Stollar v. TRST, L.L.C. , 2020 Ohio 3041 ( 2020 )

[Cite as Stollar v. TRST, L.L.C., 2020-Ohio-3041.]
COURT OF APPEALS
FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DAVID STOLLAR and : JUDGES:
AMY STOLLAR : Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J.
: Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J.
Plaintiffs - Appellees : Hon. Earle E. Wise, J.
:
-vs- :
:
TRST, LLC, : Case No. 2019 CA 00051
:
Defendant - Appellant : OPINION
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Fairfield County
Court of Common Pleas, Case No.
19CV355
JUDGMENT: Affirmed
DATE OF JUDGMENT: May 19, 2020
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiffs-Appellees For Defendant-Appellant
KHADINE L. RITTER BRUCE M. BROYLES
ADAM J. SCHWENDEMAN The Law Offices of Bruce Broyles
CAROLINE A. EVERSMAN 2670 North Columbus Street, Suite L
THEISEN BROCK Lancaster, Ohio 43130
a legal professional association
424 Second Street
Marietta, Ohio 45750
Fairfield County, Case No. 2019 CA 00051 2
Baldwin, J.
{¶1} TRST, LLC appeals the decision of the Fairfield County Court of Common
Pleas denying its motion for relief from judgment. Appellees are David Stollar and Amy
Stollar.
STATEMENT OF FACTS AND THE CASE
{¶2} David and Amy Stollar filed a complaint against TRST, LLC, alleging it had
breached a promissory note and a security agreement related to TRST's purchase of real
property from the Stollars’. Stollars’ alleged that TRST has not made payments due on
the note and that it violated the security agreement by transferring the property to a third
party. The complaint was served on Rick Starr, sole member of TRST, LLC via certified
mail.
{¶3} Starr claims that he responded to the complaint on behalf of TRST, LLC.
He allegedly voided the sales agreement to the third party and replaced it with a lease
purchase agreement and sent the new documents to the Stollars’ counsel. Stollars’
counsel denies receipt and the documents described by Starr are not part of the record.
TRST, LLC did not respond to the complaint by serving an answer on Stollars’ counsel
and did not file any documents with the court.
{¶4} The Stollars filed a motion for default judgment and the court granted it on
July 25, 2019. On September 17, 2019, TRST filed a motion for relief from judgment
alleging that it had meritorious defenses, that the motion was timely filed and that its
failure to answer the complaint was due to excusable neglect. TRST described the
excusable neglect as Rick Starr's failure to understand TRST's obligation to complete an
Fairfield County, Case No. 2019 CA 00051 3
answer, serve a copy of it on Stollars’ counsel and file it with the trial court in compliance
with the Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure.
{¶5} The trial court found that TRST had alleged meritorious defenses in a timely
filed motion, but rejected its argument regarding excusable neglect. The trial court noted
that the documents TRST alleged comprised its response were not received by Stollars’
counsel or the court and without those documents, the issue of whether it would have
been an adequate response remains unresolved. Further, the trial court noted that TRST
did not present evidence of an "unexpected or unavoidable hindrance or accident, or
unusual or special circumstances" that prevented the filing of an answer. The trial court
concluded TRST had not shown that the failure to answer was the result of excusable
neglect and denied the motion.
{¶6} Appellant filed a timely appeal of the trial court's decision and submitted two
assignments of error:
{¶7} “I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING THE MOTION FOR RELIEF
FROM THE DEFAULT JUDGMENT WHEN APPELLANT TIMELY FILED A MOTION
DEMONSTRATING A MERITORIOUS DEFENSE.”
{¶8} “II. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING THE MOTION FOR RELIEF
FROM THE DEFAULT JUDGMENT WITHOUT CONDUCTING AN EVIDENTIARY
HEARING.”
STANDARD OF REVIEW
{¶9} The issue to be decided on an appeal from the denial of a Civ.R. 60 motion
for relief from judgment is whether the trial court abused its discretionary authority
provided by the rule. State, ex rel. Freeman, v. Kraft, 61 Ohio St.2d 284, 400 N.E.2d 1357Fairfield County, Case No. 2019 CA 00051 4
(1980) as quoted in Moore v. Emmanuel Family Training Ctr., Inc., 18 Ohio St.3d 64, 66,
479 N.E.2d 879 (1985). A motion for relief from judgment under Civ.R. 60(B) is addressed
to the sound discretion of the trial court, and that court's ruling will not be disturbed on
appeal absent a showing of abuse of discretion. Griffey v. Rajan, 33 Ohio St.3d 75, 77,
514 N.E.2d 1122 (1987). (Citations omitted).
{¶10} To obtain relief from judgment under Civ.R. 60(B), a 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,
and, where the grounds of relief are Civ.R. 60(B)(1), (2) or (3), not more
than one year after the judgment, order or proceeding was entered or taken.
