Brummitt v. Seeholzer

[Cite as Brummitt v. Seeholzer, 2019-Ohio-1555.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
ERIE COUNTY

Bobby Brummitt, et al. Court of Appeals No. E-16-020
E-18-029
Appellee/Cross-Appellant
Trial Court No. 2011-CV-0626
v.

Dylan Seeholzer, et al.

Defendants
DECISION AND JUDGMENT
[Ohio Mutual Insurance
Group—Appellant/Cross-Appellee] Decided: April 26, 2019

*****

Florence J. Murray, Dennis E. Murray, Sr., and Joseph A. Galea,
for appellee/cross-appellant.

Craig G. Pelini, for appellant/cross-appellee, Ohio Mutual Insurance Group.

*****

PIETRYKOWSKI, J.

{¶ 1} This is a consolidated appeal and cross-appeal of the judgments of the Erie

County Court of Common Pleas following a jury trial on appellee/cross-appellant’s,
Bobby Brummit (“appellee”), insurance bad faith claim. For the reasons that follow, we

reverse, in part, and affirm, in part, the judgments of the trial court.

I. Facts and Procedural Background

{¶ 2} On September 25, 2010, appellee, his wife, his brother, and his sister-in-law,

were involved in a serious automobile accident when their car was struck by a car driven

by Dylan Seeholzer, after Seeholzer failed to stop at a stop sign. Appellee and his wife

both suffered serious injuries that required a lengthy stay in a hospital and a rehabilitation

facility.

{¶ 3} Seeholzer, then seventeen years old, carried only a $50,000 liability

insurance policy, and was otherwise without financial assets. Appellee and his wife were

insured through appellant/cross-appellee, Ohio Mutual Insurance Group (“appellant”),

and carried an uninsured/underinsured motorist policy with a $500,000 limit.

{¶ 4} After the accident, unsatisfied with appellant’s performance in examining

and paying his claim, appellee hired a lawyer in late 2010. On September 7, 2011,

appellee initiated the present matter by filing a complaint in the Erie County Court of

Common Pleas against Seeholzer and appellant. Appellee’s complaint was later amended

to include a specific claim of bad faith on the part of appellant.

{¶ 5} On February 28, 2012, on the motion of appellant, the trial court bifurcated

appellee’s negligence claim, in which he sought damages arising out of injuries from the

accident, from his bad faith claim. Trial on the underlying negligence claim began on

April 16, 2013. On April 24, 2013, the jury returned verdicts in favor of appellee and the

2.
estate of his wife,1 and against appellant and Seeholzer. The trial court’s May 1, 2013

judgment entry awarded $197,055.98 to appellee, and $119,052.84 to the estate of

appellee’s wife.

{¶ 6} The estate of appellee’s wife then filed a motion for a new trial or, in the

alternative, for additur, which the trial court denied on May 29, 2013.

{¶ 7} Appellee and the estate of his wife then appealed the trial court’s May 1,

2013, and May 29, 2013 judgment entries. In their appeal, appellee and the estate

assigned as error the trial court’s denial of the motion for new trial, the trial court’s

decision to bifurcate the negligence claim from the bad faith claim, and several other

procedural matters affecting their ability to timely prosecute the bad faith claim. This

court affirmed the trial court’s judgments on January 9, 2015, in Brummitt v. Seeholzer,

6th Dist. Erie No. E-13-035, 2015-Ohio-71.

{¶ 8} Trial was then scheduled to commence on appellee’s claim of bad faith on

January 19, 2016. On December 30, 2015, appellee moved to file a second amended

complaint to include appellant’s conduct over the course of the litigation, and to add a

specific prayer for relief for punitive damages. The trial court granted the motion on

January 15, 2016.

{¶ 9} A jury trial began on January 19, 2016, and continued for eight days over the

course of two weeks. On February 2, 2016, the jury returned its verdict in favor of

appellee, awarding him $352,277.36. The matter then continued to a punitive damages

1
Prior to the commencement of litigation, appellee’s wife passed away from causes
unrelated to the accident.

3.
phase on February 3, 2016, following which the jury again found in favor of appellee,

and awarded him $250,000 in punitive damages and an undetermined amount of attorney

fees. The trial court entered judgment on those verdicts on February 8, 2016. On

February 29, 2016, appellant paid $352,277.36 to appellee to satisfy the judgment on the

bad faith claim.

{¶ 10} Thereafter, appellant initiated the present appeal when it filed its notice of

appeal of the trial court’s February 8, 2016 judgment as it pertained to punitive damages.

On January 6, 2017, this court remanded the matter to the trial court for a determination

of attorney fees for the prosecution of appellee’s bad faith claim.

{¶ 11} The trial court held a hearing on the issue of attorney fees on February 1,

2017. On May 5, 2017, the trial court entered its judgment awarding $100,000 in

attorney fees to appellee. Thereafter, appellee filed a notice of cross-appeal from the trial

court’s May 5, 2017 judgment, contesting the amount of the attorney fee award.

{¶ 12} Finally, on May 23, 2017, a hearing was held before a magistrate on the

issue of pre-judgment interest on the $352,277.36 verdict for the bad faith claim.

Following the hearing, the magistrate entered its decision denying any pre-judgment

interest. Appellee then filed objections to the magistrate’s decision. On May 7, 2018, the

trial court entered its amended judgment entry overturning the magistrate’s decision, and

awarding $33,586.99 in pre-judgment interest to appellee. Appellant timely filed a notice

of appeal from the trial court’s May 7, 2018 judgment, which we consolidated with the

other appeal and cross-appeal.

4.
 II. Assignments of Error

{¶ 13} In the consolidated appeal, appellant now presents nine assignments of

error for our review:

1. The trial court erred by granting Plaintiff-Appellee’s second

Motion to Amend the Complaint to add a claim for punitive damages four

days before trial.

2. The trial court erred and abused its discretion by allowing

Plaintiff-Appellee’s expert to provide a supplemental expert report three

days before trial.

3. The trial court erred when it denied Defendant-Appellant’s

Motion in Limine to exclude expert testimony regarding alleged violations

of the Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act and allowed such testimony

to be presented at trial and included the violations in the jury instructions.

4. The trial court erred in permitting Plaintiff-Appellee to pursue a

claim for attorneys’ fees in a breach of contract claim.

