[Cite as Goodman v. Am. Elec. Power, 2015-Ohio-5130.]
COURT OF APPEALS
GUERNSEY COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
MARK L. GOODMAN JUDGES:
Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P. J.
Plaintiff-Appellant Hon. William B. Hoffman, J.
Hon. John W. Wise, J.
-vs-
Case No. 15 CA 13
AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER, et al.
Defendants-Appellees OPINION
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Civil Appeal from the Court of Common
Pleas, Case No. 14 PI 000246
JUDGMENT: Affirmed
DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: December 9, 2015
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellant For Defendant-Appellee Ohio Power
MATTHEW J. CARTY JAMES R. BLAKE
RYAN M. HARRELL JUDE B. STREB
ELK & ELK CO., LTD. DAY KETTERER LTD.
6105 Parkland Boulevard 200 Market Avenue North, P.O. Box 24213
Mayfield Heights, Ohio 44124 Canton, Ohio 44701
Guernsey County, Case No. 15 CA 13 2
Wise, J.
{¶1} Plaintiff-Appellant Mark L. Goodman appeals the decision of the Guernsey
County Court of Common Pleas which granted summary judgment in favor of Defendant-
Appellee Ohio Power Company dba American Electric Power.
STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE
{¶2} This case arises from an injury suffered by Plaintiff-Appellant Mark L.
Goodman on May 26, 2012, while he was performing electrical work while permissibly on
the property of Bob Warner, a man for whom Plaintiff-Appellant Goodman had performed
residential electrical work in the past.
{¶3} Mr. Warner, a customer of Defendant Ohio Power Company dba American
Electric Power (AEP), decided to upgrade his electrical service from 60 amps to 200
amps. (Gross Depo. pp. 15-16). AEP assigned Line Servicer William Gross to perform
AEP’s portion of the upgrade. The upgrade of an electrical service was a standard job for
Gross, and he was very familiar with the type of work that had to be done. (Gross Depo.
pp. 7, 8, 16). Generally, Gross' job was to disconnect the power, replace the service drop
because it was too small for 200 amps, connect wires from the new service drop to the
customer's new entrance cable, and reconnect the power. (Gross Depo. pp. 18-20). AEP
performed this type of work as a customer service and did not charge the customer for
the work. (see Woodard Aff. ¶8).
{¶4} Mr. Warner had hired Plaintiff-Appellant Goodman to replace his entrance
cable, meter base, and electrical box and wiring inside the house. (Plaintiff’s Depo. pp.
12-13). Plaintiff-Appellant Goodman was to be paid $550.00 for the job by Warner.
Plaintiff-Appellant was to supply the materials. (Plaintiff’s Depo. p. 19).
Guernsey County, Case No. 15 CA 13 3
{¶5} Plaintiff-Appellant Goodman had done other maintenance jobs for Warner
in the past. (Plaintiff’s Depo. p. 13). Goodman had never had any formal training to do
electrical work, although he had had some experience doing electrical work on a part-
time basis, including installing approximately 30 entrance cables and meter boxes in the
past. (Plaintiff’s Depo. 13-14, 16). Goodman owned a 24-foot aluminum ladder, which he
took to Warner's house. (Plaintiff’s Depo. p. 15). Goodman always used a ladder when
he did the type of work he was going to do at Warner's. (Plaintiff’s Depo. pp. 16-17).
Goodman stated that he was cognizant of the hazards of being up on a ladder but
admitted that he never used any fall protection such as tie-offs or any other type of
personal safety equipment. (Plaintiff’s Depo. pp. 15-17).
{¶6} The service upgrade at the Warner house was scheduled for May 26, 2012.
Line Servicer Gross went to the house the day before to inspect the job site. He noted
that the service drop went from the house, over the detached garage at the end of the
driveway and through quite a few trees to the transformer pole. (Gross Depo. pp. 17-18).
Gross arrived at the Warner house at approximately 9:30 a.m. on May 26, 2012. He spoke
briefly with Warner, whom he did not know, and unloaded a ladder and other AEP
equipment that he was going to use at the house. (Gross Depo. p. 22-23). Gross then
drove his truck to the transformer pole, where the service drop to Warner's house was
attached. The pole was around the block in an abandoned alley. He set up his truck at
the transformer pole, went up in the bucket and de-energized the electrical service to the
Warner house. (Gross Depo. pp. 23, 28). Gross then walked back to the house, leaving
his truck at the transformer pole. (Gross Depo. p. 28).
