Link v. FirstEnergy Corp. , 2014 Ohio 5432 ( 2014 )

[Cite as Link v. FirstEnergy Corp., 2014-Ohio-5432.]
Court of Appeals of Ohio
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
No. 101286
DOUGLAS LINK, ET AL.
PLAINTIFFS-APPELLEES/
CROSS-APPELLANTS
vs.
FIRSTENERGY CORP., ET AL.
DEFENDANTS-APPELLANTS
CROSS-APPELLEES
JUDGMENT:
AFFIRMED IN PART, REVERSED AND
REMANDED IN PART
Civil Appeal from the
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Case No. CV-10-743317
BEFORE: Rocco, P.J., E.A. Gallagher, J., and Stewart, J.
RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: December 11, 2014
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANTS
Thomas I. Michals
William E. Coughlin
John J. Eklund
Eric S. Zell
Calfee, Halter & Griswold, L.L.P.
The Calfee Building
1405 East Sixth Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Joseph J. Triscaro
Demarco & Triscaro, Ltd.
30505 Bainbridge Road
Suite 110
Solon, Ohio 44139
Robert P. Demarco
Demarco & Triscaro, Lt.
30505 Bainbridge Road
Suite 225
Solon, Ohio 44139
KENNETH A. ROCCO, P.J.:
{¶1} In this appeal following a jury trial, defendants-appellants/cross-appellees
Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company (“CEI”) and FirstEnergy Service Company (“FESC”)
(collectively “the Defendants”) appeal from the trial court’s final order granting a judgment in
favor of plaintiffs-appellees/cross-appellants Douglas Link and Diane Link (collectively “the
Links”). The Links also filed a cross-appeal. For the reasons that follow, we affirm in part
and reverse and remand in part the trial court’s final judgment.
{¶2} Although many of the relevant facts appear in the analysis section where
applicable, we begin with a brief background of the factual and procedural history of this case.
CEI owned and operated utility poles along Savage Road in Bainbridge Township. FESC is a
shared service company that supports CEI by providing services such as external affairs,
economic development, accounting, and legal support. As part of this relationship, FESC
makes suggestions and recommendations to CEI on a variety of matters.
{¶3} On May 8, 2006, the Bainbridge Township Board of Trustees passed a resolution to
improve and widen the entire length of Savage Road in Bainbridge Township. In late 2006, the
Geauga County Engineer’s Office sent the Defendants the preliminary road reconstruction plans
for the Savage Road widening project. On October 30, 2008, the Defendants transmitted their
original utility pole relocation plans for Savage Road to the Geauga County Engineer’s Office.
{¶4} Prior to the winter of 2008-2009, CEI relocated certain utility poles; however, it
did not relocate approximately eight utility poles along the west side of Savage Road. The
original plans called for the relocation of these poles. Savage Road remained closed for the
winter of 2008-2009 because the utility pole relocation project was not completed, and the
Defendants had made assurances that the relocation project would be finished in the first quarter
of 2009 pursuant to the original plans.
{¶5} The Defendants failed to return to the project, and on March 2, 2009, the Defendants
sent the Geauga County Engineer revised plans, which called for the poles that had not been
relocated to remain in their current positions. On March 26, 2009, the Geauga County
Engineer’s Office sent the Defendants a letter concerning the Defendants’ revised plans,
specifically the plan not to relocate the poles. The Defendants, however, never moved the poles
and the road was eventually reopened.
{¶6} On October 8, 2010, at around 10:00 p.m., Douglas Link was traveling on Savage
Road in Bainbridge Township on his motorcycle. A white tail buck struck him under his left
arm causing him to veer towards the right side of the road. Mr. Link struck a utility pole (“the
Pole”) owned by CEI causing serious and permanent injury to his right leg and pelvis.
{¶7} The Links filed a complaint in the trial court against CEI and FirstEnergy
Corporation on December 10, 2010, asserting claims for, inter alia, negligence, qualified
nuisance, loss of consortium, and punitive damages. On May 11, 2011, following discovery,
the Defendants filed motions for summary judgment. The trial court denied the motions on
October 7, 2011. The Defendants filed motions for reconsideration that the trial court also
denied.
{¶8} On June 15, 2011, the Links sought leave to amend their complaint based upon
newly discovered evidence that FESC was also culpable. The trial court granted the Links’
request on April 12, 2012. FESC, CEI, and First EnergyCorporation filed motions for summary
judgment on September 14, 2012, which the trial court denied.
{¶9} The case proceeded to trial on January 23, 2013. At the close of the Links’ case,
the Defendants moved for directed verdicts. The trial court did direct a verdict as to
FirstEnergy Corporation, because the trial court concluded that it was merely a holding company.
The trial court also directed verdicts on a number of claims not relevant to the instant appeal.