5. The trial court erred by misstating facts to the jury regarding

Plaintiff-Appellee’s involvement in a prior appeal.

6. The trial court erred in denying Defendant-Appellant’s Motion for

a Mistrial following counsel for Plaintiff-Appellee violating the court’s

“cold-shoulder” rule in offering condolences to a juror during closing

arguments.

5.
 7. The trial court erred in denying OMIG’s motion for a mistrial

following testimony of settlement negotiations.

8. The trial court erred in denying Defendant-Appellant’s Motion for

a Mistrial after counsel for Plaintiff-Appellee testified to the existence of

insurance.

9. The trial court erred in its May 7, 2018 judgment in reversing the

Magistrate’s Decision and awarding pre-judgment interest.

{¶ 14} Appellee, in his cross-appeal, presents two assignments of error:

1. The trial court erred by failing to calculate the lodestar amount

and in failing to consider the factors set forth by Bittner v. Tri-County

Toyota, 58 Ohio St.3d 143 and Prof.Cond.R. 1.5 in awarding the Plaintiff

$100,000 in attorney fees, an amount significantly below the established

lodestar amount, subsequent to the jury’s award of fees in the punitive

phase of the bad faith trial.

2. The trial court erred by failing to allow the Plaintiff to introduce

his expert’s testimony as to the reasonableness of the fee award sought by

the Plaintiff, and by failing to consider or obtain any expert testimony on

the issue of reasonable hourly rates of attorneys in the relevant locality.

III. Analysis

{¶ 15} At the outset, appellee argues that appellant’s fourth, fifth, sixth, and

seventh assignments of error are moot because appellant voluntarily satisfied the

judgment on the verdict rendered in the trial from which the assignments of error

6.
originate. We note that the same holds true for appellant’s third assignment of error. In

support, appellee cites the well-established principle of law that a voluntary satisfaction

of judgment renders an appeal from that judgment moot. Blodgett v. Blodgett, 49 Ohio

St.3d 243, 245, 551 N.E.2d 1249 (1990). Appellant, on the other hand, argues that the

proposed errors had significant ramifications on the jury and its view of appellant, and

undoubtedly affected the subsequent award of punitive damages.

{¶ 16} In Shumaker v. Hamilton Chevrolet, Inc., 184 Ohio App.3d 326, 2009-

Ohio-5263, 920 N.E.2d 1023 (4th Dist.), cited by appellee, the Fourth District

encountered a similar scenario. In that case, Shumaker sued Hamilton Chevrolet for an

alleged breach of the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act (“CSPA”). After a bench trial,

the trial court found that Hamilton Chevrolet had in fact breached the CSPA, and ordered

Hamilton Chevrolet to rescind the contract. The trial court further awarded attorney fees

to Shumaker in the amount of $14,250.00. Thereafter, Shumaker appealed the amount of

the attorney fee award. In addition to rescinding the contract, Hamilton Chevrolet then

cross-appealed the trial court’s judgment, challenging the trial court’s findings that

Shumaker was entitled to a rescission of the contract or to attorney fees in any amount.

Id. at ¶ 1.

{¶ 17} On appeal, Shumaker argued that Hamilton Chevrolet’s cross-appeal was

moot because it had voluntarily satisfied the judgment by rescinding the contract. Id. at ¶

13. The Fourth District agreed to the extent that Hamilton Chevrolet’s cross-appeal

sought a reversal of the trial court’s rescission order. Id. at ¶ 15. However, the Fourth

District held that Hamilton Chevrolet’s appeal was not moot to the extent that it

7.
challenged the trial court’s decision to award attorney fees. Id. at ¶ 16. Under the CSPA,

in order to award attorney fees the trial court first must have found that Hamilton

Chevrolet knowingly committed an act or practice that violated the CSPA and that no

defenses asserted by Hamilton Chevrolet applied. Thus, because Hamilton Chevrolet’s

assignments of error challenged whether (1) it violated the CSPA; (2) it knowingly

committed an act or practice that violated the CSPA; and (3) the bona fide error defense

did not apply, the Fourth District held that the assignments of error were not moot, and

proceeded to examine them. Id.

{¶ 18} Here, in order to be entitled to punitive damages, appellee must first

demonstrate that appellant breached its duty of good faith. See Zoppo v. Homestead Ins.

Co., 71 Ohio St.3d 552, 557-558, 644 N.E.2d 397 (1994) (“Punitive damages may be

recovered against an insurer that breaches its duty of good faith in refusing to pay a claim

of its insured upon proof of actual malice, fraud or insult on the part of the insurer.”).

Therefore, with the exception of appellant’s fourth assignment of error, which we will

discuss later, we hold that because appellant’s assignments of error all pertain to issues

that impacted the jury’s verdict that appellant acted in bad faith, the assignments of error

are not moot.

A. Motion to Amend the Complaint

{¶ 19} Turning now to the merits of appellant’s appeal, in its first assignment of

error, appellant argues that the trial court erred in allowing appellee to amend his

complaint shortly before the bad faith trial to add a claim for punitive damages. We

review a trial court’s decision to grant or deny a motion to amend the complaint for an

8.
abuse of discretion. Shefkiu v. Worthington Indus., 2014-Ohio-2970, 15 N.E.3d 394, ¶ 15

(6th Dist.). An abuse of discretion connotes that the trial court’s attitude in reaching its

decision was unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable. Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5

Ohio St.3d 217, 219, 450 N.E.2d 1140 (1983).

{¶ 20} Appellant contends that through the amendment, appellee set forth an

entirely new cause of action on the eve of trial, which prejudiced appellant by preventing

it from preparing a defense to the claim. However, as argued by appellee, a claim for

punitive damages is not a new cause of action. See Niskanen v. Giant Eagle, Inc., 122

Ohio St.3d 486, 2009-Ohio-3626, 912 N.E.2d 595, ¶ 13, quoting Bishop v. Grdina, 20

Ohio St.3d 26, 28, 485 N.E.2d 704 (1985) (“Punitive damages are awarded as

punishment for causing compensable harm and as a deterrent against similar action in the

future. No civil cause of action in this state may be maintained simply for punitive

damages.”)

