Ingle-Barr, Inc. v. E. Local School Dist. Bd. , 2011 Ohio 584 ( 2011 )

[Cite as Ingle-Barr, Inc. v. E. Local School Dist. Bd., 2011-Ohio-584.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
PIKE COUNTY
INGLE-BARR, INC.,
:
Plaintiff-Appellant, Case No. 10CA808
: 10CA809
vs.
:
EASTERN LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT DECISION AND JUDGMENT ENTRY
BOARD, :
Defendant-Appellee. :
_________________________________________________________________
APPEARANCES:
COUNSEL FOR APPELLANT: Timothy G. Crowley., 150 East Wilson Bridge Road, Ste.
230, Worthington, Ohio 43085
Michael J. Fusco, Fusco, Mackey, Mathews
& Gill, L.L.P., 655 Cooper Road,
Westerville, Ohio 43081
COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE: Eric B. Travers, Kegler, Brown, Hill & Ritter, L.P.A., 65
East State Street, Ste. 1800, Columbus, Ohio 43215-4294
_________________________________________________________________
CIVIL APPEAL FROM COMMON PLEAS COURT
DATE JOURNALZIED: 1-27-11
ABELE, J.
{¶ 1} This is an appeal from two Pike County Common Pleas Court summary
judgments in favor of the Eastern Local School District Board (Eastern), defendant below and
appellee herein, on claims brought against it by Ingle-Barr, Inc. (Ingle-Barr), plaintiff below and
appellant herein.
PIKE, 10CA808 & 10CA809 2
{¶ 2} Appellant assigns the following error for review:
“THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN GRANTING
DEFENDANT-APPELLEE EASTERN LOCAL SCHOOL
DISTRICT BOARD’S MOTION TO DISMISS, TREATED AS A
MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT, AND DISMISSING
WITH PREJUDICE PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT INGLE-BARR,
INC.’S AMENDED COMPLAINT, AND, IN PARTICULAR, IN
DETERMINING THAT DEFENDANT-APPELLEE ‘IS NOT A
PARTY’ TO THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS THAT ARE
THE SUBJECT OF PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT’S AMENDED
COMPLAINT IN THE TWO (2) CONSOLIDATED ACTIONS.”
{¶ 3} In 2002, Ingle-Barr entered a “Contractor Contract” with the State of Ohio, by and
through Eastern, to build “new athletic fields” for the school district. The next year it entered
into another “Contractor Contract” with the State of Ohio, also by and through Eastern, to make
improvements at Eastern High School.
{¶ 4} On January 9, 2006, Ingle-Barr commenced the instant actions against Eastern and
alleged breach of contract and unjust enrichment on both contracts. Eastern filed motions to
dismiss in both cases and argued, inter alia, that it was not a party to the contract and that
appellant must seek recompense from the State of Ohio in the Ohio Court of Claims.
{¶ 5} The trial court converted both motions to summary judgment and on February 22,
2010, issued its decision in favor of appellees. In particular, the court ruled that because both
contracts are between Ingle-Barr and the State of Ohio, and that Eastern is not a party, Eastern
could not be held liable for breach of contract. Thus, the court dismissed Ingle-Barr’s
complaints. Appellant appealed both dismissals and consolidated the two appeals. The matter
PIKE, 10CA808 & 10CA809 3
is now before us for review.1
{¶ 6} In its sole assignment of error, Ingle-Barr asserts that Eastern did not adequately
demonstrate that it was entitled to summary judgment. Our analysis begins with the premise
that appellate courts review summary judgments de novo. Sutton Funding, L.L.C. v. Herres, 188
Ohio App.3d 686, 936 N.E.2d 574, 2010-Ohio-3645, at ¶59; Broadnax v. Greene Credit Service
(1997), 118 Ohio App.3d 881, 887, 694 N.E.2d 167; Coventry Twp. v. Ecker (1995), 101 Ohio
App .3d 38, 41, 654 N.E.2d 1327. In other words, we afford no deference whatsoever to the trial
court decision, Sampson v. Cuyahoga Metro. Hous. Auth., 188 Ohio App.3d 250, 935 N.E.2d
98, 2010-Ohio-3415, at ¶19; Kalan v. Fox, 187 Ohio App.3d 687, 933 N.E.2d 337,
2010-Ohio-2951, at ¶13, and we will conduct an independent review to determine if summary
judgment is appropriate. Woods v. Dutta (1997), 119 Ohio App.3d 228, 233-234, 695 N.E.2d
18; Phillips v. Rayburn (1996), 113 Ohio App.3d 374, 377, 680 N.E.2d 1279.
{¶ 7} Under Civ. R. 56(C), summary judgment is appropriate when a movant shows that
(1) no genuine issues of material fact exist, (2) he is entitled to judgment as a matter of law and
(3) after the evidence is construed most strongly in favor of the non-movant, reasonable minds
can come to one conclusion and that conclusion is adverse to the non-moving party. See
Kaminski v. Metal & Wire Prods. Co., 125 Ohio St.3d 250, 927 N.E.2d 1066, 2010-Ohio-1027 at
¶103; Zivich v. Mentor Soccer Club, Inc. (1998), 82 Ohio St.3d 367, 369-370, 696 N.E.2d 201.