The trial court reserved ruling on the Links’ punitive damages claim, and denied the motion for
directed verdict with respect to the Links’ claims against the Defendants for negligence and
qualified nuisance. The Defendants renewed their motions for directed verdicts at the close of
their case. The trial court granted the Defendants’ motion for a directed verdict concerning the
Links’ claim for punitive damages, but denied the other motions.
{¶10} On February 5, 2013, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the Links on their
claims for qualified nuisance and loss of consortium, and a verdict in favor of the Defendants on
the Links’ negligence claim. On February 19, 2013, the Links filed a motion for prejudgment
interest. On that same day, the Links filed a motion for a new trial on the issue of damages
only, or in the alternative additur. The trial court denied both motions. On February 21, 2013,
the Defendants filed a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict (“JNOV”). The trial
court denied the motion on July 26, 2013, and the Defendants appealed to this court.
{¶11} We dismissed the initial appeal for lack of a final appealable order. The trial
court corrected this issue through the entry of a nunc pro tunc order filed on April 18, 2014.
This order set forth the disposition of all of the Links’ claims, entered the comparative fault
findings, and awarded the Links their respective damages based upon such findings. This order
is the subject of the instant appeal.
{¶12} The Defendants have collectively set forth five assignments of error. CEI sets
forth four assignments of error for our review:
I. The trial court erred in failing to grant summary judgment, a directed verdict, or
a JNOV as to the Links’ claims for qualified nuisance on the grounds that the
Ohio Supreme Court’s decision in Turner v. Ohio Bell Telephone Co., 118 Ohio
St.3d 215, 2008-Ohio-2010, 887 N.E.2d 1158, controls and establishes that CEI
cannot be liable to the Links for Douglas Link’s collision with the Pole located off
the improved portion of the road because (a) CEI possessed the necessary
permission to install the Pole and (b) CEI’s pole did not interfere with the usual
and ordinary course of travel.
II. The trial court erred in failing to grant summary judgment, direct a verdict, or
grant JNOV as to the Links’ claim for qualified nuisance on the grounds that the
Links failed to identify any public right with which the Pole interfered, which is a
necessary element of the claim.
III. The trial court erred in failing to grant summary judgment, direct a verdict, or
grant JNOV as to the Links’ claim for qualified nuisance after the jury found that
neither CEI nor FESC owed a duty of care to Douglas Link.
IV. The trial court erred in failing to grant summary judgment, direct a verdict, or
grant JNOV as to Diane Link’s derivative claim for loss of consortium on the
grounds that there was no viable substantive claim against CEI or FESC.
FESC has set forth a single assignment of error for our review:
V. The trial court erred in failing to direct a verdict or to grant JNOV on the
Links’ claim of qualified nuisance against FESC when the evidence demonstrated
that FESC neither owned nor controlled the Pole that was struck by Douglas
Link’s motorcycle.
The Links filed a cross-appeal and set forth four cross-assignments of error:
I. The trial court erred in failing to grant the Links a new trial for the limited
purpose of past pain and suffering.
II. The trial court erred in granting the Defendants’ motion for directed verdict
related to the Links’ claim for punitive damages, and not permitting an instruction
on punitive damages to go to the jury.
III. The trial court erred in failing to grant the Links’ motion for prejudgment
interest.
IV. The trial court erred in failing to grant the Links a new trial on the issue of
damages.
Standards of Review
{¶13} We review de novo a trial court’s order denying a motion for summary judgment.
Grafton v. Ohio Edison Co., 77 Ohio St.3d 102, 105, 671 N.E.2d 241 (1996). Under Civ.R.
56(C), summary judgment should be granted if (1) there is no genuine issue as to any material
fact; (2) the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law; and (3) reasonable minds can
come to but one conclusion, and that conclusion is adverse to the party against whom the motion
for summary judgment is made, who is entitled to have the evidence construed most strongly in
his favor. Gilbert v. Summit Cty., 104 Ohio St.3d 660, 2004-Ohio-7108, 821 N.E.2d 564, ¶ 6.
{¶14} We also apply a de novo standard review to a trial court’s order denying a motion
for a directed verdict or a motion for JNOV. Zappola v. Rock Capital Sound Corp., 8th Dist.
Cuyahoga No. 100055, 2014-Ohio-2261, ¶ 63. In considering either motion, the trial court
should construe the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. Id. at ¶ 64,
citing Posin v. A.B.C. Motor Court Hotel, Inc., 45 Ohio St.2d 271, 275, 344 N.E.2d 334 (1976)
The motion should be denied if there is substantial evidence to support the non-moving party’s
side of the case and if reasonable minds could reach different conclusions. Id. In deciding the
motion, the trial court shall not weigh the evidence or the credibility of the witnesses. Id.{¶15} We apply the abuse of discretion standard when reviewing a trial court’s ruling on
a motion for a new trial. Id. at ¶ 65. Under Civ.R. 59(A)(6), a trial court may order a new trial
if it is apparent that the verdict is not sustained by the manifest weight of the evidence. In
considering a motion for a new trial, the trial court is required to
weigh the evidence and pass upon the credibility of the witnesses, not in the
substantially unlimited sense that such weight and credibility are passed on
originally by the jury but in the more restricted sense of whether it appears to the
trial court that manifest injustice has been done and that the verdict is against the
manifest weight of the evidence.
