Meadows v. Air Craft Wheels, L.L.C.

[Cite as Meadows v. Air Craft Wheels, L.L.C., 2012-Ohio-269.]

Court of Appeals of Ohio
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
No. 96782

JASON MEADOWS, ET AL.
PLAINTIFFS-APPELLANTS

vs.

AIR CRAFT WHEELS, LLC, ET AL.
DEFENDANTS-APPELLEES

JUDGMENT:
AFFIRMED

Civil Appeal from the
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Case No. CV-721595

BEFORE: S. Gallagher, J., Celebrezze, P.J., and E. Gallagher, J.

RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: January 26, 2012
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANTS

Charles V. Longo
Matthew D. Greenwell
Charles V. Longo Co., LPA
25550 Chagrin Blvd.
Suite 320
Beachwood, OH 44122

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEES

For Air Craft Wheels, LLC, et al.

Marc W. Groedel
Martin T. Galvin
Brian T. Gannon
Reminger Co., LPA
1400 Midland Building
101 Prospect Avenue, West
Cleveland, OH 44115

For Parker Hannifin Corporation

Eric S. Daniel
John R. Mitchell
Thompson Hine LLP
3900 Key Center
127 Public Square
Cleveland, OH 44114

Scott A. King
Thompson Hine LLP
Austin Landing I
10050 Innovation Drive, Suite 400
Dayton, OH 45342
SEAN C. GALLAGHER, J.:

{¶ 1} Appellants, Jason Meadows (“Meadows”) and Laurie Meadows, appeal the

rulings of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas that (1) granted summary

judgment in favor of appellee Air Craft Wheels, LLC (“ACW”), and (2) granted summary

judgment in favor of appellee Parker Hannifin Corporation (“Parker”). For the reasons

stated herein, we affirm.

{¶ 2} We adopt the following underlying facts, as set forth by the trial court:

Most of the facts surrounding Meadows’s claim are undisputed.
ACW is a magnesium and aluminum sand casting foundry. ACW
purchased the foundry in 2004 from Parker Hannifin (Parker). At the time
ACW took ownership of the foundry, many of Parker’s former workers
accepted jobs with ACW and continued to work in the foundry. ACW
maintained many of Parker’s policies, with only minor changes in the
melting process and no changes to the procedure for charging the
magnesium pot. Meadows Depo., p. 109.

Jason Meadows worked in the magnesium foundry under Parker
from October 1998 until August 2002. Meadows Depo., p. 33, 98-99.
During that time, he performed a variety of jobs, including furnace operator.
Meadows Depo., p. 33, 52. From August 2000 until August 2002,
Meadows permanently worked as a furnace operator. Meadows Depo., p.
51-52.

In June 2004, Meadows returned to work as a furnace operator at the
foundry after it was purchased by ACW. He worked there until November
2004, when he was called to active duty in the Marine Corps. He returned
to the foundry in January 2006, following his service. At that time, he was
designated as a “floater,” and performed a variety of jobs.

Both parties agree that ACW did not train Meadows as a furnace
operator. The parties disagree as to whether Meadows was formally
trained as a furnace operator by Parker. Robert Hardman and Leon Krupp,
two employees of Parker, testify that Meadows was trained to preheat the
magnesium ingots by placing them on top of the furnace before inserting
them into the furnace. See Robert Hardman Depo., p. 22, 29; Leon Krupp
 Depo., p. 50-51. Meadows acknowledges that he received on-the-job
training, but testifies that he was never instructed to preheat the ingots
before melting them. Meadows Depo., p. 89, 199, 259.

Motions for Summary Judgment require the Court to construe all
evidence in favor of nonmoving party. Civ.R. 56(C). However, the
totality of that evidence supports the Defendant’s position. By his own
admission, Plaintiff had safely inserted magnesium ingots into a furnace
“thousands” of times prior to the accident, was aware of the dangers of
heated magnesium, and knew to take precautions to ensure the magnesium
ingots were dry before they were inserted into the furnace. Meadows
Depo., p. 174-175, 177-178, 223-224. There is no genuine issue of
material fact as to Meadows’s experience as a furnace operator and
knowledge of the dangers associated with melting magnesium.

