[Cite as State ex rel. DeWine v. Helms, 2017-Ohio-7148.]
STATE OF OHIO ) IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
)ss: NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
COUNTY OF SUMMIT )
STATE OF OHIO ex rel. MICHAEL C.A. No. 28304
DEWINE, ATTORNEY GENERAL
Appellee
APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT
v. ENTERED IN THE
COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
JOEL HELMS, et al. COUNTY OF SUMMIT, OHIO
CASE No. CV2014-10-4644
Appellant
DECISION AND JOURNAL ENTRY
Dated: August 9, 2017
TEODOSIO, Judge.
{¶1} Appellant, Joel Helms, appeals the judgment entry of the Summit County Court of
Common Pleas granting summary judgment in favor of the State of Ohio and finding Mr. Helms’
counterclaims barred by the doctrine of res judicata. We affirm.
I.
{¶2} In October 2014, the State of Ohio filed its complaint for foreclosure against Mr.
Helms with respect to the property known as the Countryview South Apartments, based upon an
unsatisfied judgment the State received against Mr. Helms in the Summit County Court of
Common Pleas, State ex rel. Cordray v. Helms, Summit C.P. No. CV 2007-07-4993 (Apr. 14,
2009). Judgment in the underlying case was granted on December 9, 2008, in the amount of
$500,000.00 as a civil penalty for water pollution violations of R.C. 6111. Following the
judgment, Mr. Helms filed a motion for a new trial and motion to vacate judgment based, in
pertinent part, upon an amendment to the Ohio Constitution—Article I, Section 19b—which
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became effective on December 1, 2008, and provided a property owner with an interest in the
reasonable use of ground water underlying the owner’s land and in the reasonable use of the
water in a lake or watercourse on the owner’s land. The trial court denied the motions, and an
appeal was brought to this Court, whereupon we affirmed the judgment of the trial court. See
State ex rel. Cordray v. Helms, 192 Ohio App.3d 426, 2011-Ohio-569 (9th Dist.).
{¶3} In the case now before us, Mr. Helms, upon leave granted by the trial court, filed
counterclaims for declaratory judgment and injunctive relief based upon Article I, Section 19b,
of the Ohio Constitution. On July 5, 2016, the trial court granted summary judgment in favor of
the State and found Mr. Helms’ counterclaims barred under the doctrine of res judicata. Mr.
Helms now appeals, raising two assignments of error.
II.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR ONE
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FINDING THE QUESTIONS REGARDING
OHIO CONST. ART. I, [SECTION] 19b(A)[,] ARE BARRED BY RES
JUDICATA.
{¶4} Mr. Helms argues that the trial court erred in applying the doctrine of res judicata
because no evidence on the issue of the constitutional amendment had ever been presented to a
court at trial. We disagree.
{¶5} We review a trial court’s decision applying res judicata de novo. Galvin v.
Adkins, 9th Dist. Lorain No. 08CA009322, 2008–Ohio–3202, ¶ 16. Res judicata is a doctrine of
judicial preclusion. Grava v. Parkman Twp., 73 Ohio St.3d 379, 381 (1995). “The doctrine of
res judicata encompasses the two related concepts of claim preclusion, also known as res judicata
or estoppel by judgment, and issue preclusion, also known as collateral estoppel.” O'Nesti v.
DeBartolo Realty Corp., 113 Ohio St.3d 59, 2007–Ohio–1102, ¶ 6. Under the doctrine of claim
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preclusion, “[a] valid, final judgment rendered upon the merits bars all subsequent actions based
upon any claim arising out of the transaction or occurrence that was the subject matter of the
previous action.” Grava at syllabus. Furthermore, res judicata operates to bar litigation of “‘all
claims which were or might have been litigated in a first lawsuit.’” (Emphasis deleted.) Grava
at 382, quoting Natl. Amusements, Inc. v. Springdale, 53 Ohio St.3d 60, 62 (1990). See also
State ex rel. Schachter v. Ohio Pub. Emps. Retirement Bd., 121 Ohio St.3d 526, 2009–Ohio–
1704, ¶ 27, citing Holzemer v. Urbanski, 86 Ohio St.3d 129, 133 (1999) (“The previous action is
conclusive for all claims that were or that could have been litigated in the first action.”).