Rybak v. Main Sail, LLC, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 96899, 2012-Ohio-2298, ¶ 52, quoting
Rohde v. Farmer, 23 Ohio St.2d 82, 262 N.E.2d 685 (1970), paragraph three of the syllabus.
With these standards in mind, we turn to the assignments of error raised by the parties.
Analysis
{¶16} In the Defendants’ first assignment of error, CEI argues that the qualified nuisance
claim must fail under the Ohio Supreme Court’s decision in Turner v. Ohio Bell Tel. Co., 118
Ohio St.3d 215, 2008-Ohio-2010, 887 N.E.2d 1158. We disagree. In Turner, the Court held
that
when a vehicle collides with a utility pole located off the improved portion of the
roadway but within the right-of-way, a public utility is not liable, as a matter of
law, if the utility has obtained any necessary permission to install the pole and the
pole does not interfere with the usual and ordinary course of travel.
Id. at ¶ 21. The utility pole in Turner was erected pursuant to a permit issued by the Ohio
Department of Transportation. Id. at ¶ 26. Therefore, the court concluded that the utility
company had obtained the necessary permission to install the pole. The court also determined
that the pole did not interfere with the usual and ordinary course of travel because it was “located
in the right-of-way but off the improved portion of the road and because a motorist properly
using the usual and ordinary course of travel would not come into contact with the utility pole.”
Id. at ¶ 26.
{¶17} Following Turner, in Bidar v. Cleveland Elec. Illum. Co., 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.
97490, 2012-Ohio-3686, we were confronted with facts that were, unfortunately, similar to the
facts in the instant case. In Bidar, the plaintiff was also driving on Savage Road when a deer
darted into the roadway. The plaintiff swerved to avoid hitting the deer and, instead, hit one of
the other utility poles that the Defendants had refused to relocate. The trial court determined
that under Turner, CEI was entitled to summary judgment. We reversed.
{¶18} We first explained that under Turner, “a jury determination of the reasonableness
of pole placement is unnecessary if (1) permission was granted, and (2) the pole does not
interfere with the usual and ordinary course of travel.” Id. at ¶ 16. We further determined that
“[t]hese are two separate requirements, but ‘placement that complies with the requirements of the
public authority that owns the right of way is indicative that the object is not an obstacle to the
traveling public.’” Id., quoting Turner at ¶ 20.
{¶19} Applying Turner to the facts in Bidar, we determined, inter alia, that no permission
had been granted by any public authority in the Bidar case. Id. at ¶ 17. We explained that
under R.C. 5543.09(A) and 5571.05, the project to widen Savage Road was subject to the
supervision of the county engineer.1 Id. at ¶ 25. The plaintiffs in Bidar had set forth evidence
demonstrating that the county engineer found the pole’s placement unacceptable and, therefore,
the county engineer had not granted permission for the pole’s placement. Id. We concluded
that the case was distinguishable from the facts in Turner and that the reasonableness of the pole
placement remained a jury question.
{¶20} Applying Bidar to the instant case leads us to the same conclusion. In this case,
the plaintiffs set forth the same documentary evidence that the Bidar plaintiffs set forth regarding
the county engineer’s concerns about the location of the utility poles on Savage Road.
Originally, CEI had planned to relocate or remove all of its poles on Savage Road. But after
removing some of the poles, CEI abandoned its original plan.
{¶21} On March 26, 2009, the Geauga County Engineer’s Office sent the Defendants a
letter concerning CEI’s revised plans stating that the township had kept Savage Road closed
since the project began to “protect not only the driving public, but also their and your tort
liability.” The letter went on to state that the revised plans did not “address the clear zone of the
1
CEI argues that these statutes do not require that CEI gain the county engineer’s approval for
pole placement. We already rejected that argument in Bidar. See Bidar at ¶ 17, 25.
roadway. In some cases the poles are in the ditch line and may not have enough cover, in other
areas, poles are in front of the ditch and only four to six feet off the edge of the pavement.”
According to the county engineer, the revised plans created a “liability the township will not
allow to exist on a public road,” as well as a “liability” the engineer thought appellants would not
want to absorb. The letter concluded as follows:
As Project Manager for the township road reconstruction project, I am requesting
your review of this project with the hope you will agree that it is in the best
interest of everyone that FESC completes the [original] plan in a timely fashion
and provide a safe, clear zone for the roadway.