The moving party bears the initial burden to show that no genuine issues of material facts exist
and that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Dresher v. Burt (1996), 75 Ohio St.3d 280,
1
Our review of the exhibits and the parties' arguments indicate that Ingle-Barr has also filed suit against the State of
Ohio in the Court of Claims. Apparently, that case has been stayed pending the outcome of this litigation.
PIKE, 10CA808 & 10CA809 4
293, 662 N.E.2d 264; Mitseff v. Wheeler (1988), 38 Ohio St.3d 112, 115, 526 N.E.2d 798. If
that burden is met, the onus shifts to the non-moving party to provide rebuttal evidentiary
materials. See Trout v. Parker (1991), 72 Ohio App.3d 720, 723, 595 N.E.2d 1015; Campco
Distributors, Inc. v.. Fries (1987), 42 Ohio App.3d 200, 201, 537 N.E.2d 661.
{¶ 8} To begin, the face of the two contracts in the case sub judice specify that the
agreements are between Ingle-Barr “and the State of Ohio.” Although the word “agent” appears
nowhere in the opening paragraph of either contract, the clear language of those paragraphs limit
Eastern’s role to simply binding the State to those contracts with Ingle-Barr. Moreover, Eastern
filed an affidavit by Stephanie Knipp, President of the Eastern Local District School Board, who
attested that Eastern is not a party to the contract(s) and that she signed them “for the State of
Ohio.” Charles J. Shreve, Superintendent for Eastern, likewise attested that Eastern did not
enter “into the contract with Ingle-Barr.” This evidence is sufficient to carry Eastern’s initial
burden to show that they are not a party to the contracts. Consequently, Ingle-Barr had the
burden of rebuttal. We, however, find nothing in the record to show that Ingle-Barr carried that
burden. The affidavits submitted with Ingle-Barr’s memorandum contra do not challenge the
wording of the two contracts or the affiants attestations that the contracts are between Ingle-Barr
and the State of Ohio.
{¶ 9} It is axiomatic that those not a party to a contract cannot be held liable for a
breach of contract. See, generally, Cremeans v. Robbins (Jun. 12, 2000), Ross App. No.
99CA2520 (someone not a party to a contract cannot be held liable for rescission). In the absence
of evidence to show that Eastern is a party to the contracts, Ingle-Barr has no cause of action
against it and the trial court correctly entered summary judgment in Eastern's favor.
PIKE, 10CA808 & 10CA809 5
{¶ 10} Interestingly, Ingle-Barr’s brief does not appear to actually contest Eastern’s
argument it is not a party to the contracts. Instead, Ingle-Barr raises a number of other
arguments. First, Ingle-Barr criticizes the trial court for not “mention[ing] the existence of the
“Ohio School Facilities Commission,” but fails to show how the commission's existence impacts
this controversy. Second, Ingle-Barr faults the trial court for not addressing the fact that Eastern
is “the legal and beneficial owner” of properties on which it was contracted to make
improvements. While that may indeed be the case, we fail to see how that ownership alters the
fact that Eastern is not a party to the contract.
{¶ 11} Ingle-Barr further challenges the trial court’s decision for not taking into account
several Ohio Court of Claims decisions. First, the trial court is not bound by such decisions.
See, generally, Tschantz v. Ferguson (1989), 49 Ohio App.3d 9, 550 N.E.2d 544; Freeman v.
Holzer Medical Ctr. (Mar. 27, 1992), Gallia App. No. 91 CA 8. Second, even if Court of
Claims decisions are binding, Ingle-Barr does not explain how they contradict the trial court's
decision. Ingle-Barr also points out that Eastern’s name appears many times in various other
documents that relate to the construction. While that may be true, we fail to see how this rebuts
either the clear language that specifies that the contracts are between Ingle-Barr and the State of
Ohio, or the Civ.R. 56(C) evidentiary materials that show that Eastern is not a party to the
contracts.
{¶ 12} For these reasons, we hereby overrule Ingle-Barr’s assignment of error and affirm
the trial court's judgment.
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
JUDGMENT ENTRY
PIKE, 10CA808 & 10CA809 6
It is ordered that the judgment be affirmed and that appellee recover of appellant costs
herein taxed.
The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the Pike County
Common Pleas Court to carry this judgment into execution.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute that mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the
Rules of Appellate Procedure.
Kline, J. & McFarland, J.: Concur in Judgment & Opinion
For the Court
BY:
Peter B. Abele, Judge
NOTICE TO COUNSEL
Pursuant to Local Rule No. 14, this document constitutes a final judgment entry and the
time period for further appeal commences from the date of filing with the clerk.