{¶6} Mr. Helms argues that res judicata should not apply to his counterclaims
regarding Article I, Section 19b, of the Ohio Constitution because a trial court never heard
evidence on the claims. He contends that because the trial court originally denied his motion for
a new trial, the ruling is not a judgment on the merits for the purposes of res judicata, but rather,
is a refusal to hear any argument on the merits.
{¶7} In the prior matter of State ex rel. Cordray v. Helms, Summit C.P. No. CV 2007-
07-4993 (Apr. 14, 2009), the trial court denied Mr. Helms’ motion for a new trial and motion to
vacate the judgment which had been argued under the theory that Article I, Section 19b,
provided grounds for relief. In its order entered on January 12, 2009, the trial court found:
The adoption of an amendment to create Section 19b of Article I of the Ohio
Constitution, effective December 1, 2008, likewise provides no grounds to disturb
the Judgment. The amendment gave constitutional status to existing law, making
property rights explicit, it did not create new rights. It did not disturb the right of
the government to regulate ground water and nonnavigable waters under or
flowing through privately owned land. Ohio Secretary of State, Ballot Language
and Official Explanation for Issue #3, November 4, 2008. The Ohio Constitution
cannot be construed to allow the pollution of groundwater or nonnavigable waters
of the State contrary to statute, now or before December 1, 2008.
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{¶8} Mr. Helms appealed the trial court’s decision to this Court. We affirmed, stating:
“It is doubtful that the amendment touches the Helmses’ wetlands. * * * Even if the amendment
recognizes the Helmses’ property rights in the wetlands, including their right to make reasonable
use of them, we conclude that it does not give the Helms the right to pollute the wetlands with
improperly treated sanitary sewage.” State ex rel. Cordray v. Helms, 192 Ohio App.3d 426,
2011-Ohio-569 (9th Dist.) The Supreme Court of Ohio declined jurisdiction to hear the case as
not involving any substantial constitutional question. See State ex rel. DeWine v. Helms, 128
Ohio St.3d 1516, 2011-Ohio-2686.
{¶9} Mr. Helms’ assertion that these rulings are otherwise than on the merits is
inaccurate. Both the trial court and this Court determined that amendment in question provided
no grounds to disturb the judgment of the trial court. These determinations were not procedural
in nature, but rather were based upon the merits of Mr. Helms’ argument with regard to the
amendment. Furthermore, there is no requirement that a claim must be resolved at trial for the
doctrine of res judicata to apply. In the first action, the trial court entered a valid, final judgment
rendered upon the merits. That action was conclusive for all claims that were or that could have
been litigated, including Mr. Helms’ claims based upon Article I, Section 19b, of the Ohio
Constitution. We therefore conclude that the doctrine of res judicata barred Mr. Helms’
counterclaims in the present action.
{¶10} Mr. Helms’ first assignment of error is overruled.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR TWO
THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION BY REFUSING TO
ALLOW APPELLANT TO SEEK DISCOVERY IN SUPPORT OF HIS
AMENDED COUNTERCLAIM.
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{¶11} Mr. Helms argues the trial court erred in refusing him to propound discovery in
support of his counterclaims. We disagree. Mr. Helms alleges the ruling in question was made
by the trial court during a status conference on May 5, 2016. Mr. Helms filed a motion to
reconsider which was denied in the trial court’s judgment entry of July 5, 2016. The entry also
references that the trial court quashed Mr. Helms’ discovery efforts at the May 5, 2016, status
conference. There is no record of that proceeding before this Court.
{¶12} “It is well-settled that a court speaks though its journal entries and not through
any oral pronouncements.” Carter v. Payer, 9th Dist. Summit No. 16765, 1994 WL 620497, *7
(Nov. 9, 1994). A trial court “speaks through the medium of its record * * *.” Johnson v.