GTE Automatic Elec., Inc. v. ARC Industries, Inc., 47 Ohio St.2d 146, 351 N.E.2d 113(1976), paragraph two of the syllabus.
The above three requirements of the GTE Automatic test “are
independent of one another and in the conjunctive.” Technical Servs. Co. v.
Trinitech Internatl., 9th Dist. No. 21648, 2004-Ohio-965, 2004 WL 384352,
¶ 10. Accordingly, “if the movant fails to satisfy any one of these
requirements, the trial court must deny the motion.” Id. See also Stojkoski
v. Main 271 South, LLC, 9th Dist. No. 25407, 2011-Ohio-2117, 2011 WL
1734062, ¶ 5 (“The three-part test set forth in GTE Automatic is a
conjunctive one, therefore, the moving party's failure to satisfy any of these
three requirements will result in a denial of the motion.”).
Fairfield County, Case No. 2019 CA 00051 5
Gamble Hartshorn, LLC v. Lee, 10th Dist. No. 17AP-35, 2018-Ohio-980, 108 N.E.3d 728,
¶ 11, appeal not allowed sub nom. Gamble Hartshorn, L.L.C. v. Lee, 153 Ohio St.3d 1441,
2018-Ohio-2834, 102 N.E.3d 499.
ANALYSIS
I.
{¶11} TRST's first assignment of error, that the trial court erred in denying the
motion for relief from the default judgment when appellant timely filed a motion
demonstrating a meritorious defense, suggests that by filing a timely motion containing a
meritorious defense it is entitled to a favorable judgment. TRST must also demonstrate
that it is entitled to relief under one of the categories described in Civ.R. 60(B) and it
recognizes that obligation within the text of its argument. TRST asserts that relief should
be granted because the failure to file an answer was the result of excusable neglect of its
sole member to understand legal procedure.
{¶12} TRST admits that the complaint was served upon it through its sole
member, Rick Starr. Star claims that, in response to the complaint, he terminated a sales
agreement and entered into a lease agreement and delivered documents reflecting those
changes to Stollars’ counsel. Affidavit of Rick Starr, p.2, attached to Motion for Relief from
Judgment, Sept. 29, 2019. Starr concludes his affidavit, stating: "Sending those
documents in response to the complaint to opposing counsel, I believed that I properly
responded to the complaint on behalf of TRST, LLC."
{¶13} First, Starr's affidavit suggests that his actions are perilously close to
unauthorized practice of law because he concedes he is acting on behalf of the limited
liability company, TRST. "The unauthorized practice of law consists of rendering legal
Fairfield County, Case No. 2019 CA 00051 6
services for another by any person not admitted to practice in Ohio. Gov.Bar R. VII(2)(A);
R.C. 4705.01. Thus, only a licensed attorney may file pleadings and other legal papers in
court or manage court actions on another's behalf. Moreover, a non-lawyer may not
practice law in defense of a corporate entity merely because he holds some official
corporate position. Disciplinary Counsel v. Givens, 106 Ohio St.3d 144, 2005-Ohio-4104,
832 N.E.2d 1200, ¶¶ 7-8. (Citations omitted). Revised Code 4705.01 prohibits any person
not admitted to the Ohio Bar by order of the Supreme Court of Ohio from commencing,
conducting, or defending any legal action or proceeding in which the person is not a party
concerned. Cleveland Bar Assn. v. Boyd, 112 Ohio St.3d 331, 2006-Ohio-6590, 859
N.E.2d 930. Had Starr filed any documents with the court on behalf of TRST, those
documents would be subject to being stricken from the record as the unauthorized
practice of law. Bank of New York v. Miller, 5th Dist. No. 09-CA-20, 185 Ohio App.3d 163,
2009-Ohio-6117, 923 N.E.2d 651, ¶ 13.
{¶14} Because Starr is not an attorney, he could not file a valid answer on behalf
of TRST, so we cannot accept TRST’s reliance on a non-attorney to represent it as a
basis for an argument that the failure to file an answer was excusable neglect. To do so
would tacitly condone the unauthorized practice of law and we are not willing to overlook
this defect.
{¶15} Even if we disregarded Starr’s standing as a non-attorney and consider the
merits of TRST's argument, our decision remains unchanged. TRST relied upon a non-
attorney spokesman who now claims that, because he is a layperson unfamiliar with the
intricacies of legal procedure, the judgment should be vacated. TRST's argument that
the actions of its sole member was excusable neglect is not persuasive and Starr’s plea
Fairfield County, Case No. 2019 CA 00051 7
for sympathy for an uneducated layman is belied by his past experience in litigation as
disclosed in appellee’s memorandum contra the motion for relief.
