Hillier v. Fifth Third Bank , 2020 Ohio 3679 ( 2020 )

[Cite as Hillier v. Fifth Third Bank, 2020-Ohio-3679.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
MIAMI COUNTY
JAMES L. HILLIER, INDIVIDUALLY :
AND AS EXECUTOR OF LESLIE R. :
HILLIER’S ESTATE : Appellate Case No. 2019-CA-21
:
Plaintiff-Appellant : Trial Court Case No. 87766-B
:
v. : (Appeal from Common Pleas Court-
: Probate Division)
FIFTH THIRD BANK, et al. :
:
Defendants-Appellees
...........
OPINION
Rendered on the 10th day of July, 2020.
...........
T. ANDREW VOLLMAR, Atty. Reg. No. 0064033, 40 North Main Street, Suite 2010,
Dayton, Ohio 45423
Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellant
TODD E. BRYANT, Atty. Reg. No. 0072738, 122 West Main Street, Troy, Ohio 45373
Attorney for Defendant-Appellee, Judy Brown
NATHAN H. BLASKE, Atty. Reg. No. 0076460 and HARRY W. CAPPEL, Atty. Reg. No.
0066513, 255 East Fifth Street, Suite 1900, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Attorneys for Defendant-Appellee, Fifth Third Bank
.............
WELBAUM, J.
-2-
{¶ 1} Plaintiff-Appellant, James L. Hillier, appeals individually and as executor of
the Estate of Leslie R. Hillier, from summary judgments granted to Defendants-Appellees,
Fifth Third Bank and Judith Brown.1 James is Leslie’s grandson, and Judith is Leslie’s
daughter. When Leslie died, he had $203,758.09 in two accounts at Fifth Third. The
claims against Fifth Third and Judith arose from the bank’s payment to Judith of the total
balance in Leslie’s accounts.
{¶ 2} According to James, the trial court erred in granting summary judgment for
Fifth Third because the bank could not create a contract for a payable on death account
by any means other than a written contract signed by the account owner, and Leslie had
not entered such a contract. James also argues that Fifth Third exercised bad faith by
paying out the funds when it knew the accounts’ ownership was disputed.
{¶ 3} As to Judith, James contends that the trial court incorrectly granted summary
judgment in her favor on his unjust enrichment claim, because Judith did not to move for
summary judgment. Additionally, on the merits, James maintains that Judith should not
have received summary judgment on unjust enrichment because she received funds that
the bank improperly administered.
{¶ 4} After reviewing the record, we conclude that the trial court erred in rendering
summary judgment in favor of Fifth Third on the contract and conversion claims. Under
the unambiguous terms of the contract between Leslie and the bank, Leslie’s accounts
were not payable on death accounts and should have been paid instead to Leslie’s estate
for distribution under his will. The trial court also erred in awarding summary judgment
1For purposes of clarity, we will refer to Fifth Third Bank as “Fifth Third,” to the other
parties by their first names, and to Leslie Hilliard as “Leslie.”
-3-
to Judith, as she was not entitled to the amounts in Leslie’s accounts and was unjustly
enriched by the payments. The court did not err in awarding summary judgment to Fifth
Third on James’s bad faith, negligence, and estoppel claims, nor did the court err in
granting summary judgment to Judith on James’s conversion claim. Accordingly, the
judgment of the trial court will be affirmed in part and reversed in part, and the matter will
be remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
I. Facts and Course of Proceedings
{¶ 5} Because we are reviewing this matter after a grant of summary judgment, we
review the facts in a light most favorable to the non-movant (James). This case involves
the disposition of proceeds in two alleged payable on death (“POD”) accounts at Fifth
Third, which were owned by Leslie Hillier. Leslie was 98 years old when he died on
August 20, 2015.
{¶ 6} In June 1976, Leslie opened savings account XXXXXXX518 (“518”) with the
bank. The record is not clear with respect to whether the account originated with Fifth
Third or was purchased from another bank. Nonetheless, Fifth Third was not able to
produce any copies of signature cards that were ever signed for this account, other than
an August 2015 card that James signed as power of attorney (“POA”).
{¶ 7} In March 1983, Leslie opened checking account XXXXXXX636 (“636”).
Fifth Third produced four signature cards for this account. Two of the cards, which were
signed in 2012, stated that Leslie and his wife, Glenna, had “joint – with survivor”
ownership. On these signature cards, Judith Brown and James L. Hillier (the father of
James, the plaintiff-appellant in this case) were listed as POD beneficiaries. Deposition
-4-
of Jennifer Nicely (Fifth Third’s retail operations manager), Ex.5. Judith was Leslie’s
daughter, and James L. was his son.
{¶ 8} James L. died in November 2014. Shortly after James L. died, James, who
lived in North Carolina, received a call from Leslie; Leslie asked if James would be his
power of attorney. Leslie also said he was changing his will and asked if James would
be the executor. Deposition of James Hillier, p. 38-39. According to James, Leslie was
concerned that Judith would come in and take all his money, and he would be a beggar.
In addition, neither Glenna nor Leslie wanted to deal with Judith. Id. at p. 39-41. James
could not recall whether there were one or more powers of attorney, but the only time he
used a POA at Fifth Third was on August 13, 2015, when he went to the bank to obtain
electronic access to Leslie’s bank account. At that time, James was concerned because
Leslie had been withdrawing sums of cash from the bank that appeared to be
disappearing. Id. at p. 38-39, 42, and 45-46.
{¶ 9} Glenna died on April 8, 2015. Id. at p. 43. On April 17, 2015, James and
Leslie went to the Fifth Third Bank in Piqua, Ohio, to remove Glenna’s name from Leslie’s
accounts. After indicating what they wanted, they were asked to wait. A few minutes
later, Lesley Swarts, a Fifth Third personal banker, took them into a small office.2 This
was the first time James had been to the bank. Id. at p. 62-66. When Swarts asked why
they were there, James said his grandmother had passed away, and he (Leslie) wanted
to take her off the account. Id. at p. 67-68. After that, Leslie did most of the talking. Id.