{¶ 21} Here, in granting appellee’s motion to amend his complaint, the trial court

properly recognized the principle that a claim for punitive damages is a claim for a

specific category of damages, not a different theory. Furthermore, the trial court found

that appellant was not prejudiced by the inclusion of the claim for punitive damages,

stating that it “fail[ed] to see what additional discovery and expert(s) would be needed

and called that should not be done and called during the bad faith case.” Upon review,

we cannot say that the trial court’s decision was unreasonable, arbitrary, or

unconscionable. Therefore, we hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion when

it permitted appellee to amend his complaint shortly before the trial on bad faith.

9.
 {¶ 22} Accordingly, appellant’s first assignment of error is not well-taken.

B. Supplemental Report of Appellee’s Expert

{¶ 23} In its second assignment of error, appellant argues the trial court erred by

allowing appellee’s expert to provide a supplemental expert report three days before trial.

We review discovery rulings, including rulings related to the disclosure of experts and the

use of expert-opinion testimony, for an abuse of discretion. Van Sommeren v. Gibson,

2013-Ohio-2602, 991 N.E.2d 1199, ¶ 45 (6th Dist.), citing Paugh & Farmer, Inc. v.

Menorah Home for Jewish Aged, 15 Ohio St.3d 44, 45-46, 472 N.E.2d 704 (1984).

{¶ 24} Here, the trial court ordered that any expert reports shall be provided by

July 31, 2015. The parties do not dispute that the original report from appellee’s expert,

Charles Miller, was timely provided. On January 13, 2016, appellant deposed Miller. At

the deposition, appellant asked if Miller had any changes or supplements to his report,

and Miller responded “No.” Three days later, on Saturday morning, January 16, 2016,

counsel for appellant received a supplemental report from Miller. Trial began on January

19, 2016.

{¶ 25} At the beginning of the trial, appellant objected to appellee’s use of the

supplemental report, arguing that the late notice of the report prejudiced appellant from

preparing its defense. In response, appellee explained that the supplemental report was

provided in response to the expert’s evaluation of the testimony of appellant’s claim

handler, Michael Calvert, which was not taken until January 11, 2016. Thus, appellee

explained that after Calvert’s deposition, a transcript of the deposition was expedited and

provided to Miller, who produced a supplemental expert report within a matter of days,

10.
and the supplemental report was provided to appellant on the evening of January 15,

2016. In consideration of the parties’ arguments, the trial court overruled appellant’s

objection.

{¶ 26} On appeal, appellant argues that the trial court’s decision was an abuse of

discretion, and was not consistent with its separate January 15, 2016 decision to exclude

appellant’s expert witnesses. Notably, although stating generally that it was prejudiced,

appellant does not describe the manner in which the trial court’s ruling impacted its

ability to present its defense.

{¶ 27} We find that the court’s decisions were not inconsistent. Unlike the

situation with Miller, the trial court denied appellant’s attempt to have two attorneys

testify as expert witnesses because appellant never provided any expert report from the

witnesses. In contrast, Miller timely provided his original expert report, and his

supplemental report was provided within four days of receiving additional testimony

from one of appellant’s employees. Therefore, on the basis of this record, we hold that

the trial court did not abuse its discretion in allowing Miller to supplement his expert

report on the eve of trial.

{¶ 28} Accordingly, appellant’s second assignment of error is not well-taken.

C. Motion in Limine to Exclude Expert Testimony Regarding Alleged
Violations of the Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act

{¶ 29} In its third assignment of error, appellant argues the trial court erred by

denying its motion in limine to exclude Miller’s testimony regarding alleged violations of

standards promulgated by the superintendent of insurance under the Unfair Claims

11.
Settlement Practices Act (“UCSPA”), as found in Ohio Adm.Code 3901-1-54, and by

including those standards in the jury instructions. We review the denial of appellant’s

motion in limine for an abuse of discretion. Thakur v. Health Care & Retirement Corp.

of Am., 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-08-1377, 2009-Ohio-2765, ¶ 16. We review whether the

trial court’s disputed jury instruction correctly stated the applicable law de novo. State v.

Heiney, 2018-Ohio-3408, 117 N.E.3d 1034, ¶ 133 (6th Dist.), citing Cromer v.

Children’s Hosp. Med. Ctr. of Akron, 142 Ohio St.3d 257, 2015-Ohio-229, 29 N.E.3d

921, ¶ 22.

{¶ 30} In Ohio, an insurer acts in bad faith where “[it] fails to exercise good faith

in the processing of a claim of its insured where its refusal to pay the claim is not

predicated upon circumstances that furnish reasonable justification therefor.” Zoppo v.

Homestead Ins. Co., 71 Ohio St.3d 552, 554, 644 N.E.2d 397 (1994). Appellant argues

that by allowing Miller to testify to violations of the standards set forth in the UCSPA,

and by instructing the jury on those standards, the trial court confused the jury, and

substituted violation of those standards as the definition of bad faith. We agree.

{¶ 31} In Furr v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 128 Ohio App.3d 607, 716

N.E.2d 250 (6th Dist.1998), a bad faith claim was brought against Milwaukee Guardian

Insurance Company (“Milwaukee”) for its conduct in settling an uninsured motorist

coverage claim. During the trial on the bad faith claim, the plaintiff presented expert

testimony regarding Ohio Adm.Code 3901-1-54 as evidence of the standard of care

required by insurance companies, and that Milwaukee did not comply with that standard

of care. Id. at 615. On appeal, we recognized that “the Ohio Administrative Code does

12.
not create a private cause of action for violation of its rules and, therefore, should not be

considered as evidence of bad faith.” Id. at 616. However, we found that because

Milwaukee did not object to the expert’s testimony, it waived all but plain error. Id. at

615. We then held that the expert’s discussion of the Ohio Administrative Code did not

affect the “basic fairness, integrity, or public reputation of the judicial process,” and

therefore declined to consider Milwaukee’s arguments. Id. at 615-616. Here, in contrast,

appellant objected to Miller’s testimony regarding violations of the standards set forth in

the Ohio Administrative Code, thus plain error does not apply.

{¶ 32} Our decision in Furr cited, and was consistent with, Griffith v. Buckeye

Union Ins. Co., 10th Dist. Franklin No. 86AP-1063, 1987 Ohio App. LEXIS 8971 (Sept.