{¶22} The Defendants were not responsive to the concerns raised in the letter. Less than
one year later, the Bidar accident occurred. The township wrote to the Defendants again,
informing them of the Bidar accident and stating:
It is apparent that safety dictates the relocation of these poles to an adequate
distance from the roadway and in line with the other poles on Savage Road.
We would like a resolution of this issue with CEI as soon as possible and before
there are any further accidents. We look forward to your prompt notification of
the schedule for relocating the poles.
The township did not receive a response for almost three months. The response stated that the
Defendants had decided not to relocate the utility poles except at the township’s sole cost and
expense. Twenty-five days later, the Link accident occurred.
{¶23} CEI argues that the county and the township implicitly approved of the decision to
leave the Pole in place by reopening Savage Road with the Pole in its original position. We
disagree. The evidence set forth above establishes that the county engineer consistently
communicated its disapproval to the Defendants regarding the Pole’s placement. The
Defendants refused to move the Pole notwithstanding this disapproval, and eventually the road
was reopened. After the road was reopened and the Bidar accident occurred, the Defendants
were again notified that the poles that had not been relocated were in an unacceptable location.
The message to the Defendants was consistent and clear: the Pole needed to be relocated. CEI’s
argument to the contrary fails.
{¶24} We conclude, as we did in Bidar, that CEI did not have the requisite permission
to keep the Pole in its original location after completion of the Savage Road widening project.
Accordingly, CEI cannot rely on Turner as a shield from liability. We overrule the first
assignment of error.
{¶25} In the Defendants’ second assignment of error, CEI argues that the trial court erred
in failing to grant summary judgment, direct a verdict, or grant JNOV as to the Links’ claim for
qualified nuisance on the grounds that the Links failed to identify any public right with which the
Pole interfered, which is a necessary element of the claim.
{¶26} CEI asserts that a qualified nuisance is a form of public nuisance and that a public
nuisance does not exist unless there was an interference with a public right common to all
members of the general public. According to CEI, the public does not have the right to drive off
the roadway to a place where it might strike a stationary object off the road.
{¶27} We disagree with CEI’s position. First, qualified nuisance is not a form of public
nuisance. A qualified nuisance can also exist as a private nuisance. See Hardin v. Naughton,
8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98645, 2013-Ohio-1549, ¶ 19 (“A public or private nuisance may be
further classified as either an ‘absolute’ nuisance, or nuisance per se, or a ‘qualified’ nuisance.”).
The linchpin in a qualified nuisance claim is whether “a lawful act [was] ‘so negligently or
carelessly done as to create a potential and unreasonable risk of harm, which in due course results
in injury to another.’” Id. at ¶ 20.
{¶28} Second, if we were to credit CEI’s position, then it would follow that no one could
ever recover for a qualified nuisance when one drives off the roadway and hits a pole. But our
case law makes clear that there are circumstances when one can recover for qualified nuisance
for driving off a roadway and hitting a pole. In Bidar we reversed the trial court’s grant of
summary judgment on the driver’s qualified nuisance claim, in part because “the Bidars
presented evidence that created a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the pole placement
interfered with the usual and ordinary course of travel.” Bidar, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 97490,
2012-Ohio-3686, at ¶ 25. In Bidar, as in the instant case, the pole that the driver hit was located
off of the road. By reversing summary judgment in Bidar, we necessarily determined that there
are instances where a plaintiff can recover for a qualified nuisance when he has driven off the
road and hit a pole. Because CEI’s argument boils down to the contention that one can never
recover under such circumstances, the assignment of error fails. The second assignment of error
is overruled.
{¶29} In the Defendants’ third assignment of error, CEI argues that the trial court erred in
failing to grant summary judgment, direct a verdict, or grant JNOV as to the Links’ claim for
qualified nuisance after the jury found that neither CEI nor FESC owed a duty of care to Douglas
Link. For the reasons that follow, we overrule the assignment of error.
{¶30} “In essence, an action for qualified nuisance is an action for the negligent
maintenance of a condition that creates an unreasonable risk of harm that results in injury.”
Hardin, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98645, 2013-Ohio-1549, at ¶ 20. A nuisance claim relies
upon a finding of negligence, and so “the allegations of nuisance and negligence merge.” Id.,citing Allen Freight Lines, Inc. v. Consol. Rail Corp., 64 Ohio St.3d 274, 276, 595 N.E.2d 855(1992). Therefore, to prevail on a claim for qualified nuisance, a plaintiff must demonstrate that
the defendants breached an applicable duty of care and that the breach proximately caused the
plaintiff’s injuries. See id. at ¶ 22.
{¶31} The jury found that CEI was liable for qualified nuisance. But in a special
interrogatory for the negligence claim, the jury determined that CEI did not owe a duty of care to
Douglas Link. Because the existence of an applicable duty is one of the elements of a qualified
nuisance claim, the jury’s verdicts on the two claims in this case are at odds with one another.
