Caldwell v. Bonnell

[Cite as Caldwell v. Bonnell, 2019-Ohio-4642.]

COURT OF APPEALS
GUERNSEY COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

JUDGES:
IN THE MATTER OF : Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P. J.
FORECLOSURE OF LIENS FOR : Hon. William B. Hoffman, J.
DELINQUENT LAND TAXES BY : Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J.
ACTION IN REM, TREASURER OF :
GUERNSEY COUNTY, OHIO :
: Case No. 19CA000019
Plaintiff-Appellee :
:
-vs- : OPINION

PARCELS OF LAND ENCUMBERED
WITH DELINQUENT TAX LIENS
(RE: JACK BONNELL, ET AL)

Defendants-Appellants

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Civil appeal from the Guernsey County
Court of Common Pleas, Case No.
17CV000520

JUDGMENT: Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: November 8, 2019

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant

JAMES R. SKELTON C. KEITH PLUMMER
Guernsey County Assistant Prosecutor 139 West Eighth Street
627 Wheeling Avenue Box 640
Cambridge, OH 43725 Cambridge, OH 43725-0640
[Cite as Caldwell v. Bonnell, 2019-Ohio-4642.]

Gwin, P.J.

{¶1} Appellant appeals the judgment entries of the Guernsey County Court of

Common Pleas granting appellee’s motion for summary judgment.

Facts & Procedural History

{¶2} On September 22, 2017, appellee James A. Caldwell, Treasurer of

Guernsey County, Ohio filed a foreclosure complaint against appellant Jack Bonnell as

to Parcel Number XX-XXXXXXX.00 on Madison Avenue in Cambridge, Ohio. Appellee

avers a delinquent land certificate was filed pursuant to R.C. 5721.13 by the Auditor of

Guernsey County and the State of Ohio has the first and best lien on the property for

delinquent and current real estate taxes and assessments. Appellant filed an answer to

the complaint on October 19, 2017.

{¶3} Appellant filed a motion to consolidate on October 27, 2017, seeking to

consolidate the instant case with two other foreclosure cases with different parcel

numbers. Appellee filed a memorandum in opposition to the motion to consolidate,

arguing R.C. 5721.18(A) states though the treasurer may join in one action any number

of lots or lands, the decree shall be rendered separately for each parcel. The trial court

denied the motion to consolidate on November 8, 2017.

{¶4} After obtaining leave of the trial court, appellee filed an amended complaint

on April 27, 2018. Appellant filed an answer to the amended complaint on June 13, 2018.

Appellant also filed a third-party complaint against the City of Cambridge. Appellant’s

third-party complaint avers a portion of the real estate taxes alleged to be due to appellee

are a result of liens placed upon the property by the City of Cambridge and the City of

Cambridge failed to provide proper notice to appellant and thus the City of Cambridge
Guernsey County, Case No. 19CA000019 3

had no authority to place the liens on the property. Appellant sought a declaratory

judgment deleting the liens of the City of Cambridge from the tax duplicate.

{¶5} Appellee filed a motion for summary judgment on June 18, 2018. Attached

to the motion for summary judgment is the affidavit of James A. Caldwell. Caldwell avers

as follows: he is the Treasurer of Guernsey County; he has been in direct supervision of

all payments received in respect to the taxes due on parcel #XX-XXXXXXX.000; the records

show the taxes are delinquent for parcel number #XX-XXXXXXX.000 in the amount of

$2,127.30 and have been delinquent for more than one year; the parcel has been listed

on the delinquent tax parcel list; and demand for payment of said taxes has been made.

{¶6} Appellant filed a memorandum contra to appellee’s motion for summary

judgment on July 3, 2018. Attached to the memorandum contra is the affidavit of Jack

Bonnell. Bonnell avers as follows: he disputes the amount of taxes that are claimed to

be due and owing; a significant portion of the taxes alleged to be owed are the result of

liens placed upon his properties by the City of Cambridge; he has received documents

from the City of Cambridge, none of which indicate he was given notice regarding the

liens placed on his properties for mowing grass; he attempted to pay his taxes but was

advised the taxes would first be applied to the liens he believes were unlawfully placed

upon his property without notice; he believes there is a genuine issue of material fact

regarding the amount of taxes due and owing; attorney fees should not be awarded to

appellee because there is no statutory basis for such an award; he believes the case filed

against him is retaliatory; and it is his belief that the City of Cambridge did not follow the

procedures set forth in the Ohio Revised Code to provide proper notice to him and thus

they have no authority to place liens upon his land. Bonnell attaches as an exhibit to his
Guernsey County, Case No. 19CA000019 4

affidavit a letter dated November 7, 2017 that he obtained from a Code Enforcement

Officer in Cambridge via a public records request. The letter provides as follows: “In

reviewing the liens I have placed on the Bonnell properties I have found the following:

Liens were placed on the 1159 Steubenville Avenue property for grass mowing in 2016

in the amount of $125 and in 2013 in the amount of $405. Liens placed on 601 Foster

Avenue were $100 in 2011 and $120 in 2009.”

{¶7} The trial court denied appellee’s motion for summary judgment on

November 28, 2018. The City of Cambridge filed an answer to appellant’s complaint on

February 11, 2019.

{¶8} On February 28, 2019, appellee and the City of Cambridge filed a joint

motion for summary judgment, seeking a judgment against appellant as defendant and

third-party plaintiff. Attached to the motion for summary judgment is the affidavit of James

A. Caldwell that was filed previously with appellee’s first motion for summary judgment.

{¶9} Appellant filed a memorandum contra to the joint motion for summary

judgment on March 12, 2019. Attached to the memorandum contra is the affidavit of Jack

Bonnell that was previously filed with his first memorandum in opposition.