29, 1987). In that case, the Tenth District affirmed the trial court’s directed verdict in

favor of the insurance company on the plaintiff’s bad faith claim. As part of the analysis,

the Tenth District reasoned:

Plaintiffs also contend that R.C. 3901.21 and its corollary Ohio

Adm. Code 3901-1-07 et seq. are evidence of the standard of conduct

required by an insurer doing business in its jurisdiction. The Ohio

Department of Insurance rules, however, do not create a private cause of

action, but are regulatory in nature. Thus, the rules cannot be considered

evidence of the applicable standard of bad faith. Id. at *16-17.

See also Price v. Dillon, 7th Dist. Mahoning Nos. 07-MA-75, 07-MA-76, 2008-Ohio-

1178, ¶ 35-36 (recognizing that alleged violations of Ohio Adm.Code 3901-1-54 do not

constitute evidence of bad faith).

13.
 {¶ 33} In opposition, appellee cites several cases to support its position that the

UCSPA is a standard that can be used to judge the insurance company’s conduct in bad

faith claims. We find all of appellee’s cases to be distinguishable.

{¶ 34} Appellee first cites Wright v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 555 Fed.Appx.

575 (6th Cir.2014). In that case, the insured sued his insurance company for failure to

cover the cost of replacing his entire roof after part of it was damaged in a storm. The

Sixth Circuit, in its analysis, discussed the applicability of Ohio Adm.Code 3901-1-

54(I)(1)(b) in defining the duties owed by the insurance company to the insured under

their contract. In this context, the Sixth Circuit recognized that “[the Ohio

Administrative Code] may provide evidence of industry practice relevant to construing an

insurer’s contractual obligations during the claims process.” Wright at 579, fn. 1.

Importantly, the Sixth Circuit’s discussion on this subject was limited to the insured’s

breach of contract claim, and was unrelated to the insured’s claim of bad faith. Thus,

Wright provides no support for the proposition that violations of the Ohio Administrative

Code constitute evidence of bad faith. Likewise, appellee’s reference to Zinser v. Auto-

Owners Ins. Co.¸ 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2016-08-144, 2017-Ohio-5668, and Am.

Storage Ctrs. v. Safeco Ins. Co. of Am., 651 F.Supp.2d 718 (N.D.Ohio 2009), are

unhelpful for the same reason that they do not address claims of bad faith.

{¶ 35} Appellee also cites two decisions from our district. In Arp v. Am. Family

Ins. Co., 187 Ohio App.3d 561, 2010-Ohio-2250, 932 N.E.2d 968 (6th Dist.), the insured

appealed a decision of the trial court granting summary judgment in favor of the

insurance company on the basis of a contractual one-year period of limitations. In that

14.
case, the insured suffered a house fire, and submitted a claim for the loss of his house and

its contents. Shortly thereafter, the insurance company notified the insured that there was

a question concerning whether the fire may have been an intentional loss arising out of an

act committed by the insured. Nearly one year after the fire, the insurance company

requested additional documentation to proceed with the claim. The insured expressed his

exasperation that the insurance company had not yet processed his claim and informed

the insurance company that the one-year limitation period for filing suit was almost

expired. The insurance company responded that the terms of the contract required full

compliance with the insurance policy, and its position was that if the insured filed suit

before providing the requested documents, the suit would be dismissed. The insured did

not file suit within the one-year limitation. Eight months later, and after the further

provision of documents, the insurance company still had not denied or accepted the

insured’s claim of loss. Thus, the insured commenced his action, which the insurance

company argued was barred by the contractual period of limitations. On appeal, we

reversed the decision of the trial court, holding that genuine issues of material fact existed

regarding whether the insurance company recognized liability by making some payments

under the policy, and whether the insurance company’s actions caused the insured to have

a reasonable hope of adjustment which delayed him in filing suit before the one-year

period expired. Id. at ¶ 35. In our reasoning, we found “that [the insurance company]

cannot simply avoid its duty to determine [the insured’s] right to coverage by ignoring

the fact that it has in its possession the documentation requested,” citing the standard

under Ohio Adm.Code 3901-1-54(G)(1). Id. at ¶ 34.

15.
 {¶ 36} Our holding in Arp is completely inapplicable here. Our comment in Arp

regarding the duty to determine the claim was made in the context of the enforceability of

a one-year contractual limitation period, not in relation to a bad faith claim. Indeed,

nothing in Arp suggests that a violation of the Ohio Administrative Code can be used to

demonstrate that the insurance company acted in bad faith.

{¶ 37} The second case from our district cited by appellee similarly offers no

support for appellee’s proposition. In Lynch v. Hawkins, 175 Ohio App.3d 695, 2008-

Ohio-1300, 888 N.E.2d 1149 (6th Dist.), we held that Ohio Adm.Code 3901-1-54(G)(5)

did not obligate the insurance company to give the insured notice that sixty days

remained before the expiration of time within which to file suit. Thus, we ultimately

concluded that summary judgment in favor of the insurance company was appropriate

where the complaint was filed outside of the three-year limitations period for bringing

actions against the insurer for underinsured motorist claims. Notably, there were no bad

faith claims addressed in Lynch.

{¶ 38} Therefore, consistent with our decision in Furr, 128 Ohio App.3d 607, 716

N.E.2d 250, and in the absence of any relevant contrary authority cited by appellee, we

hold that evidence of alleged violations of the UCSPA does not constitute evidence of

bad faith, and it was error for the trial court to admit such evidence. Furthermore,

because the evidence should not have been admitted, we hold that the trial court erred in

instructing the jury that it could consider violations of the UCSPA in determining

whether appellant acted without reasonable justification.

{¶ 39} Accordingly, appellant’s third assignment of error is well-taken.

16.
 D. Attorney Fees in Underlying Negligence Claim

{¶ 40} In its fourth assignment of error, appellant argues that the trial court erred

in permitting appellee to pursue a claim for attorneys’ fees in a breach of contract claim.

In particular, appellant argues that the trial court abused its discretion in allowing

evidence in the bad faith portion of the trial relating to $66,000 in attorney fees that

appellee incurred in pursuing the underlying negligence claim. The $66,000 in attorney

fees was awarded to appellee by the jury as part of the $352,277.36 verdict in the bad

faith claim. However, as discussed at the outset of our analysis, appellant has voluntarily

paid the $352,277.26 judgment. Therefore, there is no longer an active controversy, and

appellant’s assignment of error is moot. See Blodgett v. Blodgett, 49 Ohio St.3d 243,

245, 551 N.E.2d 1249 (1990) (“Where * * * the judgment is voluntarily paid and

satisfied, such payment puts an end to the controversy, and takes away from the

defendant the right to appeal or prosecute error or even to move for vacation of

judgment.”).