2 Swarts denied ever meeting James prior to her deposition, which was taken on
September 2, 2016. Deposition of Lesley Swarts, p. 23. Other factual issues existed
as well. However, for reasons that will become apparent, none of the factual issues are
genuine issues precluding summary judgment. We provide the factual information as
background.
-5-
at p. 68.
{¶ 10} Leslie told Swarts that life was not fair, that his son had died in November,
that his wife had died, and that his daughter did not talk to him. Id. During the
conversation, Leslie indicated that James was his grandson and said his grandchildren
were helping him. Id. at p. 69 and 78. Leslie also said that he wanted his estate to go
to his grandchildren. Id. at p. 77-78. In addition, Leslie stated during the visit that his
directions to the bank were for a distribution of the account funds to his grandchildren.
Id. at p. 82.
{¶ 11} According to James, Leslie signed several documents that day. James did
not read them, but pointed to where Leslie needed to sign. Id. at p. 71. One signature
card was signed that day – for the 636 checking account. On this card, Leslie was listed
as the sole owner, and no POD beneficiaries were listed. Nicely Deposition at p. 71-72,
and Ex. 9.
{¶ 12} James and Leslie were at the bank for 30 to 45 minutes, and then
immediately went to the office of Leslie’s attorney, Thomas Buecker. Hillier Deposition
at p. 63-64. Buecker had been Leslie’s attorney for years, but James had never met or
talked with him before that day. Id. at p. 42-43. James and Leslie were at Buecker’s
office for about 30 to 45 minutes, but it was less time than they had spent at the bank. Id.
at p. 64. At that time, Leslie signed a POA appointing James as his power of attorney
and a new will that granted all his personal and real property to his grandchildren. One
half of the estate was to be given James L.’s children, per stirpes, and the other half was
to be distributed to Judith’s children, per stirpes. In the will, Leslie also stated that “I
make no provision for my daughter, Judith Brown.” Id. at p. 72-73, 83, 100, and 141-144
-6-
and Ex. B; April 13, 2015 Will of Leslie Hillier, filed with the probate court on August 25,
2015.
{¶ 13} As noted, the next time James went to Fifth Third was on August 13, 2015,
when he met with an employee, Kathy McGill, and filed the POA so he could electronically
access the accounts. Hillier Deposition at p. 83-84. On that day, James signed two
signature cards using the POA. One card was for checking account 636 and the other
was for savings account 518. These cards both listed Judith Brown and James L. Hillier
as POD beneficiaries. Id. at p. 97 and 106 and Ex. E; Nicely Deposition at p. 129 and
Exs. 13 and A; Deposition of Kathy McGill, p. 28-29 and Exs. 1-D and 1-F.
{¶ 14} Leslie died on August 20, 2015. Within a week or two after Leslie’s death,
James and the estate attorney went to Fifth Third. At that time, they found out that the
accounts were supposedly designated POD. Hillier Deposition at p. 32, 37,100, and 149.
Fifth Third then paid the total amounts of the checking and savings accounts
($203,758.09) to Judith, because the only other listed person (James L. Hillier) had
already died.
{¶ 15} In June 2017, James filed an action, individually and on behalf of Leslie’s
estate, against Fifth Third and Judith. The complaint asserted claims against Fifth Third
for breach of contract, negligence, conversion, bad faith, and estoppel, while the claims
against Judith were based on conversion and unjust enrichment. In July 2017, Judith
filed an answer and a counterclaim based on frivolous conduct and “punitive or exemplary
damages.”
{¶ 16} In May 2018, James filed a motion for summary judgment on all of his claims
and on Judith’s counterclaims. Fifth Third then filed a cross-motion for summary
-7-
judgment. After holding an oral hearing in October 2018, the trial judge issued a decision
in January 2019, overruling the motion and cross-motion with respect to the breach of
contract claims, negligence claims, and conversion. The judge granted summary
judgment to Judith on the issue of unjust enrichment, even though she had not filed a
motion for summary judgment, and also granted summary judgment to Fifth Third on the
bad faith and estoppel claims. In addition, the judge granted summary judgment in favor
of James on Judith’s claim for frivolous conduct. The judge did not resolve the claim for
punitive damages.
{¶ 17} Following an unsuccessful attempt at mediation, a new judge decided to
reconsider the prior summary judgment ruling and gave the parties a chance to file
optional supplemental memoranda. Only Fifth Third took that opportunity. On
November 22, 2019, the new judge filed an amended entry on the motions for summary
judgment. This time, the judge overruled James’s motion for summary judgment as to
all the claims against Fifth Third and granted Fifth Third’s cross-motion as to all claims
against it. The judge also granted summary judgment in favor of Judith on James’s
claims, even though she had not filed a summary judgment motion. And finally, the judge
granted James’s motion for summary judgment on both of Judith’s counterclaims.
{¶ 18} James then filed a notice of appeal from the trial court’s judgment. Judith
did not appeal the dismissal of her counterclaims.
II. Did the Trial Court Properly Grant Summary Judgment on James’s Claims?
{¶ 19} On appeal, James presents one assignment of error (the propriety of the
summary judgment decision), with the following two subparts:
-8-
A. The Trial Court Erred in Awarding Summary Judgment to Fifth
Third.
B. The Trial Court Erred in Awarding Summary Judgment to Judith
Brown.
