Younomics Private Student Loan Trust v. McKinley

2020 Ohio 3989

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: August 7, 2020
• Docket: 28630
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as Younomics Private Student Loan Trust v. McKinley, 2020-Ohio-3989.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT MONTGOMERY COUNTY

YOUNOMICS PRIVATE STUDENT : LOAN TRUST : : Appellate Case No. 28630 Plaintiff-Appellant : : Trial Court Case No. 2018-CV-5429 v. : : (Civil Appeal from TYLER MCKINLEY : Common Pleas Court) : Defendant-Appellee :

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OPINION

Rendered on the 7th day of August, 2020.

JOHN A. GAMBILL, Atty. Reg. No. 0089733 and JASON R. HARLEY, Atty. Reg. No. 0083761, 250 West Street, Suite 550, Columbus, Ohio 43215 Attorneys for Plaintiff-Appellant

GLEN R. MCMURRY, Atty. Reg. No. 0082600 and LEE A. SLONE, Atty. Reg. No. 0075539, One South Main Street, Suite 1300, Dayton, Ohio 45402 Attorneys for Defendant-Appellee

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DONOVAN, J. -2-

{¶ 1} Younomics Private Student Loan Trust (“Younomics”) appeals from a trial

court order that granted Tyler McKinley’s motion for relief from the trial court’s prior default

judgment in favor of Younomics in the amount of $32,580.28. We hereby affirm the

judgment of the trial court.

{¶ 2} Younomics filed its complaint against McKinley on November 20, 2018.

According to the complaint, McKinley executed a promissory note in September 2007 in

the amount of $4,347.83 and another promissory note in November 2007 in the amount

of $8,152.17. Copies of the notes were attached to the complaint. The complaint stated

that Younomics sent McKinley a collection notice on October 23, 2018, to which he failed

to respond. Younomics asserted that, as of October 23, 2018, McKinley owed

$32,580.28 on the notes, exclusive of attorneys’ fees and costs. Younomics alleged

claims of unjust enrichment and breach of contract as to each note and sought attorney

fees. The notes identified Doral Bank, FSB, as the creditor and McKinley as the

borrower, with a residential address in Miamisburg. Service was issued to McKinley at

the Miamisburg address via certified mail, but it was returned unclaimed.

{¶ 3} On January 3, 2019, the court issued a notice that service had not been

perfected on McKinley and that failure to respond within 14 days could result in

administrative dismissal of the action. On January 24, 2019, the court filed a notice to

show cause why the case should not be dismissed for failure to prosecute.

{¶ 4} The record reflects that service was reissued to McKinley at the Miamisburg

address via regular mail on January 31, 2019. On March 7, 2019, the court issued a

“Notice (Default),” which stated that McKinley was in default for answer or appearance

and that Younomics’ failure to move for a default judgment could result in the -3-

administrative dismissal of the action. On March 22, April 1, and April 8, 2019,

Younomics filed motions for extensions of time to file a motion for default judgment. On

May 8, 2019, the court filed another notice to show cause why the case should not be

dismissed for failure to prosecute.

{¶ 5} On May 22, 2019, Younomics filed a motion for default judgment pursuant to

Civ.R. 55(A). Attached to the motion was an affidavit of John Gambill, counsel for

Younomics.

{¶ 6} The court granted Younomics’ motion for default judgment on May 30, 2019.

McKinley filed a Civ.R. 60(B) motion for relief from judgment on September 5, 2019.

McKinley attached a supporting memorandum, his own affidavit, and a proposed answer

to the complaint. The memorandum provided that, after failure of service by certified

mail, Younomics instructed the court to reissue service by regular mail to the same

incorrect address, and that McKinley had not resided at that address “for years.” The

memorandum further stated that McKinley had resided in Cincinnati since June 2015, and

it “was not until after default judgment was taken against him” that McKinley received a

“copy of the Rule 58(b) Civil Notice of Final Appealable Order, which his parents

forwarded.”