Johnson, 52 Ohio App.2d 180, 181 (9th Dist.1977). In the present case, there is neither an order
nor any other ruling on the record prohibiting discovery for this court to review. The mere
reference to an oral pronouncement in the trial court’s judgment entry of July 5, 2016, cannot be
construed as a ruling on the record. We therefore conclude that because there is no entry or other
record by the trial court preventing discovery prior to the judgment entry disposing of Mr.
Helms’ counterclaims, there is no order for this court to review.
{¶13} We acknowledge, however, that it appears the court and the parties believed the
oral pronouncement by the court established a prohibition upon further discovery by Mr. Helms.
Yet, even if there had been a valid entry for our review, it would not change the result of this
opinion. A trial court has the inherent authority to control its docket and to decide discovery
matters. Evans v. Sayers, 4th Dist. Ross No. 04CA2783, 2005-Ohio-2135, ¶ 19; Riggs v.
Richard, 5th Dist. Stark No. 2006CA00234, 2007-Ohio-490, ¶ 15; Wooten v. Westfield Ins. Co.,
181 Ohio App.3d 59, 2009-Ohio-494, ¶ 20 (8th Dist.). See also State ex rel. Grandview Hosp.
and Med. Ctr. v. Gorman, 51 Ohio St.3d 94, 95 (1990) (“Trial courts have extensive jurisdiction
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and power over discovery.”); State ex rel. Citizens for Open, Responsive & Accountable Govt. v.
Register, 116 Ohio St.3d 88, 2007–Ohio–5542, ¶ 18 (“[C]ourts have broad discretion over
discovery matters.”). This Court will not reverse a trial court’s decision concerning the
regulation of its discovery proceedings absent an abuse of discretion. Wayne Cty. Natl. Bank v.
CFP Leasing Ltd. Partnership, 9th Dist. Wayne No. 02CA0058, 2003–Ohio–2028, ¶ 8. An
abuse of discretion implies that a trial court was unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable in its
judgment. Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219 (1983). As a reviewing court
applying the abuse of discretion standard, we may not substitute our judgment for that of the trial
court. Pons v. Ohio State Med. Bd., 66 Ohio St.3d 619, 621 (1993). “A trial court acts within its
discretion when it grants a stay of discovery pending the resolution of a dispositive motion.”
Thomson v. Ohio Dept. of Rehab. & Corr., 10th Dist. Franklin No. 09AP–782, 2010-Ohio-416, ¶
32.
{¶14} The trial court in this matter had discretion to quash discovery by Mr. Helms as a
reasonable exercise of its inherent power over discovery matters.
It was within the trial court’s discretion to prohibit discovery pending the resolution of a motion
for summary judgment that was potentially dispositive of the matter, and in fact was dispositive
of the matter, under the doctrine of res judicata. Thus, even had there been a reviewable entry by
the trial court quashing discovery, the trial court would not have abused its discretion in doing
so.
{¶15} Mr. Helms’ second assignment of error is overruled.
III.
{¶16} The judgment of the Summit County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.
Judgment affirmed.
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There were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
We order that a special mandate issue out of this Court, directing the Court of Common
Pleas, County of Summit, State of Ohio, to carry this judgment into execution. A certified copy
of this journal entry shall constitute the mandate, pursuant to App.R. 27.
Immediately upon the filing hereof, this document shall constitute the journal entry of
judgment, and it shall be file stamped by the Clerk of the Court of Appeals at which time the
period for review shall begin to run. App.R. 22(C). The Clerk of the Court of Appeals is
instructed to mail a notice of entry of this judgment to the parties and to make a notation of the
mailing in the docket, pursuant to App.R. 30.
Costs taxed to Appellant.
THOMAS A. TEODOSIO
FOR THE COURT
SCHAFER, J.
CONCURS.
CARR, J.
CONCURRING IN JUDGMENT ONLY.
{¶17} Although I concur with the majority’s opinion, I would not address the second
assignment of error on the basis that it has been rendered moot.
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APPEARANCES:
ALAN M. MEDVICK, Attorney at Law, for Appellant.
MICHAEL DEWINE, Ohio Attorney General, and MICHAEL E. IDZKOWSKI and L. SCOTT
HELKOWSKI, Assistant Attorneys General, for Appellee.