Reeves v. Ohio Dept. of Transp.

[Cite as Reeves v. Ohio Dept. of Transp., 2011-Ohio-6951.] Court of Claims of Ohio The Ohio Judicial Center 65 South Front Street, Third Floor Columbus, OH 43215 614.387.9800 or 1.800.824.8263 www.cco.state.oh.us KEITH L. REEVES Plaintiff v. OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Defendant Case No. 2011-06544-AD Deputy Clerk Daniel R. Borchert MEMORANDUM DECISION FINDINGS OF FACT {¶1} Plaintiff, Keith Reeves, filed this action against defendant, Department of Transportation (ODOT), alleging that he suffered property damage to his car as a proximate result of negligence on the part of ODOT in maintaining a hazardous condition on Leonard Avenue in Columbus, Ohio. Plaintiff related he had traveled “down 71 North to 670 East exit to Leonard Ave” when his vehicle struck a pothole. The impact of striking the pothole bent the rim of a tire on plaintiff’s vehicle. In his complaint, plaintiff requested damages in the amount of $135.00, the stated cost of automotive repair expenses and reimbursement of the filing fee. The $25.00 filing fee was paid. {¶2} Defendant filed an investigation report requesting plaintiff’s claim be dismissed due to the fact the City of Columbus and not ODOT bears the maintenance responsibility for the area where plaintiff’s incident occurred. In support of the request to dismiss, ODOT stated, “[d]efendant has performed an investigation of this site and the City of Columbus takes care of these roads.” Defendant submitted documentation (Exhibit A) showing that the particular section of Leonard Avenue is located within the maintenance jurisdiction of the City of Columbus. ODOT advised, “[a]s such, this section of roadway is not within the maintenance jurisdiction of the defendant.” The site of the damage-causing incident was located in the City of Columbus. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW {¶3} R.C. 2743.10(A) provides: {¶4} “(A) ‘State’ means the state of Ohio, including, but not limited to, the general assembly, the supreme court, the offices of all elected state officers, and all departments, boards, offices, commissions, agencies, institutions, and other instrumentalities of the state. ‘State’ does not include political subdivisions.” {¶5} R.C. 2743.02(A)(1) states in pertinent part: {¶6} “(A)(1) The state hereby waives its immunity from liability, except as provided for the office of the state fire marshal in division (G)(1) of section 9.60 and division (B) of section 3737.221 of the Revised Code and subject to division (H) of this section, and consents to be sued, and have its liability determined, in the court of claims created in this chapter in accordance with the same rules of law applicable to suits between private parties, except that the determination of liability is subject to the limitations set forth in this chapter and, in the case of state universities or colleges, in section 3345.40 of the Revised Code, and except as provided in division (A)(2) or (3) of this section. To the extent that the state has previously consented to be sued, this chapter has no applicability.” {¶7} 3) R.C. 5501.31 in pertinent part states: {¶8} “Except in the case of maintaining, repairing, erecting traffic signs on, or pavement marking of state highways within villages, which is mandatory as required by section 5521.01 of the Revised Code, and except as provided in section 5501.49 of the Revised Code, no duty of constructing, reconstructing, widening, resurfacing, maintaining, or repairing state highways within municipal corporations, or the bridges and culverts thereon, shall attach to or rest upon the director . . .” {¶9} The site of the damage-causing incident was not within the maintenance jurisdiction of defendant. Consequently, plaintiff’s case is dismissed. Court of Claims of Ohio The Ohio Judicial Center 65 South Front Street, Third Floor Columbus, OH 43215 614.387.9800 or 1.800.824.8263 www.cco.state.oh.us KEITH L. REEVES Plaintiff v. OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Defendant Case No. 2011-06544-AD Deputy Clerk Daniel R. Borchert ENTRY OF ADMINISTRATIVE DETERMINATION Having considered all the evidence in the claim file and, for the reasons set forth in the memorandum decision filed concurrently herewith, plaintiff’s claim is DISMISSED. Court costs are assessed against plaintiff. ________________________________ DANIEL R. BORCHERT Deputy Clerk Entry cc: Keith L. Reeves Jerry Wray, Director 3091 Clermont Road Department of Transportation Columbus, Ohio 43227 1980 West Broad Street Columbus, Ohio 43223 9/1 Filed 9/13/11 Sent to S.C. reporter 1/27/12