{¶ 20} We will consider these subparts together, as they are interrelated. In
rendering summary judgment against James, the trial court concluded that Leslie did not
specifically inform Fifth Third that he wanted POD designations for the grandchildren on
the accounts. The court further held that if any mistake were made, it was by James and
Leslie in believing that the bank understood what Leslie wanted. Without discussing
applicable legal principles, the trial court also concluded that the signature cards James
signed on August 13, 2015, clearly designated Judith and James’s father (who was then
deceased) as POD beneficiaries, and that, again, James was at fault because he failed
to read the cards. The court therefore concluded that Fifth Third did not breach its contract
with Leslie because the last cards that were signed designated POD beneficiaries.
{¶ 21} Due to the existence of a contract, the court also rejected the negligence
claim. Furthermore, based on the conclusion that payment to Judith was proper, the
court rejected James’s unjust enrichment and conversion claims against her. In addition,
the court found that James failed to argue estoppel and entered judgment for Fifth Third
on that claim as well. Finally, the court held that there was no claim for bad faith,
essentially because such a claim is of recent origin and because lack of good faith, as
relevant to some issues, is not the same as a cause of action for bad faith. We will
consider the court’s holdings, beginning with the contract claim.
-9-
A. The Contract Claim
{¶ 22} In arguing that the trial court erred, James contends that statutory
requirements for POD accounts require a written contact with the “account owner,” which
was not satisfied here because James was not the account owner. James notes that no
proper signature card existed for the savings account, and that the April 17, 2015
signature card, which contained no POD designations, was the proper card. In contrast,
Fifth Third argues that the August 13, 2015 signature cards were controlling because they
superseded all prior signature cards. Both sides have also spent considerable time
discussing Fifth Third’s “Signature Card Procedures” (internal bank policies), whether
those procedures were properly followed, and Fifth Third’s internal distinction between
“add” or replacement cards.
{¶ 23} In reviewing summary judgment decisions, we conduct de novo review,
“which means that we apply the same standards as the trial court.” GNFH, Inc. v. W.
Am. Ins. Co., 172 Ohio App. 3d 127, 2007-Ohio-2722, 873 N.E.2d 345, ¶ 16 (2d Dist.).
“Summary judgment is appropriate if (1) no genuine issue of any material fact remains,
(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 construing 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.” State ex rel. Duncan v.
Mentor City Council, 105 Ohio St. 3d 372, 2005-Ohio-2163, 826 N.E.2d 832, ¶ 9, citing
Temple v. Wean United, Inc., 50 Ohio St. 2d 317, 327, 364 N.E.2d 267 (1977).
{¶ 24} James filed a claim against Fifth Third for breach of contract. “The
elements of a breach of contract claim are ‘the existence of a contract, performance by
-10-
the plaintiff, breach by the defendant, and damage or loss to the plaintiff.’ ” Becker v.
Direct Energy, LP, 2018-Ohio-4134, 112 N.E.3d 978, ¶ 38 (2d Dist.), quoting Doner v.
Snapp, 98 Ohio App. 3d 597, 600, 649 N.E.2d 42 (2d Dist.1994). “When confronted with
an issue of contractual interpretation, the role of a court is to give effect to the intent of
the parties to the agreement.” Westfield Ins. Co. v. Galatis, 100 Ohio St. 3d 216, 2003-
Ohio-5849, 797 N.E.2d 1256, ¶ 11.
{¶ 25} “Where the parties, following negotiations, make mutual promises which
thereafter are integrated into an unambiguous written contract, duly signed by them,
courts will give effect to the parties’ expressed intentions.” Aultman Hosp. Assn. v.
Community Mut. Ins. Co., 46 Ohio St. 3d 51, 53, 544 N.E.2d 920 (1989). “Intentions not
expressed in the writing are deemed to have no existence and may not be shown by parol
evidence.” Id. Thus, if we conclude that the contracts here are unambiguous, factual
disputes as to what was said or not said to Fifth Third employees or Fifth Third’s
compliance or lack thereof with its internal procedures would be irrelevant.
{¶ 26} Under R.C. 1109.07(B), banks are permitted to “enter into a written contract
with a natural person for the proceeds of the person's deposits to be payable on the death
of that person to another person or to any entity or organization in accordance with the
terms, restrictions, and limitations set forth in sections 2131.10 and 2131.11 of the
Revised Code.” According to R.C. 2131.10:
A natural person, adult or minor, referred to in sections 2131.10 and
2131.11 of the Revised Code as the owner, may enter into a written contract
with any bank * * * whereby the proceeds of the owner's investment share
certificate, share account, deposit, or stock deposit may be made payable
-11-
on the death of the owner to another person or to any entity or organization,
referred to in such sections as the beneficiary, notwithstanding any
provisions to the contrary in Chapter 2107. of the Revised Code. In
creating such accounts, “payable on death” or “payable on the death of”
may be abbreviated to “P.O.D.”
***
No change in the designation of the beneficiary shall be valid unless
executed in the form and manner prescribed by the bank, building and loan
or savings and loan association, credit union, or society for savings.
{¶ 27} “The General Assembly enacted R.C. 2131.10 and 2131.11 in 1961 with
the apparent intention of recognizing in Ohio the use of a deposit in a financial institution
as a ‘tentative trust,’ whereby the depositor (settlor) can withdraw funds from the deposit
during his lifetime, and at the same time allow the beneficiary of the deposit to have the
remainder of the funds at the depositor's death, without regard to the depositor's will or
the statute of descent and distribution. The tentative trust doctrine was recognized in the
state of New York in the leading case of In re Totten (1904), 179 N.Y. 112, 71 N.E. 748,
and resulted in widespread use of what many have called a ‘Totten trust’ or ‘poor man's
trust.’ ” Powell v. City Nat. Bank & Tr. Co., 2 Ohio App. 3d 1, 2, 440 N.E.2d 560 (10th
Dist.1981).