On the morning of August 1, 2006, Meadows was assigned to the
melt deck. Meadows Depo., p. 126. There, he was responsible for
inserting magnesium ingots into the furnace, melting and pouring the
magnesium into molds. Meadows Depo., p. 131-132. Meadows placed
two ingots into the furnace, which then exploded suddenly and without
warning. Meadows Depo., p. 131-132, 177-178. It is undisputed that the
explosion was due to moisture on the magnesium ingots at the time
Meadows placed them into the furnace. Meadows was not wearing a face
mask or protective equipment at the time. Molten magnesium exploded
onto his face and body, causing severe second and third degree burns, and
leaving him partially blind and totally disabled.

Plaintiffs set forth several claims in their original complaint, but they
have abandoned all theories of ACW’s liability except for Count 1, which
alleges that ACW “deliberately misrepresented a toxic or hazardous
substance,” actionable pursuant to R.C. 2745.01(C).

{¶ 3} Appellants filed a complaint against ACW, Parker, and Airgas Safety, Inc.1

The complaint included claims against ACW for employer intentional tort, negligence,

and negligent storage. The complaint stated claims against Parker for joint enterprise

1
Appellants represent that they settled their claims against Airgas.
liability and negligent design, engineering, and manufacture. A loss of consortium claim

was also set forth.

{¶ 4} Parker filed a motion for summary judgment, claiming that “(1) Parker and

ACW did not act with deliberate intent to cause Meadows’ injuries; (2) Parker neither

owed nor breached any duty of care that caused those injuries; and (3) any alleged

tortious conduct by ACW cannot be imputed to Parker.” The trial court granted Parker’s

motion without opinion on October 13, 2010.

{¶ 5} ACW filed a motion for summary judgment claiming that “(1) [ACW] did

not deliberately intend to injure [Meadows]; (2) plaintiffs’ negligence claims are barred

by the Ohio Workers’ Compensation Act; (3) plaintiffs’ joint enterprise claim fails as a

matter of law; and (4) R.C. 2745.01 is constitutional.” The trial court issued a detailed

opinion granting ACW’s motion on April 13, 2011.

{¶ 6} Appellants timely filed this appeal, challenging the summary judgment

rulings of the trial court. Appellate review of summary judgment is de novo, governed

by the standard set forth in Civ.R. 56. Comer v. Risko, 106 Ohio St.3d 185,

2005-Ohio-4559, 833 N.E.2d 712, ¶ 8. Accordingly, we afford no deference to the trial

court’s decision and independently review the record to determine whether summary

judgment is appropriate. Hollins v. Shaffer, 182 Ohio App.3d 282, 2009-Ohio-2136, 912

N.E.2d 637, ¶ 12 (8th Dist). Under Civ.R. 56(C), summary judgment is proper when all

relevant materials to be considered under the rule reveal 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.”
The evidence must be construed most strongly in the nonmoving party’s favor and

“summary judgment shall not be rendered” unless those materials establish 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 * * *.” Id.

{¶ 7} Appellants’ first assignment of error provides as follows: “I. The trial

court erred when it granted appellee [ACW’s] motion for summary judgment because

appellants presented sufficient evidence demonstrating that ACW committed an employer

intentional tort under R.C. 2745.01.”

{¶ 8} Under Ohio law, employees are generally limited to the remedy provided

under the Workers’ Compensation Act for injuries sustained in the workplace. R.C.

4123.74. A limited exception exists under R.C. 2745.01, which permits an employee to

recover for an employer intentional tort as follows:

(A) In an action brought against an employer by an employee, or by
the dependent survivors of a deceased employee, for damages resulting
from an intentional tort committed by the employer during the course of
employment, the employer shall not be liable unless the plaintiff proves that
the employer committed the tortious act with the intent to injure another or
with the belief that the injury was substantially certain to occur.

(B) As used in this section, “substantially certain” means that an
employer acts with deliberate intent to cause an employee to suffer an
injury, a disease, a condition, or death.