Guernsey County, Case No. 15 CA 13 4
{¶7} At the house, Gross set up a ladder and attached a pulley or snatch block
to it. (Gross Depo. p. 28). Gross climbed up the ladder and cut the service drop at the
house connection. He then put a rope through the pulley and tied it to the service drop.
Gross did not know where Plaintiff-Appellant Goodman was while he was doing this work.
(Gross Depo. p. 28). He observed the Goodman’s truck parked in the driveway. (Gross
Depo. p. 28).
{¶8} Plaintiff-Appellant Goodman testified that he came out of the basement of
the house where he had been working and saw Gross on the ladder cutting the service
drop off the house. (Plaintiff’s Depo. pp. 22-23). At that point, Goodman had unloaded all
his equipment off his truck except for his 24-foot ladder. (Plaintiff's Depo. p. 21). After
Gross climbed down the ladder, Gross and Goodman spoke for several minutes. The
men discussed how long it would take Plaintiff-Appellant Goodman to do his job because
Gross would not be able to re-energize the house until Goodman finished his work. (Gross
Depo. pp. 19, 24; Plaintiffs Depo. p. 23).
{¶9} Gross stated that he was aware the Plaintiff would need to utilize a ladder
to perform his work at the house, but that he did not expect that Goodman would use
AEP’s ladder to do so. (Gross Depo. p. 46). Gross stated that Plaintiff-Appellant
Goodman never asked him for permission to use AEP's ladder. It is undisputed that the
men did not have any discussion whatsoever about the use of a ladder at the job.
(Plaintiffs Depo. p. 23; Gross Depo. p. 46).
{¶10} After their conversation, Gross walked behind the garage and around the
block to the abandoned alley where the transformer pole and his truck were located.
(Gross Depo. p. 28). He planned to pull the old service drop and the attached rope to the
Guernsey County, Case No. 15 CA 13 5
pole, take off the old service drop, and tie the rope to the new service drop. He would
then go back to the house and use the rope to pull the new service drop through the pulley
to the house. (Gross Depo. pp. 31-32). Gross was utilizing the pulley on the ladder in
order to keep the service drops high enough to clear the garage and easier to pull. (Gross
Depo. p. 37). Gross believed that he would be done with this work before Plaintiff began
to work outside on the house. (Gross Depo. p. 47). In fact, Gross believed, after their
conversation, that Plaintiff-Appellant Goodman would be leaving the outside work area,
although he did not see him leave. (Gross Depo. p. 47).
{¶11} After Gross left to return to the transformer pole, Plaintiff-Appellant
Goodman climbed AEP's ladder and began removing clamps that held the entrance cable
to the side of the house. (Plaintiff’s Depo. pp. 26-27). Prior to climbing the ladder,
Goodman noted that the ladder had been set up properly at about a 45-degree angle,
and that there was a pulley attached to the ladder near the top. (Plaintiff’s Depo. p. 26,
28, 30). He admitted that he did not know what the purpose of the pulley was, but saw
that the service drop went through the pulley, hung down near the ground and then went
up and over the garage. (Plaintiff’s Depo. pp. 27-28, 43-44).
{¶12} After climbing the ladder, Plaintiff-Appellant Goodman held onto the ladder
with one hand and was using a drill with his other hand. He was standing near the top of
the ladder. (Plaintiff’s Depo. p. 42). Although Goodman had observed the service drop
going through the pulley before he climbed the ladder, he never saw the service drop
move or heard any sound like it was moving. (Plaintiff’s Depo. p. 29, 44). The top of the
ladder seemed to move away from the house and started falling straight backwards.
Goodman twisted to his left, pushed the ladder to the side and jumped off the ladder. He
Guernsey County, Case No. 15 CA 13 6
landed on the concrete driveway. (Plaintiff’s Depo. p. 29, 33-34, 45-46). Goodman
admitted that he had not looked for Gross before he climbed the ladder, nor had he let
anyone know he was going to be climbing the ladder before he went up. (Plaintiff’s Depo.
p. 28, 48). Further, he also did not yell any warning to let anyone know he was on the
ladder when the ladder began to move away from the house. (Plaintiff’s Depo. p. 48).
{¶13} During this time, Gross had gone up in the bucket truck by the transformer
pole and cut the service drop at the pole. He then began to pull the old service drop
toward him. The old service drop was attached to a rope and went through the pulley on
the ladder. (Gross Depo. p. 30-31). After pulling the old service drop for 15 to 30 seconds,
it became tight. Gross believed it was caught up in the tree branches that it was passing
through, which happens frequently. He tugged on the service drop, but it did not move.