{¶ 28} “Although a P.O.D. account is contractual in nature, it has a special
purpose. It allows a person to make a testamentary disposition of assets without
following the formalities of the Statute of Wills, R.C. Chapter 2107. Although it is an
exception to the Statute of Wills, one of the basic requirements of the Statute of Wills
-12-
cannot be ignored; that is, the requirement of a writing signed by the testator evidencing
his intent. Since a P.O.D. account is testamentary in nature, it follows that the term
‘written contract’ means a writing signed by the owner of the funds showing the intent to
dispose of property in contravention of his or her will or the statutes of descent and
distribution.” Witt v. Ward, 60 Ohio App. 3d 21, 26, 573 N.E.2d 201 (12th Dist.1989).
The statutory language in R.C. 2131.10 gives “the depositor full ownership of a P.O.D.
account's funds during her lifetime, whereas the beneficiary's interest does not vest until
the owner's death.” Miller v. Peoples Fed. Sav. & Loan Assn., 68 Ohio St. 2d 175, 178,
429 N.E.2d 439 (1981).
{¶ 29} In the case before us, the last signature card the account owner, Leslie,
signed was the April 17, 2015 card without any POD beneficiaries. The parties have
quibbled over the meaning of the first sentence in R.C. 2131.10 – “A natural person, adult
or minor, referred to in sections 2131.10 and 2131.11 of the Revised Code as the owner
* * *.” James contends that this means that only the account owner (Leslie) may enter
into the contract, while the bank asserts that the statutory language means that any
natural person may enter into the contract, and that, therefore, the cards signed by James
on August 13, 2015, were valid. Our view of the statute is that the term “owner” and
natural person are one and the same. In other words, “owner” is simply another means
of referring in the statute to the person entitled to enter into a POD.
{¶ 30} We find that the distinctions both sides suggest are essentially irrelevant,
because the real issues center on the terms of the contract and whether James’s POA
permitted him to change the beneficiaries.
{¶ 31} “A power of attorney is a written instrument authorizing an agent to perform
-13-
specific acts on behalf of his principal.” Testa v. Roberts, 44 Ohio App. 3d 161, 164, 542
N.E.2d 654 (6th Dist.1988). In Ohio, powers of attorney are controlled by statute. See
R.C. Chap. 1337. As relevant here, R.C. 1337.49 provides that:
Unless the power of attorney otherwise provides, language in a
power of attorney granting general authority with respect to banks and other
financial institutions authorizes the agent to do all of the following:
(A) Continue, modify, and terminate an account or other banking
arrangement made by or on behalf of the principal;
(B) Establish, modify, and terminate an account or other banking
arrangement with a bank, trust company, savings and loan association,
credit union, thrift company, brokerage firm, or other financial institution
selected by the agent * * *.
{¶ 32} This authority, however, is qualified by R.C. 1337.42. which states, in
pertinent part, that:
(A) An agent under a power of attorney may do any of the following
on behalf of the principal or with the principal's property only if the power of
attorney expressly grants the agent the authority and if exercise of the
authority is not otherwise prohibited by another agreement or instrument to
which the authority or property is subject * * * :
(3) Create or change rights of survivorship;
(4) Create or change a beneficiary designation;
***
(C) Subject to divisions (A), (B), (D), and (E) of this section, if a power
-14-
of attorney grants to an agent authority to do all acts that a principal could
do, the agent has the general authority described in sections 1337.45 to
1337.57 of the Revised Code.
(Emphasis added.)
{¶ 33} In Dorsey v. Dorsey, 11th Dist. Trumbull No. 2010-T-0043, 2011-Ohio-
6336, a son of the decedent held a POA and used it during the decedent’s lifetime to
change the joint and survivorship designations on some accounts. He also closed one
joint and survivorship account on which the decedent and his brother were co-owners,
and opened up a new account, listing the decedent and a sister as co-owners. After
reviewing the issues, the court of appeals held that the changes were invalid, because
“there is no provision in that instrument giving [the son] authority to remove co-owners
from [the decedent’s] joint and survivorship accounts or to designate others as co-owners
on those accounts.” Id. at ¶ 50. The court, therefore, agreed with the trial court that
those amounts would have to be returned to the decedent’s estate. Id.
{¶ 34} Reviewing the power of attorney involved in this case, it likewise did not
expressly give James the right to designate beneficiaries. Specifically, the POA
provided, in relevant part, that:
Know All Men by These Presents, that I, Leslie R. Hillier, * * * do
appoint James Leslie Hillier as my true and lawful attorney in fact to act in,
manage, and conduct all my business affairs, and for that purpose for me
in my name, place, and stead, and for my use and benefit, and as my act
and deed, to do and execute, to concur with persons jointly interested with
myself therein in the doing or executing of, all or any of the following acts or
-15-
deeds, and things, to wit:
***
3. To make, do and transact all and every kind of business of
whatsoever kind or nature, including the receipt, recovery, collection,
payment, compromise, settlement and adjustment of all accounts, including
checking, savings, and/or commercial accounts * * *;
***
Giving and granting unto my said attorney full power and authority to
do and perform any and every act, deed, matter, and things whatsoever in
and about my estate, property, and affairs, as fully and effectually to all
intents and purposes as I might or could do in my own proper person if
personally present, the above specifically enumerated powers being in aid
and exemplification of the full, complete, and general power herein granted
and not in limitation or definition thereof; and hereby ratifying all that my said
attorney shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of those presents.
Affidavit of Fifth Third Employee Kathy McGill, Ex. A., p. 1-2
{¶ 35} The above powers, while broad and general, do not provide, as R.C.
1337.42(A)(4) requires, that James had the specific power to change or designate
beneficiaries on Leslie’s accounts. In this vein, Fifth Third argues that because R.C.