{¶16} The Ohio Supreme Court has defined “excusable neglect” in the negative
by stating that, “* * * the inaction of a defendant is not ‘excusable neglect’ if it can be
labeled as a ‘complete disregard for the judicial system.’ ” Kay v. Marc Glassman, Inc.
(1996), 76 Ohio St.3d 18, 20, 665 N.E.2d 1102, citing GTE, supra, at 153, 351 N.E.2d
113. Although excusable neglect is an “elusive concept,” Kay v. Marc Glassman, Inc.,
supra, “the failure to plead or respond after admittedly receiving a copy of a complaint is
generally not excusable neglect.” Dutton v. Potroos, 5th Dist. No. 2010CA00318, 2011-
Ohio-3646 quoting LaSalle Nat. Bank v. Mesas, 9th Dist. No. 02CA008028, 2002-Ohio-
6117, ¶ 13. It has been held that “[o]nly where the failure to respond is coupled with a
complete lack of notice of the original motion may excusable neglect lie.” Chuck Oeder
Inc. v. Bower, 9th Dist. No. 23785, 2007-Ohio-7032, at ¶ 8, quoting Zimmerman v.
Rourke, 9th Dist. No. 04CA008472, 2004-Ohio-6075, at ¶ 9. Excusable neglect has been
further defined as some action “not in consequence of the party's own carelessness,
inattention, or willful disregard of the process of the court, but in consequence of some
unexpected or unavoidable hindrance or accident.” Emery v. Smith, 5th Dist. Nos.
2005CA00051, 2005CA00098, 2005-Ohio-5526, ¶ 16 quoting Vanest v. Pillsbury Co.
(1997), 124 Ohio App.3d 525, 536 fn. 8, 706 N.E.2d 825.
{¶17} “In addition, ‘[w]hile unusual or special circumstances can justify neglect, if
a party could have controlled or guarded against the happening or event he later seeks
to excuse, the neglect is not excusable.’ ” Sandifer v. Yoder, 5th Dist. Tuscarawas No.
2015 AP 02 0008, 2015-Ohio-4270, ¶ 20, quoting National City Bank v. Kessler, 10th Dist.
Fairfield County, Case No. 2019 CA 00051 8
No. 03AP–312, 2003–Ohio–6938, ¶ 14, See Also Stevens v. Stevens, 5th Dist. Fairfield
No. 16-CA-17, 2016-Ohio-7925, ¶ 14 (“Excusable neglect is not present if the party
seeking relief could have prevented the circumstances from occurring.”)
{¶18} TRST relies upon the inexperience and lack of knowledge of its
representative as a basis for its argument that the failure to file an answer was excusable
neglect. TRST is implicitly arguing that it was acting pro se through its sole member, Rick
Starr. Because we have found that any action by Starr on behalf of TRST could be
considered unauthorized practice of law and subject to being stricken sua sponte, this
argument is unconvincing, but even if we could accept the assertion TRST was
proceeding pro se, it would lack merit.
{¶19} Civil Rule 60(B) is not intended to afford pro se litigants relief from mistakes
from the lack of legal counsel or from a pro se litigant's unfamiliarity with the legal system,
confusion, or misunderstanding of the law. Sydnor v. Qualls, 4th Dist. Scioto No.
15CA3701, 2016-Ohio-8410; Huntington Nat'l Bank v. D'Egidio, 9th Dist. Lorain No.
05CA008647, 2005-Ohio-5497; Lebanon Auto Parts v. Dracakis, 12th Dist. Warren No.
CA99-09-110, 2000 WL 433240 (April 17, 2000); Gamble Hartshorn LLC v. Lee, 10th
Dist. Franklin No. 17AP-35, 2018-Ohio-980; Dayton Power and Light v. Holdren, 4th Dist.
Highland No. 07CA21, 2008-Ohio-5121. Additionally, this Court has previously held that
an appellant's legal inexperience does not equate to excusable neglect and the failure to
seek legal advice after receiving a complaint is not excusable neglect under Civil Rule
60(B)(1). Long v. Ferrell, 5th Dist. Stark No. 2017CA00066, 2018-Ohio-15.
Acting pro se * * * is neither excusable neglect nor any other reason
justifying relief from judgment. A party has a right to represent himself, but
Fairfield County, Case No. 2019 CA 00051 9
if he does so, he is subject to the same rules and procedures as litigants
with counsel. If the fact that a party chose not to be represented by counsel
and was unsuccessful in pursuing his rights entitled that party to relief from
judgment, every judgment adverse to a pro se litigant could be vacated to
permit a second attempt, this time with counsel. Such a circumstance would
be unjust to the adverse party.
