Weinfeld v. Welling, Unpublished Decision (9-6-2005)

2005 Ohio 4721
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedSeptember 6, 2005
DocketNo. 2004CA00340.
StatusUnpublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 2005 Ohio 4721 (Weinfeld v. Welling, Unpublished Decision (9-6-2005)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law.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
Weinfeld v. Welling, Unpublished Decision (9-6-2005), 2005 Ohio 4721 (Ohio Ct. App. 2005).

Opinion

OPINION
{¶ 1} This is an appeal and cross appeal from the Common Pleas Court of Stark County. Prior appeals in this cause have been filed in this court and with the Ohio Supreme Court.

STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE
{¶ 2} We shall take the summary of the facts in part from the prior appeals and from the files and briefs.

{¶ 3} Appellant may be referred to herein as "Plaintiff" and Appellees-Cross Appellants as "Defendants" or as Appellants and Appellees.

{¶ 4} In June of 1998, Appellant, Lauri Weinfeld, purchased land in Perry Township, Ohio. Appellees reside on an adjoining parcel. Appellant's property is known as "Lakeside Center" (hereinafter "center") and contains an enclosed building, a gazebo and gardens on a lake known as "Lake Dee Mar." Said center is used for recreational purposes including weddings, receptions, social gatherings and meetings. Appellant operates the center pursuant to a conditional use permit granted by the Perry Township Board of Zoning Appeals (hereinafter "Board").

{¶ 5} The granting of such use permit and a variance have also been the subject of litigation and appeals but is not involved in this appeal.

{¶ 6} On July 22, 1999, Appellant filed a complaint against Appellees claiming nuisance, trespass, civil conspiracy, defamation and intentional interference with contract. Appellant, in pertinent part, alleged Appellees intentionally and deliberately operated noisy pieces of lawn equipment in an attempt to disrupt the events being conducted at the center. Appellant sought money damages and injunctive relief. Appellant also filed a motion for a temporary restraining order restraining appellees from further disruption. Appellees counterclaimed on various causes of action.

{¶ 7} On October 26, 1999, Herbert and Tammy Barlow filed a complaint against the Appellees in the Massillon Municipal Court, alleging that Appellees had intentionally interfered with their wedding, which took place at Lakeside Center on July 11, 1999. Such case was transferred to the Stark County Common Pleas Court and consolidated with the case pending between Appellant and Appellees but has, after trial and appeal, been resolved.

{¶ 8} The case was set for jury trial in November, 2003, and prior to such trial, the Plaintiff-Appellant voluntarily dismissed her claims for defamation and invasion of privacy and Defendants-Appellees dismissed their claims for zoning violations and violations of deed restrictions.

{¶ 9} The jury found in favor of the defendants on all causes of action, awarded no damages to the plaintiff, and found in jury interrogatories that the plaintiff failed to prove intentional interference with her business, intentional infliction of emotional distress, nuisance or trespass. Also the jury denied the plaintiff's claims of a defective septic system and claims that the storage of farm machinery by the defendants constituted and other actions a nuisance, trespass or violation of deed restrictions.

{¶ 10} The jury awarded Appellees compensatory damages of $5,412.38 and punitive damages of $250,000.00 on their claim of invasion of privacy. Attorney fees were stipulated at $10,000.00.

{¶ 11} On December 6, 2002, plaintiff moved for judgment notwithstanding the verdict or in the alternative for a new trial or remittitur. On June 5, 2003, the trial court overruled the plaintiff's motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, but granted a remitter of the punitive damages award to $35,000.00, subject to acceptance by the defendants. The defendants did not accept the remittitur. The trial court, upon rejection of the remittitur, granted a new trial on the invasion of privacy issue with respect to the defendants' counterclaim as well as on the issue of damages.

{¶ 12} Appellant, Lauri Weinfeld, raises the following Assignments of Error:

ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
{¶ 13} "I. THE JURY'S VERDICT WAS INADEQUATE, UNSUPPORTED BY THE RECORD AND AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE, THUS WARRANTING A REVERSAL AND NEW TRIAL OF THIS CASE.

{¶ 14} "II. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING APPELLANT'S MOTION FOR JNOV ON APPELLEES' COUNTERCLAIM FOR INVASION OF PRIVACY.

{¶ 15} "III. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN PERMITTING THE TESTIMONY OF A SURPRISE WITNESS.

{¶ 16} "IV. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING APPELLANT'S MOTION FOR A PERMANENT INJUNCTION.

{¶ 17} "V. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING APPELLANT RELIEF FROM APPELLEES DEED RESTRICTION VIOLATIONS."

{¶ 18} Appellees submit their cross-appeal with two Assignments of Error:

{¶ 19} "I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN GRANTING A NEW TRIAL ON DEFENDANTS' COUNTERCLAIM FOR INVASION OF PRIVACY.

{¶ 20} "II. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN GRANTING A REMITTITUR AND REDUCING THE PUNITIVE DAMAGES AWARD."

I.
{¶ 21} Appellant's First Assignment claims the jury's findings were against the manifest weight of the evidence and unsupported. We disagree.

{¶ 22} In reviewing the records to the manifest weight of the evidence, a reviewing court is to examine the entire record, weigh the evidence and draw all reasonable inferences, consider the credibility of the witnesses and determine "whether in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the trier of fact clearly lost its way and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that the judgment must be reversed. Statev. Martin (1997), 78 Ohio St.3d 380. Because the trier of fact is in a better position to observe the witnesses' demeanor and weigh their credibility, the weight of the evidence and the credibility of the witnesses are primarily for the trier of fact. State v. DeHass (1967),10 Ohio St.2d 230.

{¶ 23} Appellant has coupled her argument as to the manifest weight of the Appellee's evidence with error as to a denial of a request for a new trial (although a new trial on the invasion of privacy issue was subsequently ordered).

{¶ 24} "Where trial court is authorized to grant new trial for reason which requires exercise of sound discretion, order granting new trial may be reversed only upon showing of abuse or discretion. Const. Art. 4, § 6; R.C. § 2321.17. Rohde, Admr., et al. v. Farmer (1970), 23 Ohio St.2d 82.

{¶ 25} In order to find an abuse of discretion, we must determine the trial court's decision was unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable.Blakemore v. Blakemore (1983), 5 Ohio St.3d 217. We must look at the totality of the circumstances in the case sub judice and determine whether the trial court acted unreasonably, arbitrary or unconscionably.

{¶ 26}

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Related

Welling v. Weinfeld
866 N.E.2d 1051 (Ohio Supreme Court, 2007)

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Bluebook (online)
2005 Ohio 4721, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/weinfeld-v-welling-unpublished-decision-9-6-2005-ohioctapp-2005.