1337.49 lets POAs “modify” accounts, James was entitled to change beneficiaries and
the August 2015 signature card, therefore, is binding. Fifth Third Brief, p. 11. However,
the statutory limitations on POAs are quite specific, and the wording in the POA Leslie
granted is not sufficient to satisfy the requirements in R.C. 1337.42(A). Consequently,
-16-
the beneficiary designations on the August 13, 2015 signature card were invalid and had
no effect. In view of these facts, whether James read or was aware of the designations
was irrelevant.
{¶ 36} Furthermore, Fifth Third’s assertion on appeal contradicts the admissions it
made in the trial court. Specifically, in its answer, Fifth Third stated that “Fifth Third
admits that Plaintiff, as Decedent’s Power of Attorney or otherwise, did not authorize Fifth
Third [to] change the payable on death beneficiaries listed on the Accounts.” Answer of
Fifth Third, ¶ 11.
{¶ 37} In its answers to requests for admissions, Fifth Third further stated that
James’s “execution of the Checking Account signature card dated August 13, 2015 did
not create new payable on death beneficiaries for the Checking Account on August 13,
2015,” and that “a power of attorney does not have the ability to change beneficiaries on
accounts if the document creating the power of attorney does not permit it.” See Fifth
Third Notice of Filing Answers to Requests for Admissions #3, p. 5, and #4, p. 5. Fifth
Third’s contention in its answers to the requests for admissions was that the signature
card James signed “confirmed” the beneficiaries already in the bank’s system. Id.
However, as the following discussion reveals, James could not confirm what did not exist.
{¶ 38} Accordingly, the signature card James signed in August 2015 had no effect
and did not create POD beneficiaries for the account. The last signature card was the
one that Leslie signed on April 17, 2015, which stated that Leslie was the sole owner of
the checking account and did not designate any POD beneficiaries.
{¶ 39} Fifth Third’s argument on appeal (contrary to its above argument) is that the
POD beneficiaries were in its “internal” system, and that its employee simply accidentally
-17-
omitted them on the April 2015 signature card. In this respect, Fifth Third relies on its
internal signature card procedures. However, whether Fifth Third followed these
procedures or what its internal procedures may have been is irrelevant. As we indicated,
individuals are statutorily allowed to enter into written contracts with banks for payments
of their accounts.
{¶ 40} There is no question that a contract existed between Leslie and Fifth Third.
“In order to form any contract, there must be a meeting of the minds of the parties
regarding the contract's essential terms, and those terms must be reasonably certain and
clear.” Bank of New York Mellon v. Rhiel, 155 Ohio St. 3d 558, 2018-Ohio-5087, 122
N.E.3d 1219, ¶ 19. “The primary goal in construing any contract is to ascertain and give
effect to the intention of the parties,” and courts “presume that the intent of the parties to
a written contract is found in the writing of the contract itself.” Id. at ¶ 20. The law is
well-established that “where * * * the parties following negotiations make mutual promises
which thereafter are integrated into an unambiguous contract duly executed by them,
courts will not give the contract a construction other than that which the plain language of
the contract provides.” Aultman Hosp. Assn., 46 Ohio St. 3d at 55, 544 N.E.2d 920.
{¶ 41} Although, in one sense, there is no real negotiating with a bank when one
opens an account, the signature card is the legally binding contract between the customer
and Fifth Third. Nicely Deposition, p. 52 and 53. In contrast, the signature card
procedures are internal bank documents; customers are not given these procedures, nor
do they have access to them. Id. at p. 51. As a result, these procedures could have no
bearing on the contract, where the contract is not ambiguous.
{¶ 42} The signature card that Leslie signed on April 17, 2015, was for the
-18-
checking account (636) only. As noted, Fifth Third has not been able to produce a
signature card for the savings account. The 636 signature card provided, in pertinent
part, under “Terms and Conditions,” that:
1. The terms and conditions stated herein, together with resolutions
or authorizations which accompany this signature card, if applicable and the
Rules, Regulations, Agreements, and Disclosures of Bank constitute the
Deposit Agreement (“Agreement”) between the Individual (s) or entity (ies)
and the named person herein (“Depositor”) and the Bank.
2. This Agreement incorporates the Rules, Regulations,
Agreements, and Disclosures established by Bank from time to time,
clearing house rules and regulations, state and federal laws, recognized
banking practices and customs, service charges as may be established
from time to time and is subject to laws regulating transfers at death and
other taxes.
***
7. All signers agree to the Terms and Conditions set forth herein
and acknowledge receipt of a copy of the Rules and Regulations,
Agreements, and Disclosures of Bank and agree to the terms set forth
herein.
Affidavit of Jennifer Nicely, Ex. C, p. 1.
{¶ 43} The Rules and Regulations of the bank that were in effect as of May 2015
were attached to Nicely’s affidavit as Ex. H. Concerning POD accounts, these rules
stated that:
-19-
17. Payable on Death Accounts. If your account type permits a
payable on death beneficiary or custodian designation, this paragraph
applies. When the signature card designates the beneficiary to receive the
account funds upon the death of the Customer, it supersedes and revokes
any previous appointment of any other Beneficiary. Customer may
withdraw all or any portion of the account balance during his lifetime and
Customer retains the right to revoke the designation of any Beneficiary.
Bank has the right to deal with Customer as if a Beneficiary was not named.
The amount on deposit in this account at the death of the Customer shall
belong and be paid to the Beneficiary, if the Beneficiary survives the
Customer, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the rules of Bank
and applicable laws. Payment to the Beneficiary after the death of the
Customer shall be a valid and full release and complete discharge of the
Bank from any and all liability and shall be binding on the heirs, executors,
administrators and assigns of Customer. Bank reserves the right to require
satisfactory proof of death of the Customer and survival of Beneficiary.
Ex. H, p. 15.
