Nihiser v. Hocking Cty. Bd. of Commrs. , 2013 Ohio 3849 ( 2013 )

[Cite as Nihiser v. Hocking Cty. Bd. of Commrs., 2013-Ohio-3849.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
HOCKING COUNTY
MICHAEL D. NIHISER, et al., :
:
Plaintiffs-Appellants, : Case No. 12CA18
:
vs. :
:
HOCKING COUNTY BOARD OF : DECISION AND JUDGMENT
COMMISSIONERS, et al. : ENTRY
:
Defendants-Appellees. : Released: 08/30/13
_____________________________________________________________
APPEARANCES:
L. Jackson Henniger, Logan, Ohio, for Appellants.
Randall L. Lambert, Ironton, Ohio, for Appellees.
_____________________________________________________________
McFarland, P.J.
{¶1} Michael Nihiser and Vicki Devol appeal the trial court’s
summary judgment decision determining the Hocking County Board of
Commissioners and William Shaw, County Engineer, are entitled to
sovereign immunity under R.C. Chapter 2744 with regard to the function of
designating street numbers pursuant to R.C. 303.021. On appeal, Appellants
contend that 1) the trial court erred as a matter of law when it granted
Appellees’ motion for summary judgment because a genuine issue of
material fact existed; 2) the trial court erred as a matter of law when it
Hocking App. No. 12CA18 2
granted Appellees’ motion for summary judgment because a genuine issue
of material fact existed as to whether the delegation of the authority was
proper; 3) the trial court erred as a matter of law when it granted Appellees’
motion for summary judgment by holding that the Appellees were covered
by governmental immunity; and 4) the trial court erred as a matter of law
when it granted Appellees’ motion for summary judgment because the
Appellees are not entitled to judgment as a matter of law.
{¶2} In light of our determination that the function of designating
street numbers is a governmental function for which immunity is granted,
that the function was properly delegated to Shaw, that no genuine issues of
material fact exist, and that Appellees were entitled to judgment as a matter
of law, we overrule Appellants’ assignments of error. Accordingly, we
affirm the decision of the trial court granting summary judgment in favor of
Appellees.
FACTS
{¶3} Appellants, Michael Nihiser and Vicki Devol, are property
owners in Hocking County. On December 30, 2010, Appellants filed a
complaint naming Appellees Hocking County Board of Commissioners
(hereinafter “Board”) and William Shaw (hereinafter “Shaw”), Hocking
County Engineer, as defendants. The complaint alleged that Board, which
Hocking App. No. 12CA18 3
possessed authority to designate street names and building numbers pursuant
to R.C. 303.021, had improperly delegated the authority to perform that
function to Shaw, as County Engineer. Appellant claimed that Shaw and the
engineer’s office, in turn, wrongfully failed to number or timely number
certain lots owned by Appellants and also wrongfully withheld numbers
based upon an additional requirement that a driveway be located upon the
property first, a requirement which is not contained in R.C. 303.021.
Appellants also alleged that Shaw bore a personal animus toward them as a
result of Appellants’ opposition to a licensing tax proposed by Shaw. None
of the county commissioners or Shaw were named as defendants in their
individual capacities.
{¶4} Appellants’ complaint alleged damages in the amount of
$250,000.00. A review of the record indicates Appellants believed that the
value of their property was decreased as a result of having to cut trees down
in order to place the driveway in a location that would be approved by Shaw.
Appellants explained that they were selling log cabin lots where trees were
valuable.
{¶5} Appellees filed an answer to the complaint on January 31, 2011,
and subsequently filed a motion for summary judgment, on June 20, 2012.
Appellants filed a memorandum contra on July 11, 2012. In a decision dated
Hocking App. No. 12CA18 4
July 27, 2012, the trial court granted Appellees’ motion for summary
judgment. In reaching its decision, the trial court found that the designation
of street numbers was a governmental function for which Appellees were
immune from liability under R.C. Chapter 2744, and that none of the
exceptions to immunity contained in the statute were applicable. The trial
court also found that Board had authority to delegate the performance of this
function to Shaw and that the policy of requiring a driveway was a valid
exercise of the engineer’s statutory and delegated duty.
