[Cite as Rawlin Graves Co, L.P.A. v. Jatsek Constr. Co., Inc., 2014-Ohio-1952.]
Court of Appeals of Ohio
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
No. 100587
RAWLIN GRAVENS CO., L.P.A.
PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT
vs.
JATSEK CONSTRUCTION CO., INC., ET AL.
DEFENDANTS-APPELLEES
JUDGMENT:
AFFIRMED
Civil Appeal from the
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Case No. CV-13-800585
BEFORE: Jones, P.J., Rocco, J., and Blackmon, J.
RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: May 8, 2014
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT
Stephanie L. Simon
Kimberly A. Brennan
Ronald V. Rawlin
Rawlin Gravens & Pilawa Co., L.P.A.
55 Public Square
Suite 850
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE
Joseph T. George
Law Offices of Joseph T. George
2450 One Cleveland Center
1375 East Ninth Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
LARRY A. JONES, SR., P.J.:
{¶1} Plaintiff-appellant Rawlin Gravens Company, L.P.A., appeals from the trial
court’s October 2, 2013 judgment granting defendant-appellee Wayne Jatsek’s motion to
vacate judgment. We affirm.
I. Procedural History
{¶2} Rawlin Gravens is an Ohio law firm. In January 2013, the firm filed an
action against Jatsek Construction Company and Wayne Jatsek alleging that the defendants
had contracted with the firm for legal representation. The complaint alleged that the
parties’ attorney-client relationship ended in November 2011, and that outstanding legal
fees were due and owing at that time. According to the complaint, the defendants failed
to pay those fees.
{¶3} The firm brought claims against the defendants for breach of contract,
quantum meruit, quantum valebant, and unjust enrichment. The complaint also sought to
pierce the corporate veil and hold Wayne Jatsek liable in his individual capacity.
{¶4} Service was perfected on Wayne Jatsek on February 22, 2013, and on Jatsek
Construction on April 3, 2013. On March 27, 2013, both defendants sought an extension
of time to answer, move, or otherwise respond to the complaint; the motion was granted
and the defendants were given until April 26, 2013, to file a responsive pleading.
{¶5} On April 25, 2013, a case management conference was held by phone, and
counsel for the parties participated. The court set the defendants’ answer date for May
28, 2013, and motion to dismiss date for June 7, 2013. The next activity occurred on
August 6, 2013, when the law firm filed a motion for default judgment. Another
telephone conference was held on August 8, 2013, and counsel for the parties participated.
{¶6} On August 31, 2013, the trial court granted the law firm’s default judgment
motion, as to liability only. The court ordered the firm to submit an affidavit as to its
damages within 14 days.
{¶7} On September 4, 2013, Wayne Jatsek filed a motion to dismiss, or in the
alternative, a motion for summary judgment. On September 5, 2013, the firm filed its
affidavit as to its damages, and filed a motion to strike Wayne’s motion to dismiss the
following day.
{¶8} On September 12, 2013, the trial court issued a judgment for the firm and
against the defendants, jointly and severally, in the amount of $15,856.01. The court also
denied Wayne’s motion to dismiss, and the firm’s motion to strike, as moot.
{¶9} On September 16, 2013, Wayne filed a motion to vacate judgment under
Civ.R. 60(B)(5), which the firm opposed. The trial court granted Wayne’s motion on
October 2, 2013, and granted him 28 days to file a responsive pleading. On October 7,
the firm filed a motion to reconsider that the court denied on October 23, 2013.
{¶10} Wayne filed a motion to dismiss, or alternatively, motion for summary
judgment on October 30, 2013; the trial court stayed the case pending resolution of this
appeal, in which the firm raises the following two errors:
[I.] The trial court erred and abused its discretion by granting
defendant-appellee’s motion to vacate pursuant to Civil Rule 60(B)(5),
vacating its August 31, 2013 default judgment and the September 12, 2013
entry in favor of appellant.
[II.] The trial court erred and abused its discretion by providing appellee
with 28 * * * additional days in which to file an answer or otherwise respond
to plaintiff’s complaint, after the time period for such responsive pleading
had expired, as appellee did not comply * * * with [the] procedures as
outlined in Civil Rule 6(B)(2) for extensions of time for untimely filings.