(C) Deliberate removal by an employer of an equipment safety guard
or deliberate misrepresentation of a toxic or hazardous substance creates a
rebuttable presumption that the removal or misrepresentation was
committed with intent to injure another if an injury or an occupational
disease or condition occurs as a direct result.
 (D) This section does not apply to claims arising during the course of
employment involving discrimination, civil rights, retaliation, harassment in
violation of Chapter 4112. of the Revised Code, intentional infliction of
emotional distress not compensable under Chapters 4121. and 4123. of the
Revised Code, contract, promissory estoppel, or defamation.

{¶ 9} The above statute requires an employee to prove that his employer

committed a tortious act with intent to injure another or with belief that the injury was

substantially certain to occur, but with “substantially certain” statutorily defined as acting

with deliberate intent to cause an employee to suffer injury. Holloway v. Area Temps,

8th Dist. No. 93842, 2010-Ohio-2106, 2010 WL 1919939, ¶ 13. “‘Deliberate’ means:

‘characterized by or resulting from careful and thorough consideration — a deliberate

decision.’ Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (10 Ed.1996) 305.” Forwerck v.

Principle Business Ents., Inc., 6th Dist. No. WD-10-040, 2011-Ohio-489, 2011 WL

346431, ¶ 21.

{¶ 10} The Ohio Supreme Court confirmed the constitutional validity of the

current version of the statute in Kaminski v. Metal & Wire Prods. Co., 125 Ohio St.3d

250, 2010-Ohio-1027, 927 N.E.2d 1066, and Stetter v. R.J. Corman Derailment Servs.,

L.L.C., 125 Ohio St.3d 280, 2010-Ohio-1029, 927 N.E.2d 1092. In Kaminski, the court

recognized that while the statute does not eliminate the common-law cause of action for

an employer intentional tort, it constrains such an action. Id. at ¶ 56-57, 98. As the

court explained, “the General Assembly’s intent in enacting R.C. 2745.01, as expressed

particularly in 2745.01(B), is to permit recovery for employer intentional torts only when

an employer acts with specific intent to cause an injury, subject to subsections (C) and
(D).” Id. at ¶ 56. Initially, appellants have not shown that they are entitled to a

presumption of intent under R.C. 2745.01(C). There is an absence of evidence showing

a deliberate removal of any equipment safety guard. Indeed, there is no evidence that a

safety guard was ever removed from the machinery involved in the explosion. Further,

Meadows acknowledged in his deposition that safety equipment, including safety jackets

and face masks, was available. He chose not to wear the personal protective equipment

provided. As he stated in his deposition, “Been working there for so many years, didn’t

see the reason to wear it.” Therefore, the evidence fails to reflect that ACW deliberately

removed any safety equipment.

{¶ 11} Further, there is no evidence showing a deliberate misrepresentation of a

toxic or hazardous substance. While appellants would have us read the

hazardous-substance provision to include a deliberate misrepresentation of the safety of

procedures for handling, storing, and melting magnesium, we are unpersuaded by their

argument. Such an interpretation is not consistent with the plain language of R.C.

2745.01(C). Case law suggests there needs to be a misrepresentation as to the nature or

degree of the dangers posed by the hazardous substance itself. See Sanfrey v. USM

Corp., 12th Dist. No. CA90-02-003, 1990 WL 208869 (Dec. 17, 1990), rev’d on other

grounds, 61 Ohio St.3d 718, 576 N.E.2d 789 (1991); Hamlin v. Snow Metal Prods., 15

Ohio St.3d 90, 472 N.E.2d 1046 (1984). This is not tantamount to a misrepresentation

concerning the safety of procedures for handling a hazardous substance whose dangers

are known.
 {¶ 12} In this case, there is no evidence that ACW concealed or misrepresented the

dangers inherent in melting magnesium. The record reflects that all parties were aware

that molten magnesium is a dangerous substance. Meadows was an experienced furnace

operator and his deposition testimony reflects he was aware that placing wet or nonheated

magnesium into the furnace could cause a dangerous reaction. There is no evidence that

ACW represented otherwise. Any failures by ACW to implement and follow mandated

safety procedures, or representations as to the safety of the processes and procedures

used, did not amount to a deliberate misrepresentation of a hazardous substance. In the

absence of evidence supporting a presumption of intent under R.C. 2745.01(C),

appellants must point to some evidence of an actual or deliberate intent to cause an

employee to suffer injury.