N. Orange Homeowners Assn., Inc. v. Suarez, 5th Dist. Delaware No. 2019 CAE 02 0015,
2019-Ohio-4416, ¶45 quoting Ragan v. Akron Police Dept., 9th Dist. Summit No. 16200,
1994 WL 18641 (Jan. 19, 1994).
{¶20} TRST and its sole member deliberately failed to seek legal advice after
receiving the complaint and instead assumed that Starr's actions were sufficient, without
justification. TRST could have controlled or guarded against the delinquent filing by
consulting counsel but chose to rely on a non-attorney. The failure to file the answer was
the result of TRST’s willful disregard of the process of the court, and unrelated to any
unexpected or unavoidable hindrance or accident. These actions are not excusable
neglect but instead a deliberate disregard for the judicial system.
{¶21} Appellant's first assignment of error is overruled.
II.
{¶22} In its second assignment of error, TRST contends the trial court erred in
denying the motion for relief from the default judgment without conducting an evidentiary
hearing. TRST argues that because it "timely filed a motion for relief from judgment***
[and] that motion set forth evidentiary quality evidence establishing the existence of a
meritorious defense" the trial court was obligated to conduct a hearing before rendering
Fairfield County, Case No. 2019 CA 00051 10
a decision. This argument overlooks the need to establish that TRST was entitled to relief
to be entitled to a hearing under Civ.R. 60(B) and therefor has no merit.
{¶23} The Supreme Court of Ohio addressed the standard for obtaining a hearing
in Kay v. Marc Glassman, Inc., 76 Ohio St.3d 18, 1996-Ohio-430, 665 N.E.2d 1102(1996):
Appellant initially contends that the trial court erred in denying its
motion for relief from judgment without first conducting an evidentiary
hearing. This issue was discussed in Coulson v. Coulson (1983), 5 Ohio
St.3d 12, 16, 5 OBR 73, 76–77, 448 N.E.2d 809, 812. In Coulson, this court
adopted the following rule set forth in Adomeit v. Baltimore (1974), 39 Ohio
App.2d 97, 105, 68 O.O.2d 251, 255, 316 N.E.2d 469, 476: “If the movant
files a motion for relief from judgment and it contains allegations of operative
facts which would warrant relief under Civil Rule 60(B), the trial court should
grant a hearing to take evidence and verify these facts before it rules on the
motion.
{¶24} To warrant relief under Civ R. 60(B), TRST must file a timely motion that
alleges a meritorious defense and that supports relief from judgment under Civ.R 60(B).
TRST has filed a timely motion and alleged a meritorious defense, but the trial court held,
and we agree, that the facts alleged in the affidavit and argued in the pleadings do not
support a conclusion that the failure to file a timely answer was excusable neglect
warranting relief from judgment. A hearing therefor, was unnecessary.
{¶25} TRST relies upon our decision in Cogswell v. Cardio Clinic of Stark Cty.,
Inc., 5th Dist. Stark No. CA-8553, 1991 WL 242070, but that case focused upon the grant
Fairfield County, Case No. 2019 CA 00051 11
of the motion for relief from judgment in the context of a lack of evidence presented at the
hearing. Even in that case we noted that due to lack of evidence in the motion "had the
court denied the request for a hearing, it would not have acted contrary to law; nor would
it have abused discretion." Id at 2.
{¶26} TRST also cites Stevens v. Stevens, 5th Dist. Fairfield No. 16-CA-17, 2016-
Ohio-7925, in support of its argument that a hearing was necessary. In that matter we
did address the requirement of a hearing to address the issue of a meritorious defense.
However, the trial court in Stevens found, without a hearing, that there was no excusable
neglect under Civ. R. 60(B) and we found that the trial court did not abuse its discretion.
{¶27} Finally, TRST refers to our decision in Capital One Bank (USA), N.A. v.
King, 5th Dist. Stark No. 2014CA00232, 2015-Ohio-3600, where we found that the trial
court abused its discretion when it found King presented a meritorious defense and
granted the motion for relief from judgment without the support of evidentiary quality
affidavits or an evidentiary hearing. We relied upon the holding in Kay, supra, to find an
abuse of discretion due to the lack of proper evidence to support a meritorious defense
and we separately found that it was "abuse of discretion for the trial court to determine
the failure of the debt consolidation company to pay the debt was an extraordinary
circumstance pursuant to Civ.R.60(B)(5) relieve King of the default judgment." Id. ¶ 23.
{¶28} In this case we find that the information presented in the motion did not
warrant relief under Civ.R. 60(B) because it cited facts that did not show excusable
neglect and, therefore, we hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by not
conducting a hearing.
{¶29} The second assignment of error is overruled.
Fairfield County, Case No. 2019 CA 00051 12
{¶30} The decision of the Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.
By: Baldwin, J.
Gwin, P.J. and
Wise, Earle, J. concur.