He then gave a harder pull. About that time, he heard a yell and then heard what sounded
like a ladder striking the ground. (Gross Depo. p. 32- 33). While Gross was in the bucket
truck, he was not able to see the ladder or tell if anyone was on the ladder because of the
density of the trees between the transformer pole and the house. (Gross Depo. p. 48).
Likewise, Plaintiff-Appellant Goodman was unable to see if anyone was in the area near
the pole because of the trees. (Plaintiff’s Depo. p. 36). Gross lowered his bucket and
walked back to the job site. He observed Goodman and the ladder lying on the ground.
(Gross p. 34). Gross approached Goodman and was told that the ladder "came over" and
that he had "jumped off the ladder." (Gross Depo. p. 34). Gross stated that he had never
had a ladder fall when he was pulling a service drop through a pulley while doing this type
of job. (Gross Depo. p. 35-36, 38)
Guernsey County, Case No. 15 CA 13 7
{¶14} Plaintiff-Appellant Goodman filed a Complaint in the Guernsey County
Common Pleas Court naming "American Electric Power" and John Does I through 5 as
defendants. Plaintiff-Appellant Goodman alleged that the defendants negligently caused
him to fall from a ladder. Defendant-Appellee Ohio Power Company dba American
Electric Power filed an answer denying that it was negligent and setting forth the
affirmative defense of assumption of the risk and trespass. Plaintiff-Appellant never
amended his complaint to identify the John Does.
{¶15} Defendant-Appellee AEP moved for summary judgment on the grounds that
it owed no duty to Plaintiff-Appellant Goodman to protect him from falling from the ladder
because (1) Plaintiff-Appellant's accident was not reasonably foreseeable, (2) Plaintiff-
Appellant assumed the risk of his actions, and (3) Plaintiff-Appellant was a trespasser as
a matter of law.
{¶16} The trial court granted the motion of Defendant-Appellant AEP "on the basis
of primary assumption of the risk."
{¶17} Appellant now appeals, assigning the following error for review:
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
{¶18} “I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN GRANTING SUMMARY JUDGMENT IN
FAVOR OF APPELLEES.”
“Summary Judgment Standard”
{¶19} Summary judgment proceedings present the appellate court with the unique
opportunity of reviewing the evidence in the same manner as the trial court. Smiddy v.
The Wedding Party, Inc. (1987), 30 Ohio St.3d 35, 36. Civ.R. 56(C) provides, in pertinent
part:
Guernsey County, Case No. 15 CA 13 8
Summary judgment shall be rendered forthwith if the pleadings,
depositions, answers to interrogatories, written admissions, affidavits,
transcripts of evidence in the pending case, and written stipulations of fact,
if any, timely filed in the action, show that there is no genuine issue as to
any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a
matter of law. * * * A summary judgment shall not be rendered unless it
appears from such evidence or stipulation and only therefrom, 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, such party being entitled to have the evidence or stipulation
construed most strongly in his favor.
{¶20} Pursuant to the above rule, a trial court may not enter a summary judgment
if it appears a material fact is genuinely disputed. The party moving for summary
judgment bears the initial burden of informing the trial court of the basis for its motion and
identifying those portions of the record that demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue
of material fact. The moving party may not make a conclusory assertion that the non-
moving party has no evidence to prove its case. The moving party must specifically point
to some evidence which demonstrates the non-moving party cannot support its claim. If
the moving party satisfies this requirement, the burden shifts to the non-moving party to
set forth specific facts demonstrating there is a genuine issue of material fact for trial.
Vahila v. Hall, 77 Ohio St.3d 421, 429, 1997-Ohio-259, citing Dresher v. Burt, 75 Ohio
St.3d 280, 1996-Ohio-107.
Guernsey County, Case No. 15 CA 13 9
{¶21} It is based upon this standard that we review Appellant’s assignments of
error.
I.
{¶22} In his sole Assignment of Error, Appellant argues that the trial court erred
in granting Appellee’s motion for summary judgment. We disagree.
{¶23} As set forth above, in their motion for summary judgment, Appellee AEP
argued that it owed no duty of care to Appellant because (1) Appellant’s accident was not
reasonably foreseeable, (2) Appellant assumed the risk of his actions, and/or (3)
Appellant was a trespasser/unauthorized user of the ladder.