{¶ 13} In Kaminski, the court expressed as follows:

R.C. 2745.01 by no means places Ohio outside the national
mainstream relative to employer intentional torts and the exclusivity of the
workers’ compensation remedy. Rather, R.C. 2745.01 appears to
harmonize the law of this state with the law that governs a clear majority of
jurisdictions. “The common-law liability of the employer cannot, under the
almost unanimous rule, be stretched to include accidental injuries caused by
the gross, wanton, wilful, deliberate, intentional, reckless, culpable, or
malicious negligence, breach of statute, or other misconduct of the
employer short of a conscious and deliberate intent directed to the purpose
of inflicting an injury. (Footnote omitted.) 6 Larson’s Workers’
Compensation Law (2008), Section 103.03. Kaminski, 125 Ohio St.3d
250, 2010-Ohio-1027, 927 N.E.2d 1066, at ¶ 100.

{¶ 14} The statute means what it says, and requires an actual or deliberate intention

to injure the employee. As noted in Kaminski,
 [Professor Larson’s treatise] reasons that “[e]ven if the alleged conduct
goes beyond aggravated negligence, and includes such elements as
knowingly permitting a hazardous work condition to exist, knowingly
ordering employees to perform an extremely dangerous job, wilfully failing
to furnish a safe place to work, wilfully violating a safety statute, failing to
protect employees from crime, refusing to respond to an employee’s
medical needs and restrictions, or withholding information about worksite
hazards, the conduct still falls short of actual intention to injure that robs the
injury of accidental character.” (Footnotes omitted.) Id. at Section
103.03. Kaminski at ¶ 100, fn. 16.

{¶ 15} Both parties refer to this court’s previous decision in Houdek v.

ThyssenKrupp Materials N.A., Inc., 8th Dist. No. 95399, 2011-Ohio-1694, 2011 WL

1326374, appeal not allowed, 129 Ohio St.3d 1504, 2011-Ohio-5358, 955 N.E.2d 386,

reconsideration granted, 130 Ohio St.3d 1500, 2011-Ohio-6556, 958 N.E.2d 961.2 In

that case, the employer had given specific directives that placed the employee in harm’s

way despite being specifically warned of the dangers involved just prior to the injury

occurring. Id. The court found genuine issues of material fact existed as to whether an

employer objectively believed injury to an employee was substantially certain to occur.

Id. at ¶ 46. The panel distinguished Kaminski, where there was a stark absence of

employer directives. Id. at ¶ 29.

{¶ 16} Unlike Houdek, in this case, there is no evidence that the employer’s direct

orders placed Meadows in harm’s way. There was evidence showing that ACW had

been cited for safety violations, failed to require its employees to utilize certain mandated

safety equipment, did not maintain written safety policies, and did not adhere to industry

2
Upon reconsideration, the Ohio Supreme Court accepted an appeal from this court’s
decision.
standards in handling molten magnesium. However, the evidence falls short of showing

a conscious and deliberate intent to cause Meadows’s injuries.

{¶ 17} Appellants argue that deliberate intent is evinced by ACW’s deliberate

choice not to inform or warn its employees of the extreme dangers associated with the

hazardous substance, together with its failure to require its employees to properly preheat

the ingots to remove moisture and its failure to require the use of face shields. Though

appellants phrase ACW’s knowledge and inaction as being conscious and deliberate, the

evidence does not reflect ACW committed a tortious act with the specific intent to cause

an employee injury.

