Wilder v. Muskingum Cty.

2023 Ohio 3224

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: September 11, 2023
• Docket: CT2022-0088
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as Wilder v. Muskingum Cty., 2023-Ohio-3224.]

COURT OF APPEALS MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

HELEN WILDER, EXECUTOR OF : JUDGES: THE ESTATE OF VIRGINIA R. HELBLING, ET AL., : : Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J. Plaintiffs-Appellees : Hon. John W. Wise, J. : Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J. -vs- : : Case No. CT2022-0088 : MUSKINGUM COUNTY : : : Defendant-Appellant : OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Court of Common Pleas, Case No. CH2022-0054

JUDGMENT: DISMISSED

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: September 11, 2023

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiffs-Appellees: For Defendant-Appellant:

JOEL R. CAMPBELL ANGELICA M. JARMUSZ NELSON E. GENSHAFT HELEN SUDHOFF 575 South Third Street, 7775 Walton Parkway, Suite 200 Columbus, Ohio 43215 New Albany, Ohio 43054 Muskingum County, Case No. CT2022-0088 2

Delaney, J.

{¶1} Appellant-Defendant Muskingum County (“Muskingum County”) appeals

the November 23, 2022, judgment entry of the Muskingum County Common Pleas Court

denying Muskingum County’s Motion to Dismiss, pursuant to Civ. R. 12(B)(6).

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

{¶2} Appellees-Plaintiffs, the estate of Virginia Helbling, are the owners of 1.58

acres of real property located adjacent to 5901 Virginia Road, Nashport, Ohio in

Muskingum County. On March 15, 2022, Appellees filed a complaint in the Muskingum

County Court of Common Pleas against Muskingum County alleging negligence,

continuing trespass, nuisance and quiet title.

{¶3} In response, Muskingum County filed a Motion to Dismiss, pursuant to

Civ.R. 12(B)(6) on May 12, 2022, alleging the complaint failed to state a claim upon which

relief could be granted, because statutory immunity under R.C. Chapter 2744 and the

applicable statutes of limitations bar all claims. After briefing, the trial court issued a

judgment entry on November 23, 2022, summarily denying the motion to dismiss.

{¶4} Muskingum County brings this interlocutory appeal because the trial court’s

November 23, 2022 journal entry denying Muskingum County’s motion to dismiss

effectively deprived Muskingum County of “the benefit of an alleged immunity from

liability.” R. C. 2744.02(C). Muskingum County, Case No. CT2022-0088 3

{¶5} Muskingum County raises the following assignments of error:

ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR

{¶6} “I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING MUSKINGUM COUNTY,

OHIO THE BENEFITS OF IMMUNITY BECAUSE A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION CANNOT

BE LIABLE FOR INTENTIONAL TORTS.”

{¶7} “II. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING MUSKINGUM COUNTY,

OHIO THE BENEFITS OF IMMUNITY BECAUSE A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION CANNOT

BE LIABLE FOR ITS ALLEGED NEGLIGENCE.”

{¶8} “III. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING MUSKINGUM COUNTY,

OHIO THE BENEFITS OF IMMUNITY BECAUSE PLAINTIFFS-APPELLEES

ABANDONED CLAIMS.”

ANALYSIS

{¶9} Before addressing Muskingum County’s assignments of error, this Court

will address the application of the recent decision by the Ohio Supreme Court in Estate

of Fleenor v. Ottawa Cty., 170 Ohio St.3d 38, 2022-3581, decided on October 11, 2022.

In Fleenor at the syllabus, the Court held “[a]n unchartered county is not sui juris and

therefore must be sued in the name of its board of commissioners.” Sui juris means

“possessing full capacity and rights to sue or be sued.” Id. at FN 1, citing Mollette v.

Portsmouth City Council, 169 Ohio App.3d 557, 2006-Ohio-6289, 863 N.E.2d 1092, ¶ 1

(4th Dist.).

{¶10} The parties have raised the application of Fleenor to this appeal as it is

undisputed the Appellees sued “Muskingum County”, not its board of commissioners as

the defendant and the parties agree that Muskingum County is an unchartered county. In Muskingum County, Case No. CT2022-0088 4

Fleenor, the Ohio Supreme Court found it best to allow the trial court to address the impact

of its holding and remanded the cause to the trial court for it to determine whether to allow

an amendment of the complaint or dismiss the action. As succinctly stated by the Court,

“suability and liability are not interchangeable concepts”, Id. at ¶12.

{¶11} In the interest of justice and judicial economy, this Court will likewise

remand this matter to the trial court to proceed on Appellees’ request to amend the

complaint and name the Muskingum County Board of Commissioners as the defendant,

as prescribed by the Court in Fleenor.

CONCLUSION

{¶12} For the reasons stated in the foregoing opinion, the appeal from the

decision of the Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas is dismissed and this matter

is remanded for further proceeding.

By: Delaney, J.,

Gwin, P.J. and

Wise, J., concur.