II. Law and Analysis
{¶11} This court reviews Civ.R. 60(B) motions under an abuse of discretion
standard. Render v. Belle, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 93181, 2010-Ohio-2344, ¶ 8, citing
Associated Estates Corp. v. Fellows, 11 Ohio App.3d 112, 463 N.E.2d 417 (8th
Dist.1983). An abuse of discretion “implies that the court’s attitude is unreasonable,
arbitrary or unconscionable.” Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219, 450
N.E.2d 1140 (1983). In reviewing for an abuse of discretion, this court does not
substitute its judgment for that of the trial court. In re Jane Doe I, 57 Ohio St.3d 135,
138, 566 N.E.2d 1181 (1990), citing Berk v. Matthews, 53 Ohio St.3d 161, 169, 559
N.E.2d 1301 (1990).
{¶12} In order to prevail on a motion for relief from judgment under Civ.R. 60(B),
the moving party must establish 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.
GTE Automatic Elec., Inc. v. ARC Industries, Inc., 47 Ohio St.2d 146, 351 N.E.2d 113
(1976), paragraph two of the syllabus. As a general rule, where the moving party has a
meritorious defense and the motion is timely made, any doubt should be resolved in favor
of granting the motion for relief, setting aside the judgment, and deciding the case on its
merits. Id. at 151.
{¶13} Civ.R. 60(B) delineates various means by which a party can obtain relief
from a final judgment:
On motion and upon such terms as are just, the court may relieve a party or
his legal representative from a final judgment, order or proceeding for the
following reasons: (1) mistake, inadvertence, surprise or excusable
neglect; (2) newly discovered evidence which by due diligence could not
have been discovered in time to move for a new trial under Rule 59(B); (3)
fraud (whether heretofore denominated intrinsic or extrinsic),
misrepresentation or other misconduct of an adverse party; (4) the judgment
has been satisfied, released or discharged, or a prior judgment upon which it
is based has been reversed or otherwise vacated, or it is no longer equitable
that the judgment should have prospective application; or (5) any other
reason justifying relief from the judgment.
Civ.R. 60(B). The rule further provides that the motion “shall be made within a
reasonable time, and for reasons (1), (2), and (3) not more than one year after the
judgment, order or proceeding was entered or taken.” Id.
{¶14} For his meritorious defense, Wayne contends that the legal representation the
firm provided was for Jatsek Construction, as opposed to for him in his individual
capacity.
{¶15} In regard to the grounds for relief enumerated under Civ.R. 60(B)(1)-(5),
Wayne contends that inadvertent mistake caused him to not file a timely responsive
pleading. Specifically, his attorney states that he was “overwhelmed with his law
practice which was transitioning itself to a larger firm with three new partners and an
entirely new calendering system, [and] counsel * * * was also struggling to care for his
grandmother whose health has been in sharp decline.” Counsel stated that he had been
his grandmother’s primary caretaker for the past 13 years.
{¶16} Moreover, Wayne contends that his motion to vacate was made within a
reasonable period of time, that being approximately two weeks after the default judgment
was granted.
{¶17} Upon review, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by granting Wayne’s
motion to vacate. We are not persuaded by the firm’s contention that the court did abuse
its discretion because the firm pled a claim for piercing the corporate veil, which would
allow it to proceed to judgment against Wayne individually. Wayne presented sufficient
facts to demonstrate that he has a meritorious defense; the success of that defense is
irrelevant for Civ.R. 60(B) purposes. Parts Pro Automotive Warehouse v. Summers, 8th
Dist. Cuyahoga No. 99574, 2013-Ohio-4795, ¶ 12. Further, we find that Wayne
demonstrated inadvertence in not timely responding to the complaint, and that his motion
to vacate was timely filed.
{¶18} In light of the above, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by granting
Wayne’s motion to vacate. We acknowledge the dissent. But when in doubt as to the
propriety of granting a Civ.R. 60(B) motion, such doubt should be resolved in favor of
granting the motion, so that cases may be decided upon a more fully informed basis.
Antonopoulos v. Eisner, 30 Ohio App.2d 187, 284 N.E.2d 194 (8th Dist.1972). The trial
court gave Wayne the benefit of the doubt. Discretionary review requires deference to
the trial court unless it is found that the trial court exceeded the boundaries of its discretion
by acting in an unreasonable, unconscionable, or arbitrary manner. Wilmington Steel
Prods., Inc. v. Cleveland Elec. Illum. Co., 60 Ohio St.3d 120, 122, 573 N.E.2d 622
(1991). On the circumstances presented here, we do not so find.