{¶ 18} Even when an employer is aware of a dangerous condition and fails to take

action to correct the situation, such conduct does not meet the statutory requirements

without evidence of an actual intent to cause injury. See Hubble v. Haviland Plastic

Prods. Co., 3d Dist. No. 11-10-07, 2010-Ohio-6379, 2010 WL 5541117, ¶ 9. Also, the

failure to provide protective equipment and the failure to adequately train and supervise

do not rise to the level of a deliberate intent to cause injury. See McCarthy v. Sterling

Chems., Inc., 193 Ohio App.3d 164, 2011-Ohio-887, 951 N.E.2d 441, ¶ 14 (1st Dist.);

Fickle v. Conversion Technologies Internatl., Inc., 6th Dist. No. WM-10-016,

2011-Ohio-2960, 2011 WL 2436750, ¶ 48. Further, alleged deficiencies in training,

safety procedures, safety equipment, instructions, or warnings, have been found to show

recklessness, but are insufficient to create a genuine issue of material fact as to deliberate
intent. See Roberts v. RMB Ents., Inc., 12th Dist. No. CA2011-03-060, 2011-Ohio-6223,

2011 WL 6017958.

{¶ 19} Here, ACW’s conduct in failing to implement and/or enforce mandated

procedures in working with molten magnesium, despite the known dangers associated

therewith, was clearly reprehensible. There is no doubt that Meadows’s accident was a

tragic incident that could have been prevented. However, we cannot ignore the restraints

placed on employer intentional tort law. Barring a showing of a rebuttable presumption

under R.C. 2745.01(C), a claim necessarily fails in the absence of evidence of a specific

intent to injure. While the evidence reflects ACW’s conduct amounted to a reckless

disregard for the safety of its employees, its conduct did not rise to the level of an

employer intentional tort. Construing all materials in a light most favorable to

appellants, the only conclusion that can be reached on this record under R.C. 2745.01 is

that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact. Appellants’ first assignment of

error is overruled.

{¶ 20} Appellants’ second assignment of error provides as follows: “The trial court

erred when it granted appellee [Parker’s] motion for summary judgment because

[appellants] presented sufficient evidence establishing Parker’s direct liability and/or

vicarious liability as a joint venturer.”

{¶ 21} Meadows was employed by Parker until 2002. Subsequent to the 2004

transfer of the foundry, he was hired by ACW. His injuries were sustained in 2006.

Thus, at the time of the incident, he was an employee of ACW.
 {¶ 22} Nonetheless, appellants argue Parker’s active participation in the day-to-day

operations of the foundry supports its claims of direct negligence and joint venture

liability. We find no merit to appellants’ argument.

A joint business adventure, compositively defined, is an association
of persons with intent, by way of contract, express or implied, to engage in
the carry out [sic] a single business adventure for joint profit, for which
purpose they combine their efforts, property, money, skill and knowledge,
without creating a partnership, and agree that there shall be a community of
interest among them as to the purpose of the undertaking, and that each
coadventurer shall stand in the relation of principal, as well as agent, as to
each of the other coadventurers, with an equal right of control of the means
employed to carry out the common purpose of the adventure. Ford v.
McCue, 163 Ohio St. 498, 504, 127 N.E.2d 209 (1955).

Where a joint business venture exists, each party is liable for the tortious acts of the other

committed within the scope of the joint venture. Clifton v. Van Dresser Corp., 73 Ohio

App.3d 202, 211, 596 N.E.2d 1075 (6th Dist.1991), citing Vrabel v. Acri, 156 Ohio St.

467, 472, 103 N.E.2d 564 (1952).

{¶ 23} We have already found that the evidence in this case fails to support

appellants’ employer intentional tort claim. Thus, Parker cannot be held liable under a

joint venture theory. Additionally, the evidence herein fails to support a finding that

ACW and Parker were engaged in a joint venture.

{¶ 24} A number of contracts arose from the sale of the foundry to ACW,

including an asset purchase agreement, a lease agreement, and a network procurement

agreement. The asset purchase agreement (“APA”) specifically negated a joint venture,

providing as follows:
 Buyer [ACW] and Seller [Parker] are independent contracting
parties. Neither party will, in any manner, represent that it or its employees
or agents are employees or agents of the other. Nothing in this Agreement
will be construed as authorizing either party to create or assume any
obligation or liability in the name of the other or subject the other to any
obligation or liability. This Agreement will not constitute, create, give
effect to or otherwise imply a joint venture, polling arrangement,
partnership or formal business organization of any kind, other than a
supplier-purchaser relationship pursuant to the provision of the Supply
Agreement during the term thereof. (Emphasis added.)