{¶6} It is from this decision that Appellants now bring their timely
appeal, assigning the following errors for our review.
ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
“I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AS A MATTER OF LAW WHEN IT
GRANTED PLAINTIFF’S [SIC] MOTION FOR SUMMARY
JUDGMENT BECAUSE A GENUINE ISSUE OF MATERIAL
FACT EXISTED.
II. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AS A MATTER OF LAW WHEN IT
GRANTED PLAINTIFF’S [SIC] MOTION FOR SUMMARY
JUDGMENT BECAUSE A GENUINE ISSUE OF MATERIAL
FACT EXISTED AS TO WHETHER THE DELEGATION OF THE
AUTHORITY WAS PROPER.
III. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AS A MATTER OF LAW WHEN IT
GRANTED PLAINTIFF’S [SIC] MOTION FOR SUMMARY
JUDGMENT BY HOLDING THAT THE DEFENDANTS WERE
COVERED BY GOVERNMENTAL IMMUNITY.
IV. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AS A MATTER OF LAW WHEN IT
GRANTED PLAINTIFF’S [SIC] MOTION FOR SUMMARY
Hocking App. No. 12CA18 5
JUDGMENT BECAUSE THE DEFENDANTS ARE NOT
ENTITLED TO JUDGMENT AS A MATTER OF LAW.”
LEGAL ANALYSIS
{¶7} Although Appellants raise four separate assignments of error,
their brief contains only one legal argument. App.R. 12(A)(2) authorizes us
to disregard any assignment of error that a party fails to argue separately.
However, in the interests of justice, and because each assignment of error
ultimately challenges the trial court’s grant of summary judgment, we will
address the arguments raised.
SUMMARY JUDGMENT STANDARD
{¶8} Appellate courts review trial court summary judgment decisions
de novo. Grafton v. Ohio Edison Co., 77 Ohio St.3d 102, 105, 671 N.E.2d
241 (1996). Accordingly, appellate courts must independently review the
record to determine if summary judgment is appropriate. In other words,
appellate courts need not defer to trial court summary judgment decisions.
See Brown v. Scioto Cty. Bd. of Commrs., 87 Ohio App.3d 704, 711, 622
N.E.2d 1153 (1993); Morehead v. Conley, 75 Ohio App.3d 409, 411-412,
599 N.E.2d 786 (1991). Thus, to determine whether a trial court properly
awarded summary judgment, an appellate court must review the Civ.R. 56
summary judgment standard as well as the applicable law. Civ.R. 56(C)
provides: “Summary judgment shall be rendered forthwith if the pleadings,
Hocking App. No. 12CA18 6
depositions, answers to interrogatories, written admissions, affidavits,
transcripts of evidence in the pending case, and written stipulations of fact, if
any, timely filed in the action, show that there is no genuine issue as to any
material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of
law. No evidence or stipulation may be considered except as stated in this
rule. A summary judgment shall not be rendered unless it appears from the
evidence or stipulation, and only from the evidence or stipulation, that
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, that party being entitled to have the evidence or stipulation construed
most strongly in the party's favor.”
{¶9} Accordingly, trial courts may not grant summary judgment
unless the evidence demonstrates that (1) no genuine issue as to any material
fact remains to be litigated, (2) the moving party is entitled to judgment as a
matter of law, and (3) it appears from the evidence that reasonable minds
can come to but one conclusion, and after viewing the evidence most
strongly in favor of the nonmoving party, that conclusion is adverse to the
party against whom the motion for summary judgment is made. See, e.g.,
Vahila v. Hall, 77 Ohio St.3d 421, 429-430, 674 N.E.2d 1164 (1997).
Hocking App. No. 12CA18 7
{¶10} Appellants contend that the trial court erred in granting
summary judgment to Appellees based upon the doctrine of sovereign
immunity. Appellants argue that Board improperly delegated the authority
to designate street numbers to Shaw, the County Engineer, and that Shaw
impermissibly required a driveway be established prior to the issuance of a
street number. Appellants further claim that genuine issues of material fact
exist which should have precluded summary judgment.