{¶ 44} According to the clear and unambiguous meaning of this provision, the
signature card that Leslie signed on April 17, 2015, superseded and revoked any prior
beneficiary with respect to the checking account. There was also no ambiguity in the
signature card. It stated that Leslie was the sole owner of the account and no POD
beneficiaries were listed. Consequently, there was no need to consider extrinsic
evidence of any kind. (In this regard, we note that the facts set forth in the statement of
-20-
facts and proceedings were intended as background information only.)
{¶ 45} Based on the preceding discussion, and under the undisputed facts and
applicable law, the trial court erred in granting summary judgment to Fifth Third on the
breach of contract claim. To the contrary, summary judgment should have been granted
to James, as executor, and the funds in checking account 636 ($82,647.72) should have
been paid to Leslie’s estate. Whether the bank is liable for this amount will be discussed
shortly.
{¶ 46} The facts concerning the savings account (518) are somewhat different.
As noted, Fifth Third did not have a signature card for the 518 account. There were
indications in Fifth Third’s internal records that POD beneficiaries may have been
designated at one time for that account. However, Fifth Third’s argument likewise fails
for this account because there was not sufficient evidence of a written agreement for the
account. To establish the existence of POD beneficiaries as an exception to the Statute
of Wills, both R.C. 1109.07(B) and R.C. 2131.10 require a written contract signed by the
account owner. Fifth Third could not produce a written signature card, and its internal
records were insufficient to substitute for the statutory requirements. As a result, the
$121,145.13 in the savings account should have been paid to Leslie’s estate, rather than
to Judith, and the trial court erred in granting summary judgment to Fifth Third on this
point as well. Judgment should have been awarded to James, as executor for the estate.
{¶ 47} Even if judgment should have been awarded to the executor, an issue
remains whether the bank is liable. According to Fifth Third, James, as executor, had a
mechanism under R.C. 1109.10 by which he could have asserted his claim to the funds,
but he failed to use it. Fifth Third contends that because James did not have a proper
-21-
right to the funds and failed to assert his claim using the statutory procedure, Fifth Third
was obligated to release the funds to Judith and is not liable.
{¶ 48} As a preliminary point, Fifth Third’s contention is incorrect to the extent that
it is based on the fact that James, as executor, did not have a right to the funds. We
have already concluded that the estate had such a right, and James, as executor of the
estate, was the appropriate party to bring claims on the estate’s behalf. E.g., R.C.
2107.46; Ross v. Barker, 101 Ohio App. 3d 611, 615, 656 N.E.2d 363 (2d Dist.1995).
{¶ 49} As to the remainder of Fifth Third’s argument, we note that R.C. 1109.10
was enacted in 1996 via H.B. 538, 1996 Ohio Laws File 187, for purposes of adopting a
new section number for former R.C. 1107.11. No substantive changes were made in the
content of the statute. At the time of the events at issue in this case, R.C. 1109.10
provided that:
If any claim not clearly consistent with the terms of any applicable
authority on file with a bank is made to any deposit, safe deposit box,
property held in safekeeping, security, obligation, or other property in the
bank's possession or control, in whole or in part, by any person, including
any depositor, individual, or group of individuals, whether or not authorized
to draw on or exercise any right or control with respect to the property, the
bank is not required to recognize the claim without one of the following:
(A) A court order, issued by a court of competent jurisdiction and
served on the bank, enjoining or restraining the bank from taking any action
with respect to the property or instructing the bank to pay the balance of
the, [sic] provide access to the safe deposit box, or deliver the property as
-22-
provided in the order;
(B) A bond in the form and amount and with sureties satisfactory to
the bank, indemnifying the bank against any liabilities, loss, and expenses
it might incur because of its recognition of the claim or because of its refusal,
due to the claim, to honor or recognize any right with respect to the
property.3
{¶ 50} The commentary to the former section, R.C. 1107.11 (which was adopted
in 1967), says that “[t]his section is new and states the requirement which one making an
adverse claim to a deposit or property held in safe deposit must meet before the bank will
be required to deliver such deposit or property.”
{¶ 51} The fact that a bank is not necessarily required to deliver the property to an
adverse claimant does not mean that the bank lacks responsibility for delivering property
to the wrong party. Thus, James’s failure, as executor, to use the process in R.C.
1109.10 does not relieve the bank from liability for breach of contract.
{¶ 52} We note that Fifth Third’s Rules and Regulations state that, “[i]n the event
of a conflict between Account Owners or individuals with signing authority or those
purporting to have signing authority on the Account, the Bank reserves the right to take
action, which may include, without limitation, placing a hold on the Account or instituting
legal proceedings.” Nicely Affidavit, Ex. H, at p. 9.
3 R.C. 1109.10 was subsequently amended in 2017 as part of a new banking law that
repealed separate statutes pertaining to savings and loan associations (R.C. Chapters
1151 to 1157), savings banks (R.C. Chapters 1161 to 1165), and “regulated banks,
savings and loan associations, and savings banks under the same statute” by modifying
the law governing banks. Ohio Bill Analysis, 2017 H.B. 49. The contents of this
amended version and the version in effect in 2015 do not differ in any appreciable way.
-23-
{¶ 53} Fifth Third was notified before it disbursed the funds to Judith that an
adverse claim to the funds existed. Hillier Deposition at p. 100 and 128-129. However,
rather than placing a hold on the account or instituting legal proceedings, Fifth Third chose
to release the funds. Even if this were otherwise, Fifth Third could have taken this action
to protect itself from liability for breach of contract. Accordingly, Fifth Third may be held
liable for breach of contract.
{¶ 54} As was noted, the trial court also granted summary judgment to Fifth Third
on claims for bad faith, negligence, conversion, and estoppel. James has not addressed
the estoppel issue on appeal, and we will not consider it further. We will next discuss
the bad faith claim.