{¶ 25} Insofar as appellants claim Parker was in breach of the APA because it was

not in compliance with applicable law and regulations when it transferred the foundry,

Parker owed no duty to Meadows under this agreement. The record fails to support a

finding that Meadows, who was not employed by either company at the time the APA

was executed, was an intended third-party beneficiary of the contract. Further, the record

fails to establish any breach of the APA or deficiencies in Parker’s processes or training

was a proximate cause of Meadows’s injuries.

{¶ 26} The lease agreement provided for the lease of the property upon which the

foundry was located pending the transfer of title to the property. Parker provided ACW

with a limited warranty deed on July 29, 2005, though the deed was not recorded until

June 15, 2007.

{¶ 27} The network procurement agreement established an “on-going relationship”

for ACW’s supply of certain goods and/or services to Parker. While the agreement was

intended to improve competitiveness and to create cost savings and benefits to both

parties, there was no agreement to share the profits from the foundry or an agreement to

share losses. There must be “[a]n agreement for a division of the profits between the
parties * * *. There must also be a sharing of losses * * *.” Ford, 163 Ohio St. at 503,

127 N.E.2d 209. Further, insofar as the agreement required ACW to comply with

Parker’s specifications and required notification and approval for process changes, it did

not establish joint control over the enterprise. Parker did not have an equal right to direct

and govern the operations, policies, or employees of ACW.

{¶ 28} The evidence reflects that Parker and ACW established an ongoing,

beneficial relationship. Parker assisted in training ACW employees, performed

maintenance work for ACW, handled shipments of magnesium for ACW, shared waste

disposal services, paid an experienced employee a bonus for staying on with ACW, and

derived certain joint benefits from the network procurement agreement. However, the

arrangement did not amount to a joint venture. Simply stated, “[t]he contract and

operations under it in the instant case do not meet the tests of the relationship of joint

adventure, and substantial evidence of the essential elements of joint adventure is

necessary for the submission of the issue of the existence of that relationship to the jury.”

Ford, 163 Ohio St. at 505, 127 N.E.2d 209.

{¶ 29} Appellants also argue that apart from joint venture liability, the evidence

supports its claims of direct negligence against Parker. There was evidence showing that

following the transfer of the foundry to ACW, Parker was involved in training ACW

furnace operators on melting and pouring magnesium. However, they point to no

evidence showing that Parker trained Meadows while he was employed at ACW and they

fail to show how any former training extended a duty beyond the employment
relationship. Further, appellants fail to show how Parker’s training of employees,

maintenance and equipment repairs, handling and storage of magnesium ingots, or any

other pre- or post- sale conduct was a proximate cause of Meadows’s injuries. They also

fail to point to any law supporting its assertion of a negligent design claim against Parker

in the context asserted herein.

{¶ 30} Meadows testified that he was aware that water and magnesium do not mix

very well and that it is a bad idea to place cold items into molten metal. He had been

injured in the past by his failure to take steps to preheat objects being placed in molten

metal. He testified to setting pieces aside and to a process of removing moisture before

placing ingots into the furnace. He testified to differences in the operation processes

implemented by ACW in working with metals from those that were used when Parker

owned the foundry. There were also changes made to the types of personal protective

equipment available to employees at ACW. While Meadows was wearing some

protective equipment at the time of the accident, he was not wearing the full complement

of personal protective equipment that was made available, including a protective face

mask.

{¶ 31} Because the evidence fails to support a finding of breach of duty or

proximate cause, appellants’ direct claims of negligence fail as a matter of law.

Accordingly, we find the trial court did not err in granting Parker’s motion for summary

judgment. Appellants’ second assignment of error is overruled.

Judgment affirmed.
 It is ordered that appellees recover from 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 common

pleas court 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.

SEAN C. GALLAGHER, JUDGE

FRANK D. CELEBREZZE, P.J., and
EILEEN A. GALLAGHER, J., CONCUR