{¶ 7} McKinley argued that his lack of knowledge of Younomics’ pending lawsuit

constituted excusable neglect. According to McKinley, he “borrowed two small student

loans from My Rich Uncle in 2007. He never heard another word from any entity about

the loans until now – more than 11 years later.” He also alleged that more than 8 years

passed between when payment was due on the notes and when this lawsuit was filed.

McKinley argued that he had a meritorious defense, namely that Younomics’ claims -4-

should be barred by “principles of estoppel, laches, waiver, and/or expiration of the

applicable statute of limitations.” McKinley asserted that Younomics had made no

showing that it was entitled to enforce “the original Master Promissory Notes” and had

failed to provide an accounting of the $32,580.28 it demanded. Finally, McKinley

asserted that his motion was timely.

{¶ 8} In his affidavit, McKinley asserted that his parents resided at the Miamisburg

address where service was attempted, but that he had not lived there since 2011.

McKinley averred that he had received checks from “My Rich Uncle” and deposited them,

and that he never received a debt collection notice or any other correspondence “from

the Plaintiff or any other entity” regarding the loans. McKinley asserted that he “never

received service of the summons and complaint” and that he was first notified about the

lawsuit when his parents forwarded him an unopened envelope that contained a copy of

the Rule 58(b) civil notice filed in this case on May 30, 2019.

{¶ 9} On September 16, 2019, the court set submission dates for Younomics’

memorandum contra McKinley’s motion and McKinley’s reply. The entry further stated:

“There shall be no oral hearing. If counsel desires to be heard, counsel should notify the

court and other counsel the day before the last date set forth above. Otherwise, the court

will consider the matter submitted without oral argument as of the last date set forth

above.”

{¶ 10} On September 20, 2019, Younomics filed a motion for an extension of time

to respond to McKinley’s motion for relief from judgment, to which McKinley had

consented. The court granted the motion.

{¶ 11} Younomics filed its memorandum in opposition on October 18, 2019. -5-

Younomics asserted that McKinley had admitted that he had “borrowed and received the

monies” at issue, and that he could not establish excusable neglect and allege a

meritorious defense. Younomics asserted that McKinley’s first payment was due on

October 21, 2010, that he failed to make the payment within 30 days of the payment

deadline, and he therefore defaulted under the terms of the notes. Younomics further

asserted that it was the present holder of the notes and was entitled to the unpaid balance,

including late fees, interest, and attorneys’ fees and costs. According to Younomics,

McKinley “was deemed served” on February 1, 2019, and therefore his deadline “to move,

answer, or otherwise plead in response” to the complaint had been March 1, 2019.

{¶ 12} Younomics asserted that McKinley mistakenly placed the burden on

Younomics to prove, in response to his Civ.R. 60(B) motion, that it was entitled to enforce

the notes and that his motion’s “cursory allegations” as to the viability of Younomics’

claims failed to satisfy his burden of establishing a meritorious defense. It also asserted

that, pursuant to R.C. 2305.06,1 its complaint was timely filed inasmuch as the statute of

limitations did “not expire until September 28, 2020,” or eight years after Younomics

asserted that McKinley’s breach occurred.

{¶ 13} According to Younomics, the affidavit of Mark Lozano, its custodian of

records, set forth the chain of custody of the notes and rebutted McKinley’s “conclusory

statements.” In a footnote, Younomics also asserted that it did not address McKinley’s

claims that the principles of estoppel, laches, and/or waiver barred its claims, because

McKinley had failed “to provide any legal basis for these defenses” and could not “submit

‘canned’ affirmative defenses, without support, and satisfy his obligations under Civ.R.

1 R.C. 2305.06 sets forth an eight-year statute of limitations for a contract in writing. -6-

60(B).”

