“6. While hot intending to admit negligence as alleged in the complaint filed against her, defendant-third party plaintiff, Sandra L. Jellen, says that if she is adjudged to be a tortfeasor, negligent, and liable to plaintiff Gerald A. Walsh,-Sr., then said negligence is Joint and several with the negligence of third party defendant, Richard T. Zytkowski, who failed to yield the right of way to defendant-third party plaintiff.
“7. If defendant-third party plaintiff, Sandra L. Jellen, and third party defendant, Richard T. Zytkowski, are adjudged to be tortfeasors, negligent, and-jointly and severally liable to plaintiff Gerald A. Walsh, Sr., then defendant-third party plaintiff, Sandra L. Jellen, is entitled to contribution from third party defendant, Richard T. Zytkow-ski, pursuant to Sections 2307.31 and 2307.32 of the Ohio Revised Code.
“WheRbfoRE, defendant-third party plaintiff, Sandra L. Jellen, prays that if she is found to be a tortfeasor, negligent, and liable to plaintiff Gerald A. Wálsh, Sr., then hér negligence is joint and several with the negligence of third party defendant, Richard T. Zytkowski,' and that she is entitled to contribution from third party defendant, Rich[99]*99ard. T. ZytkowsM, pursuant to Sections 2307.31 and 2307.32 of the OMo Revised Code,- in a proportionate amount of any judgment rendered against defendant-third party plaintiff in favor of plaintiff . Gerald A. Walsh, Sr.”

The third-party defendant, Richard T. Zytkowsld, filed a motion to dismiss the third-party complaint and for summary judgment. Attached to the motion is an affidavit averring that for the sum of $1775.81 paid by the liability insurance company of the tMrd-party defendant, the plaintiff executed a covenant not to sue the said third-party defendant. A photostatic copy of the covenant not to sue is attached to the said affidavit. The said covenant not to sue was obviously given in good faith and for a valuable consideration to the said third-party defendant. The motion to dismiss and for summary judgment is treated by the court as a motion for summary judgment under Civ. R. 56.

It is the contention of the defendant Jellen who is the third-party plaintiff that she has a cause of action for contribution against Richard T. ZytkowsM under the provisions of Am. H. B. 531 (R. C. 2307.31 and 2307.32) which provides for contribution among two or more persons jointly or severally liable in tort. ' The provisions of these two sections of the Revised Code constitute a substantial change in the law of Ohio. It had been fundamental in our law that there is no right to contribution amongst joint tort-feasors.

11 OMo Jurisprudence 2d 577, Contribution, states at section 20:

“It is the well-settled general rule that the law will not enforce contribution between joint tortfeasors.”

Heretofore a claimant could select - one or more of any joint tortfeasors and prosecute' a claim solely against those so chosen by him and the defendant or defendants were not entitled to require contribution either amongst themselves or against a joint tortfeasor who, had not been named in the action. These sections of the Revised Code change that rule of law and specify the procedures that may be followed in requiring such contribution. '

The motion for summary judgment of the third-party [100]*100defendant asking that the third-party compaint be dismissed is predicated upon two contentions:

(1) That the said Act which became effective on October 1, 1976, does not appy to occurrences which have taken place prior to the said effective date of the Act.

(2) If it be held that the said Act does have retroactive effect, the defendant is barred from asserting the claim contained in his third party complaint because the plaintiff herein had executed a covenant not to sue the third party defendant.

The court finds that the said first contention by the third party defendant is well taken and the court holds that the said Act does not apply retroactively. The Act itself does not contain any provisions with reference as to whether it applies prospectively or retrospectively. In this respect it is comparable to the provisions of the Ohio Malpractice Act, Amended Sub. H. B. 682.

Judges George J. McMonagle and George W. White of the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court have heretofore held in the case of Graley v. Satayatham, (1976), 348 N. E. 2d 832, that the said Malpractice Act does not apply retroactively. The reasons contained in said opinion for such holding apply to the said Contribution Act.

The court further holds that the said covenant not to sue that had been executed by the plaintiff herein does constitute a bar to the assertion of a cause of action for contribution by the original defendant herein against the third-party defendant. Because the said Contribution Act has very recently become effective, there are no reported decisions with reference to it. However, the Act itself is the subject of an analysis that was made by Mr. James L. Young who is the Secretary of the Ohio Legal Center Institute. This analysis is contained in its publication “Update ’76.” This court concurs in the opinions contained therein that are the subject matter of the within proceeding. The said “Update” does contain expressions of opinion with reference to other phases of the Contribution Act. (See Appendix.)

It is, therefore, hereby ordered that the motion for summary judgment filed by the'third-party defendant be [101]*101and it is hereby granted and the third-party complaint filed herein be and it is hereby dismissed.

Judgment accordingly.

Appendix

The court has concluded that it would be helpful to those members of the bench and bar who have not seen the discussion contained in said “Update” to include it herein.

“Am. H. B. 531. Eft. 10-1-76

“Enacts Secs. 2307.31 and 2307.32, K.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Westfield Ins. Co. v. Chapel Elec. Co., L.L.C.
2024 Ohio 2736 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2024)
Wells v. Spirit Fabricating, Ltd.
680 N.E.2d 1046 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 1996)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
359 N.E.2d 728, 51 Ohio Misc. 97, 5 Ohio Op. 3d 176, 1977 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 49, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/walsh-v-jellen-ohctcomplcuyaho-1977.