The Links point out that the special interrogatory was specific to the negligence claim and that
the general verdict was specific to the qualified nuisance claim. But because the allegations of
negligence and the allegations of qualified nuisance merge, we conclude that the special
interrogatory in the negligence claim is relevant to the general verdict in the qualified nuisance
claim. See id. at ¶ 20.
{¶32} However, CEI waived any error in the inconsistency by failing to object before the
jury was discharged. See Avondet v. Blankstein, 118 Ohio App.3d 357, 368, 692 N.E.2d 1063(8th Dist.1997). The law is clear that where the inconsistencies between a general verdict and
an interrogatory are apparent before the jury is discharged, the inconsistency is waived unless a
party raises an objection prior to the jury’s discharge. Id. at 368-369.
{¶33} Under Civ.R. 49(B), a trial court has three options if the jury’s answers to the
interrogatories are internally inconsistent or inconsistent with the verdict: (1) it may enter
judgment consistent with the answers, notwithstanding the verdict; (2) it may return the matter to
the jury for further consideration, or (3) it may order a new trial. Proctor v. Hankinson, 5th
Dist. Licking No. 08 CA 0115, 2009-Ohio-4248, ¶ 43. The Ohio Supreme Court has
determined that when an interrogatory response is inconsistent and irreconcilable with the
general verdict, “the clear, best choice [is] to send the jury back for further deliberations.”
Shaffer v. Maier, 68 Ohio St.3d 416, 421, 627 N.E.2d 986 (1994).
{¶34} If a party fails to bring the inconsistency to the court’s attention while the jury is
still empaneled, and later files a motion for a new trial, that party “has effectively curtailed the
court’s discretion by eliminating two of [the court’s] options under Civ.R. 49, including the
option the Supreme Court found to be the clear best choice.” Proctor at ¶ 46.
{¶35} The waiver rule serves two important goals. First, it “promote[s] the efficiency of
trials by permitting the reconciliation of inconsistencies without the need for a new presentation
of evidence to a different trier of fact.” Avondet, 118 Ohio App.3d at 368, quoting Greynolds v.
Kurman, 91 Ohio App.3d 389, 395, 632 N.E.2d 946 (1993). The rule also “prevent[s] jury
shopping by litigants who might wait to object to an inconsistency until after the original jury is
discharged.” Id.{¶36} In the instant case, although the inconsistency between the general verdict and
interrogatory were apparent prior to the jury’s discharge, CEI did not object to the inconsistency
until after the jury was discharged. Accordingly, CEI waived any error in the inconsistency.2
Accordingly, we overrule the third assignment of error.
{¶37} In the Defendants’ fifth assignment of error,3 FESC asserts that the trial court erred
in failing to direct a verdict or to grant JNOV on the Links’ claim of qualified nuisance against
2
Although CEI does not argue plain error, we note that the inconsistency in this case does not
amount to plain error. In Avondet, we concluded that the interrogatory was clearly inconsistent with
the general verdict, but concluded that the appellant had waived the inconsistency. Implicit in this
holding is the rule that such inconsistencies do not constitute plain error. It, likewise, follows that
any such inconsistency in the instant case does not rise to the level of plain error.
3
We address the assignments of error out of order for ease of discussion.
FESC when the evidence demonstrated that FESC neither owned nor controlled the Pole that was
struck by Douglas Link’s motorcycle. We disagree and so we overrule the assignment of error.
{¶38} FESC argues that in order for it to be held liable for qualified nuisance, the Links
were required to demonstrate that FESC had possession or control over the thing that allegedly
caused the nuisance: in this case, the Pole. The Links take issue with the legal standard
articulated by FESC, but they argue that, even if the legal standard articulated by FESC is
correct, the record demonstrates that FESC did possess or control the Pole.
{¶39} We agree with the Links. FESC is relying on the defense of “landlord out of
possession and control,” a common law defense applying in the landlord-tenant context. See
Ogle v. Kelly, 90 Ohio App.3d 392, 396, 629 N.E.2d 495 (1st Dist.1993). Under this rule, “if
the landlord does not retain the right to admit or exclude persons from the leased premises,
neither does the landlord reserve the possession or control necessary for imposition of liability
because of the condition of the premises.” Id. at 396, citing Hendrix v. Eighth & Walnut Corp.,
1 Ohio St.3d 205, 438 N.E.2d 1149 (1982). We fail to see how this rule applies to the facts of
the instant case. FESC and CEI are not landlord and tenant. Rather, FESC is a shared service
company that supports electric distribution operating companies like CEI.4
{¶40} In order to demonstrate that FESC was liable for qualified nuisance, the Links were
required to demonstrate that FESC breached an applicable duty of care and that the breach
proximately caused Douglas Link’s injuries. See Hardin, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98645,
2013-Ohio-1549, at ¶ 22. FESC argues for the first time in its reply brief that it did not owe a
4
Furthermore, assuming arguendo that the Links were required to demonstrate that FESC
possessed or controlled the Pole, the record provides ample evidence from which a reasonable jury
could reach that conclusion.
duty to the Links. We will not consider this argument. “Reply briefs are to be used only to
rebut arguments raised in an appellee’s brief, and an appellant may not use a reply brief to raise
new issues or assignments of error.” Capital One Bank (USA), N.A. v. Gordon, 8th Dist.