{¶ 41} Accordingly, appellant’s fourth assignment of error is not well-taken.

E. Trial Court’s Solicitation of Factually Incorrect Testimony

{¶ 42} Next, in its fifth assignment of error, appellant argues that the trial court

erred when it misstated facts to the jury regarding appellee’s involvement in a prior

appeal. During appellant’s cross-examination of appellee, appellant attempted to

demonstrate that appellee appealed from the judgment in the underlying negligence

action:

17.
 [MR. PELINI (counsel for appellant)]: Now, ultimately, sir, the jury

did not give $500,000, did they.

[MR. BRUMMITT]: No, they did not.

Q: And the jury did not give $400,000, did they.

A: No, they did not.

Q: And, sir, the jury disagreed with your evaluation of your case,

right?

A: Yes.

Q: After the jury verdict – and you were disappointed and you

disagreed with the jury, right?

A: Yes, I did.

Q: And, sir, afterward there were motions filed. You recall that?

A: Yes.

Q: And after that, there were appeals filed on your behalf --

A: Yes, uh huh.

Q: -- and your wife; is that correct?

***

A: Correct.

Appellant argues that this was done to counter appellee’s claim that appellant acted in

bad faith when it did not pay the underlying negligence judgment for over two years, and

to prove that it was justified in withholding payment while appellee pursued his appeal.

18.
 {¶ 43} Before an objection was even raised, the trial court ordered counsel to

approach, wherein the following conversation occurred at the bench:

MS. MURRAY (counsel for appellee): I was ready to pop up.

COURT: I just didn’t want this jury to be misled. The -- the motion

for new trial was only on behalf of his wife.

MR. PELINI: Right.

COURT: It was not (inaudible) his verdict. The appeal was only on

behalf of his wife and the denial of new trial, not on his verdict, not on

anything that he --

MR. PELINI: Not on his verdict, no.

COURT: Right. You’re talking collectively, but now you talked

about the appeals, and I just don’t want the jury misled --

MR. PELINI: No.

COURT: -- that he was appealing and those motions were filed on

behalf of his verdict.

MR. PELINI: No.

COURT: If you could please be clear or clarify a new question so

the jury gets a true understanding, okay?

MR. PELINI: Okay. I think I can -- * * * -- clear it up with one

question.

***

19.
 Q: Mr. Brummitt, the appeal involved procedural matters that

happened in the case up to that point, correct --

A: Correct.

Q: -- and the appeal was filed.

A: Uh huh.

{¶ 44} Later, during re-cross examination, the trial court expressed its belief that

counsel for appellant had not cleared up the issue:

COURT: * * * I asked you to clean up that issue about the thing that

-- the appeal and the filing of those motions was just on behalf of his wife

and not on behalf of him. You said you would clear it up, and you didn’t

clear it up. If you don’t, I will.

MR. PELINI: I thought it was about procedural --

COURT: No, it was all on behalf of his wife. Go back and look at

the filings. Go back and read the opinion. He didn’t -- he never appealed,

or even a motion for new trial --

MR. PELINI: No.

COURT: I’m Looking at it right here. The motion for the new trial

was on --

MR. PELINI: Right.

COURT: -- his wife, not on him.

MR. PELINI: Okay.

COURT: That misled the jury. I asked you to clean that up.

20.
 MR. PELINI: Okay.

COURT: Okay. This I want cleaned up, too, or I will, okay?

Counsel for appellant then resumed his questioning, and asked appellee:

Q: Okay. Now, and I also wanted to cover the appeal. The appeal

was -- was handled -- you didn’t ask for more money in your appeal, right?

There were procedural issues, but not more money.

A: Yeah.

Apparently dissatisfied with counsel’s efforts, the trial court then asked its own questions

of appellee:

COURT: And the motions for new trials and the motions pending

before the Court were on behalf of your wife’s case, not yours, correct?

A: Correct.

COURT: And the appeal that went to the Court of Appeals was on

behalf of your wife correct?

A: Correct.

COURT: Not on behalf of yours?

A: Right.

{¶ 45} On appeal, appellant argues that the trial court’s questioning was factually

incorrect. Further, it argues that the court’s questioning prejudiced appellant because it

made counsel look disingenuous in front of the jury, and because it left appellant in the

position where it could not argue that the delay of payment was justified during

appellee’s appeal since the jury was under the impression that he did not appeal.

21.
 {¶ 46} In response, appellee presents three arguments. First, appellee states that

appellant did not object to the trial court’s line of questioning, and therefore has waived

all but plain error. However, we hold that a formal objection was not required in this

instance. “[I]f a party makes his position sufficiently clear to give the court an

opportunity to correct a mistake or defect, then the rationale for formally objecting is no

longer present.” State v. Wolons, 44 Ohio St.3d 64, 67, 541 N.E.2d 443 (1989) (applying

the principle in the context of an appeal from the trial court’s failure to give certain jury

instructions). Here, appellant’s disagreement with the trial court regarding whether

appellee appealed the underlying negligence judgment was plainly evident, and we fail to

see the purpose of requiring appellant to futilely object to the trial court’s own

questioning. Therefore, we will not apply the plain error standard, but instead apply the

abuse of discretion standard that generally applies to evidentiary matters. State v. Gross,

97 Ohio St.3d 121, 2002-Ohio-5524, 776 N.E.2d 1061, ¶ 43 (“The admission of evidence

lies within the broad discretion of a trial court, and a reviewing court should not disturb

evidentiary decisions in the absence of an abuse of discretion that has created material

prejudice.”); see also State v. Martin, 4th Dist. Pickaway No. 04CA24, 2005-Ohio-1732,

¶ 27 (“In reviewing whether a trial court erred by questioning a witness, we apply the

abuse of discretion standard of review.”).

{¶ 47} Appellee also argues that the trial court’s questions were accurate

statements of the facts. The litigation history demonstrates otherwise. While it is true

that appellee did not file a motion for new trial, or otherwise challenge the amount of the

jury verdict, appellee still joined his wife’s estate in filing a notice of appeal.

22.
Furthermore, appellee’s first assignment of error in that appeal challenged the trial

court’s decision to bifurcate the claim of bad faith from the underlying negligence claim.