{¶24} In order to establish a cause of action for negligence, a plaintiff must
demonstrate that (1) the defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff; (2) the defendant
breached that duty; and (3) the plaintiff suffered injury proximately caused by the
defendant's breach of duty. Menifee v. Ohio Welding Products, Inc., 15 Ohio St.3d 75,
77, 472 N.E.2d 707 (1984).
{¶25} The elements of an ordinary negligence suit between private parties are (1)
the existence of a legal duty, (2) the defendant's breach of that duty, and (3) injury that is
the proximate cause of the defendant's breach. Mussivand v. David, 45 Ohio St.3d 314,
318, 544 N.E.2d 265 (1989).
{¶26} Ohio law recognizes three categories of assumption of the risk as defenses
to a negligence claim; express, primary, and implied or secondary. Schnetz v. Ohio Dept.
of Rehab. & Corr., 195 Ohio App.3d 207, 959 N.E.2d 554, 2011–Ohio–3927, ¶ 21 (10th
Dist.); Crace v. Kent State Univ., 185 Ohio App.3d 534, 924 N.E.2d 906, 2009–Ohio–
6898, ¶ 10 (10th Dist.).
Guernsey County, Case No. 15 CA 13 10
{¶27} In the present case, as stated above, the trial court granted summary
judgment in favor of AEP based upon the doctrine of primary assumption of the risk.
{¶28} In the instant case, Appellee argues that the activity of climbing a ladder is
an inherently dangerous activity and that by climbing the ladder in this case, Appellant
assumed the risks associated with such activity.
{¶29} Upon review, this Court finds that an analysis under “primary assumption of
the risk” is not necessary as we find Appellee herein owed no duty to Appellant.
{¶30} In Brockman v. Bell, 78 Ohio App.3d 508, 605 N.E.2d 445 (1992), the First
District Court of Appeals observed that civil liability for negligence is predicated upon
injury caused by the failure to discharge a duty recognized in law and owed to the injured
party. The existence of a duty depends on the foreseeability of the injury. The test for
foreseeability is whether a reasonably prudent person, under the same or similar
circumstances, should have anticipated that injury to another was the probable result of
his performance or nonperformance of an act. Mashburn v. Dutcher, 5th Dist. Delaware
No. 12 CAE 010003.
{¶31} Here, it was not foreseeable that Appellant would climb onto Appellee’s
ladder, while Appellee was still using the ladder as evidenced by the service drop and
rope strung through a pulley attached to the ladder, without permission or advance notice,
when Appellant had his own ladder on the premises.
{¶32} It was undisputed that Mr. Gross had no knowledge that Appellant was on
the ladder when he began pulling the service drop through the trees. Both Appellant and
Gross each admitted that the line of sight between the transformer pole and the house
was obstructed.
Guernsey County, Case No. 15 CA 13 11
{¶33} Based on the lack of foreseeability in this case, we find no duty existed.
Appellant’s sole Assignment of Error is overruled.
{¶34} For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of
Guernsey County, Ohio, is affirmed.
By: Wise, J.
Gwin, P. J., concurs.
Hoffman, J., dissents.
JWW/d 1118
Guernsey County, Case No. 15 CA 13 12
Hoffman, J., dissenting
{¶35} I respectfully dissent from the majority opinion.
{¶36} The majority’s decision is based upon a ground not decided by the trial
court; i.e., foreseeability. The trial court’s decision was limited to its determination
Appellant assumed the primary risk of injury associated with the use of a ladder.1
{¶37} I would refrain from extending appellate review to issues not addressed by
the trial court. While our standard of review in this case is, de novo, nevertheless it is first
and foremost a standard of review. As stated by the Ohio Supreme Court in Murphy v.
City of Reynoldsburg, (1992) 65 Ohio St.3d 356, “A reviewing court, even though it must
conduct its own examination of the record, has a different focus than the trial court. If the
trial court does not consider all the evidence before it, an appellate court does not sit as
a reviewing court, but, in effect, become a trial court” Id, at 360. Because the trial court
did not decide based upon its review of the evidence whether Appellant’s presence on
the ladder was foreseeable, I believe this Court should refrain from doing so at this stage
of the proceedings.
1 I disagree with the trial court’s finding primary assumption of the risk bars Appellant’s
claim. I do not find the risk of a ladder being pulled over by a third person is an inherent
risk directly associated with its primary use.