Cuyahoga No. 98953, 2013-Ohio-2095, ¶ 9. See also App.R. 16(C). For the aforementioned
reasons, we overrule the fifth assignment of error.
{¶41} In the Defendants’ fourth assignment of error, CEI argues that the trial court erred
in failing to grant summary judgment, direct a verdict, or grant JNOV as to Diane Link’s
derivative claim for loss of consortium on the grounds that there was no viable substantive claim
against CEI or FESC.
{¶42} The jury found that Diane Link was entitled to damages based on her loss of
consortium claim. A loss of consortium claim is a derivative cause of action dependent on the
viability of the primary cause of action. See Tourlakis v. Beverage Distrib., 8th Dist. Cuyahoga
No. 81222, 2002-Ohio-7252, ¶ 29. In this case, the primary cause of action is Douglas Link’s
qualified nuisance claim. Diane Link’s loss of consortium claim is derivative of the qualified
nuisance claim. CEI’s argument in its fourth assignment of error is based on the assumption
that we would sustain either its first, second, or third assignments of error, because those
assignments of error challenge the viability of the qualified nuisance claim. CEI asserts that if
the qualified nuisance claim fails, then the loss of consortium claim must also fail. Similarly, in
its fifth assignment of error based on the qualified nuisance claim, FESC asserts that if we
sustain the assignment of error, then FESC cannot be liable to Diane Link for loss of consortium.
{¶43} Because we have overruled the first, second, third, and fifth assignments of error,
Douglas Link’s primary cause of action for qualified nuisance survives as to both CEI and FESC.
Accordingly, Diane Link’s loss of consortium claim also survives. We, therefore, overrule the
fourth assignment of error.
{¶44} In their first cross-assignment of error, the Links argue that the trial court erred in
failing to grant the Links a new trial for the limited purpose of past pain and suffering. We
overrule the assignment of error.
{¶45} In one of the interrogatories, the jury found that Douglas Link should be
compensated in the following manner: $237,200 for past economic loss, $180,982 for future
economic loss, $0 for past non-economic loss, and $234,100 for future non-economic loss. The
Links point out that they requested approximately $100,000 in past economic damages related to
past income loss, and $620,718.84 for past medical expenses. The argument follows that a
portion of the jury’s award for past economic harm must have included Douglas Link’s past
medical expenses. According to the Links, because the jury awarded Douglas Link damages for
medical expenses, they were required under the law to award him damages for past
non-economic harm as well. We will not resolve this issue, because the Links have waived the
argument.
{¶46} In essence, the Links are arguing that the jury’s verdict was inconsistent. But the
Links failed to object to the jury’s damages award until after the jury had been dismissed. This
brings us back to our analysis in CEI’s third assignment of error. See supra at ¶ 16-24. What
is good for the goose is good for the gander. The Links had an opportunity to raise any readily
apparent inconsistency in the jury’s verdict while the jury was still empaneled. The Links made
no such objection and so waived any alleged inconsistency. See Avondet, 118 Ohio App.3d at
357, 692 N.E.2d 1063. Accordingly, we overrule the first cross-assignment of error.
{¶47} In their second cross-assignment of error, the Links argue that the trial court erred
in granting the Defendants’ motion for a directed verdict related to the Links’ claim for punitive
damages and for not permitting an instruction on punitive damages to go to the jury. We agree
that the trial court erred in granting the motion for a directed verdict on punitive damages and so
we sustain the assignment of error.
{¶48} Punitive damages can be awarded in a civil tort action only where the defendant
acted with “actual malice.” Wilburn v. Cleveland Elec. Illum. Co., 74 Ohio App.3d 401, 411,
599 N.E.2d 301 (8th Dist.1991), citing Preston v. Murty, 32 Ohio St.3d 334, 512 N.E.2d 1174(1987). The Ohio Supreme Court has explained:
Actual malice, necessary for an award of punitive damages, is (1) that state of
mind under which a person’s conduct is characterized by hatred, ill will or a spirit
of revenge, or (2) a conscious disregard for the rights and safety of other persons
that has a great probability of causing substantial harm.