B. Bad Faith Claim
{¶ 55} Concerning “bad faith,” the trial court concluded that bad faith claims are of
recent origin and a lack of good faith, as relevant to some issues, is not the same as a
cause of action for bad faith. Decision on Summary Judgment, p. 10-11.
{¶ 56} “The duty of good faith and fair dealing being integral to any contract, the
breach of that duty, when alleged, is thus integral to the plaintiff's cause of action for
breach of contract. Accordingly, ‘an allegation of a breach of the implied covenant of
good faith cannot stand alone as a separate cause of action from a breach of contract
claim * * *.’ ” Krukrubo v. Fifth Third Bank, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 07AP-270, 2007-Ohio-
7007, ¶ 19, quoting Interstate Gas Supply, Inc. v. Calex Corp., 10th Dist. Franklin No.
04AP-980, 2006-Ohio-638, ¶ 98. “In essence, a claim for breach of contract subsumes
the accompanying claim for breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing.” Id.
-24-
{¶ 57} In view of this authority, we agree that summary judgment was properly
granted on James’s bad faith claim. We do note that banks may be held liable in some
situations for bad faith under R.C. Chap. 1334, which governs “Bank Deposits and
Collections; Transfer of Funds.” Under R.C. 1304.03(A), the parties may vary the effect
of the provisions of R.C. Chap. 1334, but they “cannot disclaim a bank's responsibility for
its lack of good faith or failure to exercise ordinary care or limit the measure of damages
for the lack or failure. However, the parties may determine by agreement the standards
by which the bank's responsibility is to be measured if those standards are not manifestly
unreasonable.”
{¶ 58} R.C. 1304.03(E) further provides that, “[t]he measure of damages for failure
to exercise ordinary care in handling an item is the amount of the item reduced by an
amount that could not have been realized by the exercise of ordinary care. If there also
is bad faith, the measure of damages includes any other damages the party suffered as
a proximate consequence.” This statute was effective in 1962 and corresponded with
Uniform Commercial Code 4-103. It was then amended in 1994, but no substantive
changes were made to R.C. 1304.03(E). See S.B. 147, 1994 Ohio Laws File 145.
{¶ 59} This is not to say R.C. 1304.03(E) applies here. We raise the matter
merely to indicate that a bank may, indeed, be found guilty of acting in bad faith in certain
situations, even in light of a contractual relationship or breach of contract claim. For
example, in Natl. City Bank v. Rhoades, 150 Ohio App. 3d 75, 2002-Ohio-6083, 779
N.E.2d 799 (2d Dist.), we agreed that a bank was liable for improperly disbursing funds
in its customer’s account to the customer’s girlfriend. Id. at ¶ 37-43. We recognized
that a bad faith claim could exist, which would allow recovery of consequential damages
-25-
under R.C. 1304.03(E). Id. at ¶ 68-69. However, we held that there was no evidence
of the bank’s bad faith.
{¶ 60} Banks may also be held liable for consequential damages like profit or for
attorney fees where their acts are willful or malicious. See Cincinnati Ins. Co. v. First
Nat. Bank of Akron, 63 Ohio St. 2d 220, 226, 407 N.E.2d 519 (1980) (rejecting award of
profits bank made when it improperly paid checks drawn on customer's account because
the bank's acts were not willful; attorney fee award was also improper due to lack of
statutory basis or evidence that bank's acts were malicious). See also City of Gahanna
v. Eastgate Properties, Inc., 36 Ohio St. 3d 65, 66, 521 N.E.2d 814 (1988) (“[g]enerally a
prevailing party may not recover attorney fees as costs of litigation in the absence of
statutory authority unless the breaching party has acted in bad faith, vexatiously,
wantonly, obdurately or for oppressive reasons.”)
{¶ 61} “ ‘ “Bad faith” is a legal term of art, which is not defined in the Ohio Uniform
Commercial Code. Logically, it is the inverse of “good faith,” which is defined as “honesty
in fact in the conduct or transaction concerned.” R.C. 1301.01(S). Thus, while not
specifically defined, “bad faith” suggests dishonesty, fraud, or misrepresentation, which
are intentional in nature and beyond the perimeters of mere negligence.’ ” Fifth Third
Bank v. Gen. Bag Corp., 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 92793, 2010-Ohio-2086, ¶ 31, quoting
Johnson v. Third Fed. S. & L. Assn. of Cleveland, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 49236, 1985
WL 6888 (June 27, 1985).
{¶ 62} Assuming for purposes of argument that a bad faith claim could exist, the
trial court did not err in granting summary judgment on this claim in this case. There was
no evidence that Fifth Third’s actions were dishonest, willful, or malicious, and James did
-26-
not present evidence of damages beyond what was due to be paid under the contract
between the account owner and the bank. Accordingly, the trial court correctly rendered
summary judgment against James on the claim that Fifth Third acted in bad faith.
C. The Negligence Claim
{¶ 63} Regarding the negligence claim, the trial court rejected this claim as well,
citing Solid Gold Jewelers v. ADT Sec. Sys., Inc., 600 F. Supp. 2d 956 (N.D.Ohio 2007).
In Solid Gold Jewelers, the court explained that “ ‘[u]nder Ohio law, the existence of a
contract action generally excludes the opportunity to present the same case as a tort
claim.’ ” Id. at 960, quoting Wolfe v. Continental Cas. Co., 647 F.2d 705, 710 (6th
Cir.1981). Exceptions to this rule exist “ ‘if a party breaches a duty which he owes to
another independently of the contract, that is, a duty which would exist even if no contract
existed.’ ” Id., quoting Wolfe.