{¶ 14} Finally, Younomics argued that McKinley’s alleged lack of knowledge of the

complaint did not constitute excusable neglect, because the “regular mail service was not

returned as undeliverable” and, in fact, McKinley admitted that he ultimately received

correspondence that was delivered to the address listed on the complaint. Younomics

points out that McKinley also did not allege “that he never resided at the address where

service of process was delivered pursuant to Civ.R. 4.6(D) * * *.” Younomics asserts that

McKinley did not allege that he had “no connection with the individuals still residing at that

address,” and that he admitted he once resided there, his parents still resided there, and

his parents had forwarded mail to him. According to Younomics, these facts alone

supported a finding that the presumption of proper service applied, inasmuch as they had

a reasonable expectation that McKinley would receive service of summons at the address

listed on Younomics’ complaint. Younomics asserted that service was proper under

Civ.R. 4.6(D).

{¶ 15} McKinley filed a reply on October 28, 2019. He argued that the debts that

Younomics sought to collect were accelerated on March 5, 2011, or more than six years

before it filed its complaint on November 20, 2018. Therefore, McKinley alleged that the

complaint was filed after the expiration of the relevant statute of limitations. McKinley

asserted that, as negotiable instruments, the notes were subject to the six-year statute of

limitations in R.C. 1303.16.

{¶ 16} The trial court sustained McKinley’s motion for relief from judgment without

analysis. McKinley filed his answer and counterclaim on November 19, 2019, alleging

that Younomics had violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Consumer -7-

Sales Practices Act.

{¶ 17} Younomics asserts the following assignment of error on appeal:

THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN GRANTING MCKINLEY’S MOTION

FOR RELIEF FROM JUDGMENT WITHOUT HOLDING AN EVIDENTIARY

HEARING CONCERNING THE OPERATIVE FACTS ALLEGED IN

MCKINLEY’S MOTION THAT WOULD TEND TO WARRANT RELIEF

UNDER CIV.R. 60(B).

{¶ 18} As this Court has noted:

To prevail upon a motion brought under Civ.R. 60(B), the movant

must demonstrate that (1) the party has a meritorious defense or claim to

present if relief is granted, (2) the party is entitled to relief under one of the

grounds stated in Civ.R. 60(B)(1) through (5), and (3), the motion is made

within a reasonable time. GTE Automatic Electric v. ARC Industries

(1976), 47 Ohio St.2d 146, 351 N.E.2d 113. Civ.R. 60(B)(1) permits the

court to relieve a party from a final judgment for mistake, inadvertence, or

excusable neglect.

Where timely relief is sought from a default judgment and the movant

has a meritorious defense, doubt, if any, should be in favor of the motion so

that cases may be decided on their merit. GTE Automatic Electric v. ARC

Industries, supra, at syllabus 3. * * *

***

* * * In our view, the concept of “excusable neglect” must be

construed in keeping with the proposition that Civ.R. 60(B)(1) is a remedial -8-

rule to be liberally construed, while bearing in mind that Civ.R. 60(B)

constitutes an attempt to “strike a proper balance between the conflicting

principles that litigation must be brought to an end and justice should be

done.” 11 Wright & Miller, Federal Practice & Procedure 140, Section 2851,

quoted in Doddridge v. Fitzpatrick (1978), 53 Ohio St.2d 9, 12, 371 N.E.2d

214.

Vantage Homes v. Dailey, 2d Dist. Miami No. 2001-CA-49, 2002 WL 506815, *3-4 (Apr.

5, 2002).

{¶ 19} This Court has further noted:

In order to establish a meritorious claim or defense under Civ.R.

60(B), the movant is required to allege a meritorious claim or defense, not

to prove that she will prevail on that claim or defense. See State v. Yount,

175 Ohio App.3d 733, 2008-Ohio-1155, 889 N.E.2d 162, ¶ 10. “A

‘meritorious defense’ means a defense ‘going to the merits, substance, or

essentials of the case.’ * * * Relief from a final judgment should not be

granted unless the party seeking such relief makes at least a prima facie

showing that the ends of justice will be better served by setting the judgment

aside.” Wayne Mut. Ins. Co. v. Marlow (June 5, 1998), Montgomery App.