Preston at syllabus. “[T]he latter category of actual malice includes ‘extremely reckless
behavior revealing a conscious disregard for a great and obvious harm.’” Cabe v. Lunich, 70
Ohio St.3d 598, 601, 640 N.E.2d 159 (1994), quoting Preston at 335. The purpose behind
awarding punitive damages is both to punish the offending party and to deter others from similar
behavior. Id. at 601-602.
{¶49} Before submitting the issue of punitive damages to a jury, the trial court is required
to
review the evidence to determine if reasonable minds can differ as to whether the
party was aware his or her act had a great probability of causing substantial harm.
Furthermore, the court must determine that sufficient evidence is presented
revealing that the party consciously disregarded the injured party’s rights or
safety.
Id. at 336.
{¶50} In the instant case, the trial court granted the Defendants’ motion for a directed
verdict on punitive damages because it determined that the evidence did not support a finding
that there was a great probability that the Defendants’ actions would harm Douglas Link. The
trial court based its conclusion on the fact that there were 2,200 vehicles driving on Savage Road
each day, but there had been only one prior accident on the road. According to the trial court,
while there may have been a possibility of substantial harm there was not a great probability of
substantial harm.
{¶51} The Links argue that the trial court erred because there was substantial evidence
in the record to support a finding that CEI and FESC consciously disregarded Douglas Link’s
safety. We agree. CEI and FESC had knowledge of a prior, similar collision that had recently
taken place at the same set of utility poles.
{¶52} The evidence presented at trial revealed that Savage Road was widened and
reopened in 2009, and that CEI and FESC were notified by the county engineer that the location
of the poles posed a safety risk. The Bidar accident occurred on May 23, 2010. CEI and
FESC were notified about the Bidar accident and chose not to relocate the poles.5 Douglas
Link’s accident occurred less than five months later on October 8, 2010. There was sufficient
evidence presented from which a jury could conclude that there was a great probability of harm.
Evidence was also presented that the speed limit on Savage Road was 45 miles per hour.
Therefore, sufficient evidence was presented from which a jury could conclude that the harm
caused could be substantial.
5
At oral argument, the Links’ attorney cited to testimony from two CEI employees who
testified that moving the eight poles would have cost a total approximately $20,000.
{¶53} We conclude that reasonable minds could differ as to whether CEI and FESC were
aware that their acts had a great probability of causing substantial harm. Accordingly, the trial
court erred in granting CEI and FESC’s motion for a directed verdict on the issue of punitive
damages.
{¶54} On remand, the trial court is directed to conduct a new trial on the issue of
punitive damages with CEI and FESC as the only defendants. The parties argue as to whether,
in a trial on the issue of punitive damages, the trial court should permit the introduction of
evidence concerning the Bidar accident. We conclude that the evidence concerning the Bidar
accident is admissible for purposes of such new trial on punitive damages.
{¶55} Although the trial court originally granted the Defendants’ motion in limine to
exclude evidence of the Bidar accident, this motion practice was relevant to a trial on the issue of
liability. The trial court could have logically determined under Evid.R. 403(A) that the
probative value of that evidence was substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice,
of confusion of the issues, or of misleading the jury. But such concerns are not present in a trial
on the issue of punitive damages. Evidence showing that CEI and FESC were aware of the
Bidar accident is probative of whether CEI and FESC consciously disregarded Douglas Link’s
safety. Further, there is no danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the
jury. Accordingly, the jury should be permitted to hear evidence relevant to the Bidar accident.
The Links’ second cross-assignment of error is sustained.
{¶56} In their third cross-assignment of error, the Links argue that the trial court erred in
failing to grant the Links’ motion for prejudgment interest. We overrule the assignment of
error.
{¶57} A ruling on a motion for prejudgment interest is reviewed for an abuse of
discretion. See Damario v. Shimmel, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga Nos. 90760 and 90875,
2008-Ohio-5582, ¶ 55, citing Scioto Mem. Hosp. Assn. v. Price Waterhouse, 74 Ohio St.3d 474,
479, 659 N.E.2d 1268 (1996).
{¶58} R.C. 1343.03 provides that prejudgment interest may be awarded in the following
instance:
If, upon motion of any party to a civil action that is based on tortious conduct, that
has not been settled by agreement of the parties, and in which the court has
rendered a judgment, decree, or order for the payment of money, the court
determines at a hearing held subsequent to the verdict or decision in the action
that the party required to pay the money failed to make a good faith effort to settle
the case and that the party to whom the money is to be paid did not fail to make a
good faith effort to settle the case[.]
{¶59} The rule “encourage[s] prompt settlement and * * * discourage[s] defendants from
frivolously opposing and prolonging suits for legitimate claims between injury and judgment.”