R.C. 2744.02
{¶11} “The Political Subdivision Tort Liability Act, as codified in
R.C. Chapter 2744, sets forth a three-tiered analysis for determining whether
a political subdivision is immune from liability.” Cater v. Cleveland, 83
Ohio St.3d 24, 28, 697 N.E.2d 610 (1998); see also Elston v. Howland Local
Schools, 113 Ohio St.3d 314, 2007-Ohio-2070, 865 N.E.2d 845, ¶ 10. The
first tier involves determining whether the political subdivision is generally
immune from liability under R.C. 2744.02(A)(1). Elston at ¶ 10; see also
Hortman v. Miamisburg, 110 Ohio St.3d 194, 2006-Ohio-4251, 852 N.E.2d
716, ¶ 12.
{¶12} Once immunity is generally established, “the second tier of
analysis is whether any of the five exceptions to immunity in subsection (B)
apply.” Id. at ¶ 12. Only when one of the exceptions listed in R.C.
Hocking App. No. 12CA18 8
2744.02(B) applies do courts move to the third tier. Terry v. Ottawa Cty. Bd.
of Mental Retardation & Dev. Disabilities, 151 Ohio App.3d 234, 2002-
Ohio-7299, 783 N.E.2d 959, ¶ 13; Dolan v. Glouster, 173 Ohio App.3d 617,
2007-Ohio-6275, 879 N.E.2d 838, ¶ 17. See also Gotherman & Babbit, Ohio
Municipal Law (2d Ed.1992), Section 32.4 (“The defenses and immunities
provided to a political subdivision by R.C. 2744.03(A) only become relevant
if one of the five exceptions to immunity in R.C. 2744.02(B) applies to
render the subdivision vulnerable to liability”). If an exception to the general
immunity provision does apply, “under the third tier of analysis, immunity
can be reinstated if the political subdivision can successfully argue that any
of the defenses contained in R.C. 2744.03 applies.” Hortman at ¶ 12.
{¶13} Here, the general grant of immunity under R.C. 2744.02(A)(1)
applies to the Board, as the county is a political subdivision. See R.C.
2744.01(F). Additionally, Shaw, the Hocking County Engineer, is an
employee of Board pursuant to R.C. 2744.01(B), which provides that the
definition of employee includes any elected or appointed official of a
political subdivision. Under R.C. 2744.02(A)(1), the general rule is as
follows:
“[A] political subdivision is not liable in damages in a civil
action for injury, death, or loss to person or property allegedly
Hocking App. No. 12CA18 9
caused by any act or omission of the political subdivision or an
employee of the political subdivision in connection with a
governmental or proprietary function.”
{¶14} In this case, the parties disagree over whether designating street
numbers is a governmental or a proprietary function. R.C. 303.021 governs
the designation of street names and assignment of numbers to buildings, and
provides as follows:
“The board of county commissioners may designate street
names and assign numbers to buildings along the streets in
unincorporated areas. The owners of such buildings shall
number or renumber such buildings in accordance with the
numbers assigned by the county commissioners.”
Clearly, boards of county commissioners are given the authority to perform
this function. We must determine, however, whether the function is
governmental or proprietary.
{¶15} R.C. 2744.01(G) defines proprietary functions and provides as
follows in section (1)(a)-(b):
“(G)(1) ‘Proprietary function’ means a function of a political
subdivision that is specified in division (G)(2) of this section or
that satisfies both of the following:
Hocking App. No. 12CA18 10
(a) The function is not one described in division (C)(1)(a) or (b)
of this section and is not one specified in division (C)(2) of this
section;
(b) The function is one that promotes or preserves the public
peace, health, safety, or welfare and that involves activities that
are customarily engaged in by nongovernmental persons.”
(Emphasis added).
Designating street numbers is not one of the functions listed in R.C.