No. 16882, 1998 WL 288912, *2-3, quoting Black's Law Dictionary,

abridged (6th Ed.Rev.1991) 290. Broad, conclusory statements do not

satisfy the requirement that a Civ.R. 60(B) motion must be supported by

operative facts that would warrant relief from judgment. Cunningham v.

Ohio Dept. of Transp., Franklin App. No. 08AP-330, 2008-Ohio-6911, ¶ 37; -9-

Bennitt v. Bennitt (May 26, 1994), Cuyahoga App. Nos. 65094 and 66055,

1994 WL 236295.

“[A] movant has no automatic right to a hearing on a motion for relief

from judgment.” Hrabak v. Collins (1995), 108 Ohio App.3d 117, 121, 670

N.E.2d 281. * * *

We review the trial court's determination of a Civ.R. 60(B) motion for

an abuse of discretion. Griffey v. Rajan (1987), 33 Ohio St.3d 75, 77, 514

N.E.2d 1122. * * *

GMAC Mtge., L.L.C. v. Herring, 189 Ohio App.3d 200, 2010-Ohio-3650, 937 N.E.2d 1077,

¶ 32-34.

{¶ 20} This Court has also noted:

A trial court abuses its discretion when the court's attitude is

unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable. Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5

Ohio St.3d 217, 219, 450 N.E.2d 1140 (1983). “It is to be expected that

most instances of abuse of discretion will result in decisions that are simply

unreasonable, rather than decisions that are unconscionable or arbitrary.”

AAAA Ents., Inc. v. River Place Community Urban Redevelopment Corp.,

50 Ohio St.3d 157, 161, 553 N.E.2d 597 (1990). “A decision is unreasonable

if there is no sound reasoning process that would support that decision.” Id.

Jones v. Jones, 2019-Ohio-2355, 138 N.E.3d 634, ¶ 16 (2d Dist.).

{¶ 21} McKinley averred that he had no knowledge of the pending action against

him until he received notice of the default judgment. The trial court did not abuse its

discretion in sustaining McKinley’s motion for Civ.R. 60(B)(1) relief since the ground of -10-

excusable neglect was demonstrated; McKinley averred that he had not resided at the

Miamisburg address used for service since 2011 and that he had resided in Cincinnati

since 2015. Further, McKinley made a prima facie showing of a meritorious defense,

namely that Younomics’ complaint was barred by the applicable statute of limitations

and/or by the doctrines of laches, estoppel and waiver. McKinley was not required to

prove his meritorious defense. McKinley’s motion was also timely because it was filed

just a few months after the default judgment was granted.

{¶ 22} As noted in Doddridge, 53 Ohio St.2d 9, 12, 371 N.E.2d 214,at paragraph

one of the syllabus:

Where the record contains sufficient evidence of excusable neglect

on which to base a decision to grant a Civ.R. 60(B)(1) motion to vacate a

default judgment and the movant has made a timely motion and has a

meritorious defense, a trial court does not abuse its discretion if it grants the

Civ.R. 60(B)(1) motion to vacate a judgment without first holding an

evidentiary hearing on the Civ.R. 60(B)(1) issue.

{¶ 23} Younomics was not entitled to an evidentiary hearing, and the record does

not reflect that it requested one, as instructed by the trial court, after the court advised the

parties that it intended to rule on the motion without a hearing in the absence of such a

request.

{¶ 24} For the foregoing reasons, Younomics assignment of error is overruled, and

the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

HALL, J. and WELBAUM, J., concur. -11-

Copies sent to:

John A. Gambill Jason R. Harley Glen R. McMurry Lee A. Slone Hon. Barbara P. Gorman