If appellee had been successful on that assignment of error, the remedy would have been

to vacate the underlying negligence judgment and remand the matter for a new trial,

which is precisely the relief that he requested: “Plaintiffs request that this court vacate

the trial court’s finding that discovery of the claims file be stayed in its order of May 1,

2013; overrule the sua sponte order of the trial court allowing bifurcation; and overrule

the Trial Court’s denial of Plaintiffs’ Motion for a New Trial issued May 29, 2013 and

remand for a new trial.” Therefore, we find that it was factually incorrect for the trial

court to take the position, and elicit testimony, that appellee did not appeal the underlying

negligence judgment.

{¶ 48} Finally, appellee argues that appellant was not prejudiced by the trial

court’s factually incorrect questioning. We disagree. In the second interrogatory posed

to the jury, the jurors were asked to “Describe the manner in which you find Defendant

Ohio Mutual Insurance Group acted in bad faith in the handling, processing and/or

payment of Bobby Brummitt’s claim.” The jury responded: “We feel that payment was

not made in a timely manner, nor was the settlement offered in a timely manner. We also

feel that the defendant was not concerned with the plaintiff’s well being.” In this case,

the jury’s first basis for finding that appellant acted in bad faith is directly related to the

error raised by appellant; i.e., that it was prevented from demonstrating that it was

justified in withholding payment while appellee pursued his appeal. Thus, we find that

appellant was materially prejudiced by the trial court’s factually incorrect questioning.

23.
 {¶ 49} “In a trial before a jury, the court’s participation by questioning or

comment must be scrupulously limited, lest the court, consciously or unconsciously,

indicate to the jury its opinion on the evidence or on the credibility of a witness.” State

ex rel. Wise v. Chand, 21 Ohio St.2d 113, 256 N.E.2d 613 (1970), paragraph three of the

syllabus. Here, the trial court questioned appellee based upon a factually mistaken

understanding of the litigation history, and in so doing prevented appellant from

presenting a defense on the issue that ultimately became the first reason cited by the jury

in its finding that appellant acted in bad faith. Therefore, we hold that the trial court’s

questioning constituted an abuse of discretion.

{¶ 50} Accordingly, appellant’s fifth assignment of error is well-taken.

F. Motions for Mistrial

{¶ 51} Appellant’s sixth, seventh, and eighth assignments of error all address

whether the trial court abused its discretion when it did not declare a mistrial following

improper conduct or questioning by appellee’s counsel. We will discuss the assignments

of error in the chronological order of the conduct that occurred.

{¶ 52} The grant or denial of a mistrial rests within the discretion of the trial court

and is subject to review on appeal under an abuse of discretion standard. Carper v.

Snodgrass, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-03-1065, 2003-Ohio-6975, ¶ 13, citing Quellos v.

Quellos, 96 Ohio App.3d 31, 41, 643 N.E.2d 1173 (8th Dist.1994). “A mistrial should

only be granted where the party seeking the same demonstrates that he or she suffered

material prejudice so that a fair trial is no longer possible.” Id., citing State v. Franklin,

62 Ohio St.3d 118, 127, 580 N.E.2d 1 (1991).

24.
 {¶ 53} In its seventh assignment of error, appellant argues that the trial court

abused its discretion when it did not declare a mistrial after appellee’s counsel asked a

witness, “Did you note that in that, in your notes, that [appellee’s] counsel had insisted on

5 to 6 million for this part of the trial?” Appellant immediately objected to the question,

which the trial court sustained. The court then ordered that the question and answer be

stricken.

{¶ 54} Evid.R. 408 states, “Evidence of (1) furnishing or offering or promising to

furnish, or (2) accepting or offering or promising to accept, a valuable consideration in

compromising or attempting to compromise a claim which was disputed as to either

validity or amount, is not admissible to prove liability for or invalidity of the claim or its

amount.”

{¶ 55} Appellant argues that counsel’s inquiry into the five to six million dollar

valuation was solely intended to signal to the jury that a verdict in that amount would not

be unreasonable on the bad faith claim. It concludes that the question was highly

prejudicial, and it was error not to declare a mistrial. Additionally, appellant argues that

the error was compounded by the trial court’s decision to grant a protective order

prohibiting appellant from taking the deposition of appellee’s counsel regarding the

factual circumstances of the settlement negotiations in the underlying negligence claim.

{¶ 56} As to the latter argument, we find that any relationship between the trial

court’s decision to grant the protective order and the prejudice resulting from appellee’s

inquiry into a five to six million dollar valuation is tenuous at best. Appellant claims that

the protective order prevented it from adequately preparing a defense to the assertion.

25.
However, appellant’s objection to the question was sustained, and the question was

stricken, so there was no assertion that it needed to defend against.

{¶ 57} Returning to the prejudicial effect of the actual question, although appellee

does not dispute that the question was improper, and concedes that the trial court properly

sustained the objection,2 appellee contends that the question had minimal effect on the

jury because it was immediately stricken. Thus, appellee contends the trial court did not

abuse its discretion in denying the motion for a mistrial. We agree.

{¶ 58} It is well-settled that “[a] jury is presumed to follow the instructions given

to it by the trial judge.” State v. Loza, 71 Ohio St.3d 61, 75, 641 N.E.2d 1082 (1994).

Here, immediately after the question was asked, the trial court sustained the objection and

ordered the question and answer to be stricken. On appeal, appellant has not called to our

attention anything that would indicate that the jury ignored the trial court’s instruction.

Furthermore, as appellee notes, the jury’s verdict was less than one tenth of the value

announced by appellee’s counsel, which suggests that the jury was not influenced by the

2
Interestingly, appellee explains that the question was asked “to refresh the recollection
of [the witness] that [appellee] had been requesting punitive damages from the outset of
this lawsuit.” This is directly contradicted by the record. In the sidebar discussing the
objection and motion for mistrial, the following exchange occurred:

COURT: Okay. I think we’re reading this because the -- what you’re
talking about was also the punitive end, which would come after this bad
faith claim, right?

MR. MURRAY (counsel for appellee): No, I was talking about just bad
faith.

Thus, the five to six million dollar valuation was only about the bad faith claim, and had
no relation to punitive damages.

26.
valuation. Therefore, we hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying

appellant’s motion to declare a mistrial.

{¶ 59} Accordingly, appellant’s seventh assignment of error is not well-taken.