2744.01(G)(2)(a)-(e) and thus, is not expressly defined as a proprietary
function. Further, we conclude designating street numbers does not meet the
definition of proprietary function under R.C. 2744.01(G)(1)(a)-(b), which in
addition to requiring that the function promote or preserve public peace,
health, safety or welfare, also requires that the activities be customarily
engaged in by nongovernmental persons. It cannot be said that designating
street numbers is customarily engaged in by nongovernmental persons.
Thus, by process of elimination, we conclude that the function of
designating street numbers is not proprietary in nature.
{¶16} R.C. 2744.01(C) defines governmental functions and provides
as follows in section (C)(1)(a)-(b):
Hocking App. No. 12CA18 11
“(C)(1) ‘Governmental function’ means a function of a political
subdivision that is specified in division (C)(2) of this section or
that satisfies any of the following:
(a) A function that is imposed upon the state as an obligation of
sovereignty and that is performed by a political subdivision
voluntarily or pursuant to legislative requirement;
(b) A function that is for the common good of all citizens of the
state;
(c) A function that promotes or preserves the public peace,
health, safety, or welfare; that involves activities that are not
engaged in or not customarily engaged in by nongovernmental
persons; and that is not specified in division (G)(2) of this
section as a proprietary function.”
As already discussed, designating street numbers is not specified in R.C.
2744.01(G)(2) as a proprietary function. Further, although both Appellees
and the trial court suggest that the function is governmental pursuant to R.C.
2744.01(C)(2)(e)1 and (i)2, we are not persuaded. In fact, the designation of
street addresses is not explicitly defined as either a proprietary or
1
R.C. 2744.01(C)(2)(e) defines as governmental “[t]he regulation of the use of, and the maintenance and
repair of, roads, highways, streets, avenues, alleys, sidewalks, bridges, aqueducts, viaducts, and public
grounds[.]”
2
R.C. 2744.01(C)(2)(i) defines as governmental “[t]he enforcement or nonperformance of any law[.]”
Hocking App. No. 12CA18 12
governmental function. Further, this Court has been unable to locate any
guidance whatsoever, related to the issue of whether the function of
designating street numbers is governmental or proprietary in nature.
Nonetheless, we conclude that the function can be classified as
governmental under R.C. 2744.01(C)(1)(a)-(b).
{¶17} First, we find the function of designating street numbers and the
development of an orderly system and process to do so serves the common
good of all citizens of the state in accordance with R.C. 2744.01(C)(1)(b).
Second, not only does the performance of this function promote the public
safety and welfare, the activities related to this function are not customarily
engaged in by nongovernmental persons in accordance with R.C.
2744.01(C)(1)(c) For instance, in Lyons v. Teamhealth Midwest Cleveland,
et al., 8th Dist. No. 96336, 2011-Ohio-5501, confusion over the location of a
residential address on the part of the dispatch service, as well as an incorrect
map prepared by the county engineer’s office, resulted in a delay in the
arrival of an ambulance, which contributed to the death of a minor in need of
medical attention. Thus, that case highlights the importance of the function
of designating street numbers in relation to the health, safety and welfare of
the public. As such, we conclude that the function of designating street
numbers is governmental in nature.
Hocking App. No. 12CA18 13
{¶18} Next, we must determine whether any of the exceptions to
immunity apply. The exceptions to immunity are set forth in R.C.