Damario at ¶ 52, citing Royal Elec. Constr. Corp. v. Ohio State Univ., 73 Ohio St.3d 110, 116,
652 N.E.2d 687 (1995).
{¶60} The party seeking prejudgment interest bears the burden of proof. Id. at ¶ 54. In
determining whether to award a motion for prejudgment interest, the trial court must consider
whether the nonmoving party: “(1) fully cooperated in discovery proceedings, (2) rationally
evaluated its risks and potential liability, (3) did not unnecessarily delay the proceedings, and (4)
made a good faith settlement offer or responded in good faith to an offer from the other party.”
Id., citing Kalain v. Smith, 25 Ohio St.3d 157, 159, 495 N.E.2d 572 (1986). “If a party has a
good faith, objectively reasonable belief that he has no liability, he need not make a monetary
settlement offer.” Kalain at 159.
{¶61} The Links assert that the Defendants’ offer to settle the case for $20,000 was not
made in good faith, and that the Defendants unnecessarily delayed the proceedings by filing
numerous summary judgment motions and motions for reconsideration based on a questionable
application of Turner, 118 Ohio St.3d 215, 2008-Ohio-2010, 887 N.E.2d 1158. The Defendants
argue that they had a good faith, objectively reasonable belief that Turner applied in this case and
so they were not required to make any monetary settlement offer. If Turner was applicable, it
would act as a complete bar to recovery.
{¶62} Although we ultimately determined that Turner does not apply in the instant case,
the Defendants’ argument to the contrary was not frivolous. Accordingly, the Defendants were
not required to make any monetary settlement offer. It follows that the Defendants’ motions for
summary judgment and for reconsideration based on Turner did not constitute unnecessary an
delay. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying the Links’ motion for prejudgment
interest, and so we overrule the third cross-assignment of error.
{¶63} In their fourth cross-assignment of error, the Links argue that the trial court erred in
failing to grant the Links’ a new trial on the issue of damages. We conclude that the trial court
did not abuse its discretion in denying the motion for a new trial and so we overrule the
assignment of error.
{¶64} We have previously explained:
The assessment of damages lies “so thoroughly within the province of the [trier of
fact] that a reviewing court is not at liberty to disturb the [trier of fact’s]
assessment” absent an affirmative finding of passion and prejudice or a finding
that the award is manifestly excessive or inadequate. Moskovitz v. Mt. Sinai Med.
Ctr., 69 Ohio St.3d 638, 655, 635 N.E.2d 331 (1994). A reviewing court should
not find that a verdict is inadequate unless “the inadequacy of the verdict is so
gross as to shock the sense of justice and fairness, or the amount of the verdict
cannot be reconciled with the undisputed evidence in the case, or it is apparent
that the jury failed to include all the items of damages comprising a plaintiff’s
claim.” Pearson v. Wasell, 131 Ohio App.3d 700, 709-710, 723 N.E.2d 609(1998), citing Iames v. Murphy, 106 Ohio App.3d 627, 666 N.E.2d 1147 (1995).
Decapua v. Rychlik, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 91189, 2009-Ohio-2029, ¶ 22. With respect to
damages, “the mere fact that testimony is uncontradicted, unimpeached, and unchallenged does
not require the trier of fact to accept the evidence if the trier of fact found that the testimony was
not credible.” Id. at
¶ 25.
{¶65} The Links first argue that the jury arrived at a quotient verdict. A quotient verdict
is not legally objectionable unless the jurors entered into a prior agreement to be bound by such a
figure. Michelson v. Kravitz, 103 Ohio App.3d 301, 305, 659 N.E.2d 359 (8th Dist.1995),
citing Lund v. Kline, 133 Ohio St. 317, 13 N.E.2d 575 (1938). The Links do not allege that
the jurors in this case entered into a prior agreement. Furthermore, the Links fail to identify
specific evidence in support of their allegation that the verdict in this case constitutes a quotient
verdict. Accordingly, this argument is without merit.
{¶66} The Links also argue that they are entitled to a new trial on damages because the
damages award was against the manifest weight of the evidence. In the instant case, the jury
awarded the Links $798,532. The Links argued at trial that they were entitled to past medical
expenses in the amount of $620,718.84; $186,998 in future medical expenses; $100,000 in lost
past income; $1,051,700 in future lost income; and $318,000 in loss of household services.
{¶67} Our review of the record does not lead us to conclude that the trial court abused its
discretion. The verdict in this case does not shock the sense of justice and fairness. Further,
the jury was free to disbelieve and discredit the calculations the Links’ economist testified to
with respect to future income loss and the value of loss of household services. For these
reasons, we overrule the Links’ fourth cross-assignment of error.
It is ordered that appellees/cross-appellants recover from appellants/cross-appellees costs
herein taxed.
The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate be sent to said court to carry this judgment into
execution.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to
Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
__________________________________________
KENNETH A. ROCCO, PRESIDING JUDGE
EILEEN A. GALLAGHER, J., and
MELODY J. STEWART, J., CONCUR