{¶19} The first assignment of error is therefore overruled.
{¶20} For its second assigned error, the firm contends that the trial court abused its
discretion by sua sponte granting Wayne additional time to respond to the complaint. We
disagree.
{¶21} We review the trial court’s decision under an abuse of discretion standard.
Lemon v. Lemon, 5th Dist. Stark No. 2010CA00319, 2011-Ohio-1878, ¶ 70, citing State v.
Unger, 67 Ohio St.2d 65, 423 N.E.2d 1078 (1981). In so reviewing, we balance the trial
court’s right to control its own docket and the public’s interest in an efficient judicial
system. Id. at 67.
{¶22} In determining whether a trial court abused its discretion in denying a motion
for a continuance, an appellate court should consider the following factors: (1) the length
of the delay requested; (2) whether other continuances have been requested and received;
(3) the inconvenience to witnesses, opposing counsel, and the court; (4) whether there is a
legitimate reason for the continuance; (5) whether the defendant contributed to the
circumstances giving rise to the need for the continuance, and (6) other relevant factors,
depending on the unique facts of each case. Id. at 67-68.
{¶23} Upon review, the trial court did not abuse its discretion. At the time the
trial court granted Wayne additional time to respond, the case had been pending for less
than a year, and the court granted Wayne less than a month to respond; neither times were
unreasonable. No witnesses were inconvenienced and any inconvenience to the
opposing party and counsel were not substantial; further, any inconvenience to the court
was apparently also not substantial. And Wayne is ready to defend in this action, and has
filed a motion to dismiss, which is pending until the resolution of this appeal.
{¶24} In light of the above, the second assignment of error is overruled.
{¶25} Judgment affirmed.
It is ordered that appellees recover of appellant costs herein taxed.
The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the Cuyahoga
County Court of Common Pleas to carry this judgment into execution.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the
Rules of Appellate Procedure.
LARRY A. JONES, SR., PRESIDING JUDGE
PATRICIA ANN BLACKMON, J., CONCURS;
KENNETH A. ROCCO, J., DISSENTS WITH
SEPARATE OPINION
KENNETH A. ROCCO, J., DISSENTING:
{¶26} I respectfully dissent from the majority opinion’s disposition of this appeal.
From my review of the record, I conclude that appellant’s first assignment of error has
merit, and that the trial court abused its discretion in this case in granting Mr. Jatsek’s
Civ.R. 60(B) motion for relief from judgment.
{¶27} I base this conclusion on the simple fact that Mr. Jatsek supplied no
evidentiary material to the trial court that would justify the trial court’s decision. As the
majority opinion notes, in order to prevail on Civ.R. 60(B) motion, the movant must
demonstrate three particulars: (1) he has a meritorious defense to present if relief is
granted, (2) he is entitled to relief, and (3) the motion is made within a reasonable time.
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 movant is required to supply evidentiary
“material” to establish each of the foregoing. Adomeit v. Baltimore, 39 Ohio App.2d 97,
316 N.E.2d 469 (8th Dist.1974), paragraph two of the syllabus. It follows that, if the
movant fails to do so, the trial court abuses its discretion in granting the motion. Weaver
v. Colwell Fin. Corp., 73 Ohio App.3d 139, 143 (8th Dist.1992), citing Svoboda v.
Brunswick, 6 Ohio St.3d 348, 453 N.E.2d 648 (1983).
{¶28} The majority opinion bases its disposition upon material that is not a part of
the record on appeal. Rather, the majority opinion accepts as fact the excuses that
Jatsek’s counsel places in his appellate brief. This is improper. State v. Ishmail, 54 Ohio
St.2d 402, 377 N.E.2d 500 (1978), paragraph one of the syllabus. It also should be
unavailing. GTE Automatic Elec., Inc., paragraph four of the syllabus.
{¶29} Because the record reflects Mr. Jatsek supplied no evidence at all to support
his motion, I believe the trial court abused its discretion in this case. I would, therefore,
sustain appellant’s first assignment of error, declare appellant’s second assignment of error
to be moot pursuant to App.R. 12(A)(1)(c), reverse the trial court’s order, and reinstate the
default judgment in appellant’s favor.