2744.02(B)(1)-(5), which provides as follows:
“(B) Subject to sections 2744.03 and 2744.05 of the Revised
Code, a political subdivision is liable in damages in a civil
action for injury, death, or loss to person or property allegedly
caused by an act or omission of the political subdivision or of
any of its employees in connection with a governmental or
proprietary function, as follows:
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this division, political
subdivisions are liable for injury, death, or loss to person or
property caused by the negligent operation of any motor vehicle
by their employees when the employees are engaged within the
scope of their employment and authority. The following are full
defenses to that liability:
(a) A member of a municipal corporation police department or
any other police agency was operating a motor vehicle while
responding to an emergency call and the operation of the
vehicle did not constitute willful or wanton misconduct;
Hocking App. No. 12CA18 14
(b) A member of a municipal corporation fire department or any
other firefighting agency was operating a motor vehicle while
engaged in duty at a fire, proceeding toward a place where a
fire is in progress or is believed to be in progress, or answering
any other emergency alarm and the operation of the vehicle did
not constitute willful or wanton misconduct;
(c) A member of an emergency medical service owned or
operated by a political subdivision was operating a motor
vehicle while responding to or completing a call for emergency
medical care or treatment, the member was holding a valid
commercial driver's license issued pursuant to Chapter 4506. or
a driver's license issued pursuant to Chapter 4507. of the
Revised Code, the operation of the vehicle did not constitute
willful or wanton misconduct, and the operation complies with
the precautions of section 4511.03 of the Revised Code.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in sections 3314.07 and
3746.24 of the Revised Code, political subdivisions are liable
for injury, death, or loss to person or property caused by the
negligent performance of acts by their employees with respect
to proprietary functions of the political subdivisions.
Hocking App. No. 12CA18 15
(3) Except as otherwise provided in section 3746.24 of the
Revised Code, political subdivisions are liable for injury, death,
or loss to person or property caused by their negligent failure to
keep public roads in repair and other negligent failure to
remove obstructions from public roads, except that it is a full
defense to that liability, when a bridge within a municipal
corporation is involved, that the municipal corporation does not
have the responsibility for maintaining or inspecting the bridge.
(4) Except as otherwise provided in section 3746.24 of the
Revised Code, political subdivisions are liable for injury, death,
or loss to person or property that is caused by the negligence of
their employees and that occurs within or on the grounds of,
and is due to physical defects within or on the grounds of,
buildings that are used in connection with the performance of a
governmental function, including, but not limited to, office
buildings and courthouses, but not including jails, places of
juvenile detention, workhouses, or any other detention facility,
as defined in section 2921.01 of the Revised Code.
(5) In addition to the circumstances described in divisions
(B)(1) to (4) of this section, a political subdivision is liable for
Hocking App. No. 12CA18 16
injury, death, or loss to person or property when civil liability is
expressly imposed upon the political subdivision by a section of
the Revised Code, including, but not limited to, sections
2743.02 and 5591.37 of the Revised Code. Civil liability shall
not be construed to exist under another section of the Revised
Code merely because that section imposes a responsibility or
mandatory duty upon a political subdivision, because that
section provides for a criminal penalty, because of a general
authorization in that section that a political subdivision may sue
and be sued, or because that section uses the term “shall” in a
provision pertaining to a political subdivision.”
Here, the exception contained in R.C. 2744.02(B)(2) does not apply as we
have already determined the function at issue is governmental rather than
proprietary. Further, we find none of the remaining exceptions are
applicable. Having determined none of the exceptions under R.C.
2744.02(B) are applicable, we need not perform an analysis of the defenses
and immunities provided to a political subdivision by R.C. 2744.03(A).
Accordingly, we affirm the trial court’s decision to the extent that it
determined Appellees were entitled to immunity pursuant to R.C. 2744.02
with respect to carrying out the function of designating street numbers.
Hocking App. No. 12CA18 17
{¶19} We next consider whether Board’s delegation of authority to
Shaw to designate street numbers was a proper delegation of authority. As
set forth above, Board was vested with the authority to designate street
numbers pursuant to R.C. 303.021. Appellants contend that Board, and only
Board, had the authority to perform this function and that the delegation of
this function to Shaw was improper. Based upon the following, we reject
Appellants’ argument.
{¶20} As set forth above, Lyons v. Teamhealth Midwest Cleveland, et
al., supra, involved the question of whether the county’s provision of
emergency dispatch services was a governmental or a proprietary function,
and whether the county had sovereign immunity related to the performance
of that function. Also addressed as part of the analysis was the fact that the
county did not have an ambulance service and thus contracted with private
companies to respond to emergency calls. Id. at ¶ 5. Thus, the court was
faced with the question of “whether the County can maintain their statutory
immunity for retaining limited involvement in communicating calls for
emergency help to the private entity through the provision of dispatch
services.” Id. at ¶ 45.