{¶ 60} Appellant’s sixth assignment of error challenges the trial court’s denial of

its motion for a mistrial following appellee’s violation of the court’s “cold shoulder” rule

by offering condolences to a juror during closing arguments.

{¶ 61} During the course of the trial, the court instructed the attorneys that “[y]ou

are to give the jurors the cold shoulder when you’re not in the Courtroom during this

trial.” Nonetheless, during closing arguments, counsel for appellee briefly made a direct

connection with one of the jurors, whose husband was a firefighter. Counsel offered her

condolences and well wishes regarding another former firefighter who was recently

seriously injured, and whom counsel assumed was a good friend of the juror’s family.

Appellee does not dispute that this comment was inappropriate. Prior to deliberations,

the trial court dismissed the juror to whom the comment was made, and replaced her with

an alternate.

{¶ 62} Appellant argues on appeal that counsel’s comment was highly prejudicial

because it reiterated appellee’s “hometown” connection, and appealed to the emotions of

not just the single juror, but the entire jury panel. Appellee, on the other hand, argues

that any prejudice was dissipated when the trial court dismissed the juror. Upon review,

we find that the trial court’s response in dismissing the juror was a reasonable remedy,

and that any potential impact upon the remaining jurors was negligible. Therefore, we

27.
hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying appellant’s motion for a

mistrial.

{¶ 63} Accordingly, appellant’s sixth assignment of error is not well-taken.

{¶ 64} Finally, in its eighth assignment of error, appellant argues that the trial

court abused its discretion in not declaring a mistrial in the punitive damages phase of the

trial after appellee’s counsel inquired of appellant’s representative whether appellant had

insurance “for this matter.” Specifically, appellee’s counsel stated, “One last question.

You, in fact, have insurance for this matter, do you not?” Appellant immediately

objected, and the parties approached for a sidebar conference.

{¶ 65} During the conference, the trial court sustained the objection. Appellant

then vigorously advocated for a mistrial, citing the cumulative effect of “issue upon

issue,” such as statements of condolences to the jurors. After denying appellant’s motion

for a mistrial, the trial court ended the sidebar conference and dismissed the jury for a

mid-morning break. When the jury returned, counsel for appellee continued his

examination of appellant’s representative. It was not until the end of the direct

examination that the trial court instructed the jury, “Before we went on break there was a

question from Plaintiff’s counsel about insurance, that question is stricken, disregard it.”

{¶ 66} On appeal, appellant argues that the question was a “calculated move by an

experienced trial lawyer to inject the existence of insurance coverage into the jury’s

deliberation,” was entirely improper, and resulted in extreme prejudice to appellant.

28.
 {¶ 67} Evid.R. 411 provides,

Evidence that a person was or was not insured against liability is not

admissible upon the issue whether the person acted negligently or otherwise

wrongfully. This rule does not require the exclusion of evidence of

insurance against liability when offered for another purpose, such as proof

of agency, ownership or control, if controverted, or bias or prejudice of a

witness.

Ohio courts have routinely recognized the risk of prejudice associated with evidence of

liability insurance in that it may “improperly influence a jury to award greater damages

than warranted -- or even to find liability where unwarranted -- because it is an

impersonal and wealthy insurance company that will ultimately pay damages instead of

the individual defendant.” Cook v. Wineberry Deli, Inc., 9th Dist. Summit No. 14841,

1991 Ohio App. LEXIS 3360, *30 (July 17, 1991). See also Ockenden v. Griggs, 10th

Dist. Franklin No. 07AP-235, 2008-Ohio-2275, ¶ 13 (“Evidence of liability insurance is

highly prejudicial and is admissible at trial only if directly relevant to an issue at trial, as

it may improperly influence a jury with respect to their finding of liability or damages.

(Internal quotation omitted.)); Britton v. Gibbs Assocs., 4th Dist. Highland No. 08CA9,

2009-Ohio-3943, ¶ 41 (recognizing that while “given the sophistication of our juries, the

first sentence of Evid.R. 411 * * * does not merit the enhanced importance it has been

given, * * * * testimony regarding a defendant’s liability insurance may be grounds for

reversal when the testimony is introduced solely to prejudice the jury” (Internal quotation

omitted.)); White v. Standard Oil Co., 116 Ohio App. 212, 220, 187 N.E.2d 504 (3d

29.
Dist.1962) (“[A] trial lawyer is treading on dangerous ground and always approaches

grounds for a mistrial by the mere mention of insurance when same is not at issue.”).

{¶ 68} Appellee, on the other hand, argues that counsel’s question was permissible

under Evid.R. 411 because it would have helped establish on the record that appellant

was not prejudiced by the second amended complaint, as discussed in appellant’s first

assignment of error, because appellant was made aware of the potential for punitive

damages as early as December 2012. As such, appellee claims that counsel did not ask

the question “with the intent to improperly interject the idea of insurance into the jury’s

consideration.”

{¶ 69} Appellee’s position is wholly without merit for two reasons. First, this

court cannot understand how any unfair prejudice suffered by appellant as a result of the

inclusion of a claim for punitive damages in the second amended complaint was an issue

before the jury. Second, appellee’s counsel admittedly asked the question with the intent

to interject the idea of insurance into the jury’s consideration. Counsel himself stated

during the sidebar conference, “[T]he point is that when you consider the ability of a

defendant to be able to pay a punitive damage award and in what amount, I believe it

becomes relevant to the inquiry as to the coverage that they have and that’s the reason I

asked the question.”

{¶ 70} Nevertheless, we hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in

denying appellant’s motion for a mistrial. Here, we find that the prejudice was minimal

in that appellant’s representative did not answer the question. Furthermore, we find that

any prejudice was ameliorated by the trial court’s decision to sustain the objection, and

30.
instruction to the jury to disregard it. As noted by the trial court, it had taken an active

role in protecting appellant’s rights by striking questions and testimony where necessary,

and even dismissing a juror. Thus, we cannot conclude that its decision not to declare a

mistrial was unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable.

{¶ 71} Accordingly, appellant’s eighth assignment of error is not well-taken.

G. Pre-judgment Interest on Bad Faith Judgment

{¶ 72} Finally, in its ninth assignment of error, as presented in its supplemental

brief, appellant argues that the trial court erred when it reversed the decision of the

magistrate and awarded pre-judgment interest on the bad faith judgment.