{¶ 64} The authority that Wolfe relied on was Ketcham v. Miller, 104 Ohio St. 372,
136 N.E. 145 (1922). Wolfe at 710. The holding in Ketcham was essentially that, where
the gravamen of a party’s complaint is breach of contract, the perpetrator’s motive in
breaching is irrelevant, and a trial court errs if it admits evidence indicating that the case
is one in which exemplary damages might be awarded. Ketcham at 377-378. As
recently as 2018, the Supreme Court of Ohio approved and followed Ketcham, holding
that “[p]unitive damages are not recoverable in an action for breach of contract.” Lucarell
v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., 152 Ohio St. 3d 453, 2018-Ohio-15, 97 N.E.3d 458, paragraph
one of the syllabus.
{¶ 65} In Lucarell, the court acknowledged that Ohio cases have held that both a
-27-
contract action and a tort action may exist where breach of an independent duty is
involved. Id. at ¶ 36. The court cautioned, however, that while “we have noted that the
conduct constituting a breach of contract can also constitute a tort, we have made clear
that punitive damages are available only when the claimant ‘suffered a harm distinct from
the breach of contract action and attributable solely to the alleged tortious conduct.’ ” Id.
at ¶ 37, quoting Shimola v. Nationwide Ins. Co., 25 Ohio St. 3d 84, 86, 495 N.E.2d 391
(1986).
{¶ 66} In the case before us, James failed to present any evidence of an
“independent tort,” and he has not outlined any harm he or the estate suffered other than
that attributable to the breach of contract. Accordingly, the trial court did not err in
rendering summary judgment on the negligence claim.
D. Conversion
{¶ 67} The claim for conversion was brought against both Fifth Third and Judith.
In rejecting the claim with regard to both parties, the trial court noted that Fifth Third acted
properly in honoring Judith’s claim. The court also remarked that Judith could have
subjected the bank to a lawsuit had it not complied with the POD designation. Decision
on Summary Judgment at p. 9-10. To the extent the court’s conclusions rest on the fact
that the balance of the accounts was properly owed to Judith, the court erred, for the
reasons noted above.
{¶ 68} “Conversion is an exercise of dominion or control wrongfully exerted over
property in denial of or under a claim inconsistent with the rights of another.” Dice v.
White Family Cos., 173 Ohio App. 3d 472, 2007-Ohio-5755, 878 N.E.2d 1105, ¶ 17 (2d
-28-
Dist.). “Typically, ‘[t]he elements of a conversion cause of action are (1) plaintiff's
ownership or right to possession of the property at the time of the conversion; (2)
defendant's conversion by a wrongful act or disposition of plaintiff's property rights; and
(3) damages.’ ” Id., quoting Haul Transport of VA, Inc. v. Morgan, 2d Dist. Montgomery
No. 14859, 1995 WL 328995 (June 2, 1995).
{¶ 69} Given the undisputed facts in this case, James established that the
checking and savings accounts belonged to Leslie’s estate, that Fifth Third wrongfully
disposed of the sums in the accounts by paying them to Judith, and that the estate was
damaged by Fifth Third’s acts. Consequently, the trial court erred in rendering summary
judgment to Fifth Third on this cause of action. Instead, judgment should have been
rendered in favor of James, as executor of the estate. We do agree that summary
judgment on this point was properly granted to Judith, as she was not the party wrongfully
disposing of the assets. The claim against Judith was more properly classified as one
for unjust enrichment, as we will explain below. Accordingly, the assignment of error is
sustained with respect to the summary judgment on conversion granted to Fifth Third, but
overruled as to Judith.
E. Unjust Enrichment
{¶ 70} The final issue relates t0 the summary judgment granted to Judith (subpart
B). As indicated, the only claims against Judith were for conversion and unjust
enrichment. The trial court granted summary judgment in Judith’s favor on the unjust
enrichment claim even though she had not moved for summary judgment, and it gave no
reasons for doing so. Decision on Summary Judgment at p. 8-9. Presumably, the
-29-
court’s decision was based on its prior conclusion that the money in the accounts was
properly paid to Judith as the POD beneficiary.
{¶ 71} “Unjust enrichment occurs when a person has and retains money or
benefits that in justice and equity belong to another.” Union Sav. Bank v. White Family
Cos., Inc., 167 Ohio App. 3d 51, 2006-Ohio-2629, 853 N.E.2d 1182, ¶ 26 (2d Dist.), citing
Hummel v. Hummel, 133 Ohio St. 520, 14 N.E.2d 923 (1938). “ ‘A person who has been
unjustly enriched at the expense of another is required to make restitution to the other.’ ”
Dixon v. Smith, 119 Ohio App. 3d 308, 317, 695 N.E.2d 284 (3d Dist.1997), quoting
Restatement of the Law 1st, Restitution, Section 1 at 12 (1937).
{¶ 72} For the reasons previously discussed, the trial court erred in entering
summary judgment in Judith’s favor on this claim. Based on the undisputed facts and
applicable law, the proceeds of Leslie’s savings and checking accounts were improperly
paid to Judith and should have been paid to Leslie’s estate. Judith, therefore, retains
money that belongs to another. Consequently, James’s assignment of error is sustained
as to the grant of summary judgment in Judith’s favor on the unjust enrichment claim.
III. Conclusion
{¶ 73} James’s sole assignment of error having been sustained in part and
overruled in part, the judgment of the trial court is reversed as to the summary judgment
rendered in favor of Fifth Third on the breach of contract and conversion claims. The
summary judgment in favor of Fifth Third on the claims for bad faith, negligence, and
estoppel are affirmed. In addition, the summary judgment in Judith’s favor is affirmed as
to the conversion claim and reversed as to the claim for unjust enrichment. This cause
-30-
is remanded to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
.............
FROELICH, J. and HALL, J., concur.
Copies sent to:
T. Andrew Vollmar
Todd E. Bryant
Nathan H. Blaske
Harry W. Cappel
Hon. Scott Altenburger