{¶21} In response to the issue raised, the Teamhealth court reasoned
as follows:
Hocking App. No. 12CA18 18
“This court has previously held that ‘R.C. 2744.01(C) does not
exclude from the definition of governmental functions those
functions sometimes performed by private entities for political
subdivisions. In fact, many of the specifically enumerated
governmental functions set forth in R.C. 2744.01(C)(1) are
commonly performed by private entities for political
subdivisions, including, but not limited to, ambulance services,
* * *. Where a service is specifically defined as a governmental
function, what entity actually performs them or a part of them
on behalf of a political subdivision has no bearing on their
status as governmental pursuant to R.C. 2744.01(C)(1).’
McCloud v. Nimmer (1991), 72 Ohio App.3d 533, 595 N.E.2d
492, emphasis added.” Id. at ¶ 46.
Thus, in Teamhealth, the performance of a governmental function on behalf
of the county by a private entity for profit was at issue and it was determined
that such a structure did not alter the classification of the function as
governmental, nor did it destroy the political subdivision’s immunity from
liability in relation thereto. Id.
{¶22} Here, the governmental function of designating street numbers
was delegated to Shaw, as county engineer, an actual employee of the
Hocking App. No. 12CA18 19
political subdivision, not a private entity. It appears from the record that the
County initiated the development of a countywide rural numbering system
on February 20, 1975, via a “Proposal/Agreement/Resolution Assigning
House # To County Engineer,” whereby Board entered into an agreement
with a private engineering consulting firm. At some point thereafter, the
function of designating street numbers was delegated to the Hocking County
Engineer’s Office. We find nothing improper with respect to this delegation
of authority and have located no prohibition against this practice.
{¶23} Further, and much like the trial court, we find nothing improper
with respect to the County Engineer’s system of designating street numbers
only after driveways have been established. R.C. 303.021 provides no
specific guidance as to how Board should perform the function of
designating street numbers. The record reflects that Shaw’s office has a
formal written policy which covers “Driveway Permitting and Addressing
On County And Township Roads In Hocking County.” Additionally, there
is no evidence in the record which suggests that this policy was not
uniformly applied to any and all persons requesting the designation of a
street number.
{¶24} In summary, we have determined that the Hocking County
Board of Commissioners is a political subdivision entitled to immunity
Hocking App. No. 12CA18 20
pursuant to R.C. 2744.01, which immunity extends to William Shaw, the
elected County Engineer, an employee of the political subdivision.
Additionally, we have determined that there was nothing improper with
respect to Board’s decision to delegate their authority to perform this
function to Shaw, as County Engineer. Likewise, we have determined that
Shaw’s policy of requiring a driveway to be in place prior to designating a
street number was a reasonable policy implemented in connection with
carrying out the function of designating street numbers. Further, as we have
determined that the function at issue is a governmental function for which
immunity attaches, that Board’s delegation of the performance of this
function to Shaw did not destroy the governmental nature of the function or
the grant of immunity, and that none of the exceptions to immunity applies,
we affirm the trial court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of Appellees
on the basis of the doctrine of sovereign immunity. Finally, although
Appellants contend an issue exists related to alleged animosity between Mr.
Nihiser and William Shaw, we find even if such an issue remains, it is not a
genuine issue of material fact which would preclude summary judgment.
{¶25} Thus, we conclude that the trial court properly granted
Appellees’ motion for summary judgment. Accordingly, the assignments of
Hocking App. No. 12CA18 21
error raised by Appellants are overruled and the decision of the trial court is
affirmed.
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
Hocking App. No. 12CA18 22
JUDGMENT ENTRY
It is ordered that the JUDGMENT BE AFFIRMED and that the
Appellees recover of Appellants 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 Hocking County Common Pleas Court to carry this judgment into
execution.
Any stay previously granted by this Court is hereby terminated as of
the date of this entry.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to
Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
Exceptions.
Harsha, J. & Hoover, J.: Concur in Judgment Only.
For the Court,
BY: _________________________
Matthew W. McFarland
Presiding 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.