{¶ 73} R.C. 1343.03(C)(1) allows for a plaintiff who has received a money

judgment in a tort action to receive prejudgment interest if “the court determines at a

hearing held subsequent to the verdict or decision in the action that the party required to

pay the money failed to make a good faith effort to settle the case and that the party to

whom the money is to be paid did not fail to make a good faith effort to settle the case.”

A party will not have “failed to make a good faith effort to settle” where he or she has:

“(1) fully cooperated in discovery proceedings, (2) rationally evaluated his risks and

potential liability, (3) not attempted to unnecessarily delay any of the proceedings, and

(4) made a good faith monetary settlement offer or responded in good faith to an offer

from the other party.” Kalain v. Smith, 25 Ohio St.3d 157, 159, 495 N.E.2d 572 (1986).

{¶ 74} “The burden of proof is on the party seeking prejudgment interest.” Riley

v. Frank, 6th Dist. Fulton Nos. F-14-007, F-14-008, 2015-Ohio-1478, ¶ 10, citing

Moskovitz v. Mt. Sinai Med. Ctr., 69 Ohio St.3d 638, 659, 635 N.E.2d 331 (1994).

31.
Whether a party has demonstrated a failure of good faith effort to settle is generally

within the sound discretion of the trial court, and will not be reversed absent an abuse of

that discretion. Id. at ¶ 11, citing Moskovitz at 658.

{¶ 75} In support of its assignment of error, appellant argues that the magistrate

properly found that appellee had not satisfied his burden to establish a failure of good

faith effort to settle based upon the meager testimony presented at the hearing on

prejudgment interest. Appellant contends that the trial court then abused its discretion

when it relied on its own bias and personal opinions of appellant’s conduct to determine

that appellant failed to make a good faith effort to settle. In particular, appellant

challenges the trial court’s determination that appellant did not fully cooperate in

discovery proceedings, and failed to make a good faith monetary settlement offer.

{¶ 76} As a backdrop to our analysis, we note that in determining whether

appellant made a good faith effort to settle, the trial court was not limited solely to the

testimony presented at the hearing. Galmish v. Cicchini, 90 Ohio St.3d 22, 34, 734

N.E.2d 782 (2000). “The court may also review the evidence presented at trial, as well as

its prior rulings and jury instructions, especially when considering such factors as the

type of case, the injuries involved, applicable law, and the available defenses.” Id.

{¶ 77} As to whether appellant fully cooperated in discovery proceedings, the trial

court relied on three facts. First, appellant did not timely turn over the entire claim file.

Earlier in the litigation, during the negligence phase, appellant submitted the claim file to

the trial court for in camera review. Following our decision on January 9, 2015,

resolving appellee’s appeal of the negligence judgment, the trial court completed its in

32.
camera review, and on September 25, 2015, ordered appellant to turn over almost the

entire claim file. However, the court found that appellant, without reasonable

explanation, failed to turn over the materials to appellee until November 2, 2015.

Second, the trial court found that even when the claim file was turned over, several

documents were still missing. Third, the trial court found that appellant did not cooperate

with a court order giving the parties 30 days to determine the accrual date for possible

pre-judgment interest on the underlying negligence judgment. Ten days after the 30-day

period expired, the trial court received a memorandum from appellee detailing that no

agreement was reached because of appellant’s lack of action. The court noted that

appellant waited 24 days before giving appellee the materials needed to determine the

accrual date. Therefore, the trial court found that appellant did not fully cooperate in the

discovery proceedings.

{¶ 78} As to whether appellant made a good faith monetary offer, the trial court

relied on the fact that appellant’s pre-trial offer of $30,000 was a fraction of the verdict

ultimately awarded, thus suggesting that appellant had not rationally evaluated its risks

and liabilities. Further supporting this conclusion was the fact that appellant’s settlement

offer “mushroomed” to $269,000 on the second day of trial, indicating that either

appellant did not evaluate the risks and potential liability soon enough, or that appellant’s

earlier pre-trial settlement offers were merely gamesmanship. Thus, the trial court

concluded that appellant did not negotiate in good faith.

33.
 {¶ 79} In light of the foregoing, we cannot say that the trial court’s decision was

unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable. Therefore, we hold that the trial court did not

abuse its discretion when it awarded $33,586.99 in prejudgment interest to appellee on

the bad faith judgment.

{¶ 80} Accordingly, appellant’s ninth assignment of error is not well-taken.

H. Cross-Appeal on Attorney Fee Award

{¶ 81} Turning to appellee’s cross-appeal of the judgment awarding attorney fees,

we find that our resolution of appellant’s third and fifth assignments of error requires us

to reverse and vacate the jury’s award of punitive damages, which in turn requires us to

vacate the trial court’s judgment awarding attorney fees. See Zoppo v. Homestead Ins.

Co., 71 Ohio St.3d 552, 558, 644 N.E.2d 397 (1994) (“[An] insured is not automatically

entitled to interest or attorney fees. * * * Attorney fees may be awarded as an element of

compensatory damages where the jury finds that punitive damages are warranted.”).

Therefore, appellee’s first and second assignments of error on cross-appeal are moot.

{¶ 82} Accordingly, appellee’s first and second assignments of error on cross-

appeal are not well-taken.

IV. Conclusion

{¶ 83} For the foregoing reasons, we find that substantial justice has not been done

the party complaining, and the February 8, 2016 judgment of the Erie County Court of

Common Pleas is reversed as to the award of punitive damages. Furthermore, the trial

court’s May 5, 2017 judgment awarding attorney fees is also reversed. Finally, the trial

34.
court’s May 7, 2018 judgment awarding pre-judgment interest on the bad faith claim is

affirmed. This cause is remanded to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with

this decision. Costs of the appeal are to be shared evenly between the parties pursuant to

App.R. 24.

Judgment affirmed, in part,
and reversed, in part.

A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to App.R. 27.
See also 6th Dist.Loc.App.R. 4.

Mark L. Pietrykowski, J. _______________________________
JUDGE
Arlene Singer, J.
_______________________________
Thomas J. Osowik, J. JUDGE
CONCUR.
_______________________________
JUDGE

This decision is subject to further editing by the Supreme Court of
Ohio’s Reporter of Decisions. Parties interested in viewing the final reported
version are advised to visit the Ohio Supreme Court’s web site at:
http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/ROD/docs/.

35.