{¶10} The trial court issued a judgment entry on April 16, 2019 granting the joint

motion for summary judgment. The trial court reviewed Bonnell’s affidavit and

attachments and noted, “there is absolutely no information before the Court that any liens

of the City of Cambridge were placed on the property which is the subject matter of this

foreclosure Complaint.” The trial court additionally noted that appellant raised the issue

of which costs and expenses are proper expenditures for the court to award, but found

the issue not ripe for decision since the real estate had not been sold. The trial court
Guernsey County, Case No. 19CA000019 5

issued a judgment entry on April 23, 2019 entering judgment in the amount of $2,127.30,

plus interest, taxes, penalties, fees, and costs incurred subsequent to the filing of

appellee’s complaint. The trial court ordered the parcel be sold to satisfy the total amount

of judgment. The trial court’s judgment entry states it is a final appealable order and there

is no just cause for delay.

{¶11} Appellant appeals the judgment entries of the Guernsey County Court of

Common Pleas and assigns the following as error:

{¶12} “I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN NOT REQUIRING THE APPELLEE-

TREASURER TO CONSOLIDATE CASE NO. 17CV519, 17CV520 AND 17CV521 AS

THEY WERE ALL RELATED TO THE SAME DEFENDANT, APPELLANT JACK

BONNELL.

{¶13} II. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DESIGNATING THE ENTRY OF APRIL

23, 2019 AS A FINAL APPEALABLE ORDER AS ISSUES REGARDING REDEMPTION

AMOUNT OF TAXES THAT SHOULD BE PROPERY ASSESSED TO PARCEL NO. 06-

0001178.000, ADDITIONAL ENTRY, ADDITIONAL TAXES, PENALTIES, FEES AND

COSTS, ETC. HAVE NOT BEEN DETERMINED BY THE COURT.”

I.

{¶14} In his first assignment of error, appellant argues the trial court committed

error in denying his motion to consolidate.

{¶15} R.C. 5721.18(A) provides that in foreclosure proceedings on a lien of the

state, “the treasurer may join in one action any number of lots or lands, but the decree

shall be rendered separately, and any proceedings may be severed, in the discretion of

the court or board of revision, for the purpose of trial or appeal, and the court or board of
Guernsey County, Case No. 19CA000019 6

revision shall make such order for the payment of costs as is considered proper.” Further,

R.C. 5721.18(B) states, “any number of parcels may be joined in one action. Each

separate parcel included in a complaint shall be given a serial number and shall be

separately indexed and docketed by the clerk of the court * * *.”

{¶16} Like consolidation of civil matters under Civil Rule 42(A), consolidation

pursuant to R.C. 5721.18 is discretionary and the trial court has the discretionary authority

whether to grant or deny the motion. See World Tire Corp. v. Webb, 5th Dist. Knox No.

06CA10, 2007-Ohio-5135. Thus, we will not reverse a trial court’s decision on such a

motion absent an abuse of discretion. State ex rel. Nat’l City Bank v. Maloney, 103 Ohio

St.3d 93, 2004-Ohio-4437, 814 N.E.2d 58. An abuse of discretion means the trial court’s

decision is arbitrary, unreasonable, or unconscionable. Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio

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

{¶17} In this case, we find no abuse of discretion in the trial court’s denial of the

motion to consolidate as the decision was not arbitrary, unreasonable, or unconscionable.

The trial court determined that since each decree must be rendered separately pursuant

to R.C. 5721.18(A), consolidation was not efficient and would not avoid unnecessary

delays. Further, the clerk of courts requested actions involving multiple parcels of land

be separated by case number in order to more efficiently complete its duties pursuant to

R.C. 5721.18(B).

{¶18} Appellant’s first assignment is overruled.
Guernsey County, Case No. 19CA000019 7

II.

{¶19} In his second assignment of error, appellant contends the judgment entry

issued by the trial court is not a final appealable order because the trial court did not

determine the merits of the Cambridge City lien, the redemption amount, and the amount

of penalties, fees, and costs awarded to appellee.

{¶20} Ohio law provides that appellate courts have jurisdiction to review only final

orders or judgments. See, generally, Section 3(B)(2), Article IV, Ohio Constitution; R.C.

2505.02. If an order is not final and appealable, then an appellate court has no jurisdiction

to review the matter and it must be dismissed. To be final and appealable, an order must

comply with R.C. 2505.02 and Civ.R. 54(B), if applicable.

{¶21} Appellant argues the trial court’s entry is not a final appealable order

because the trial court did not issue a ruling on the City of Cambridge’s lien. We disagree.

The motion for summary judgment filed on February 28, 2019 was a joint motion for

summary judgment by the Guernsey County Treasurer and the City of Cambridge. The

trial court granted the motion in favor of the Guernsey County Treasurer and the City of

Cambridge, finding there was “absolutely no information before the court that any liens of

the City of Cambridge were placed on the property which is the subject matter of this

foreclosure complaint.” Thus, the trial court issued a ruling on appellant’s argument

regarding the City of Cambridge’s lien.

{¶22} Appellant also contends the judgment entry issued by the trial court is not

final and appealable because it did not determine the amount of interest, fees, and costs

awarded to appellee. Appellant argues since these amounts were not listed in the
Guernsey County, Case No. 19CA000019 8

judgment entry, he would not have the opportunity to appeal the amount of interest, fees,

and costs awarded to appellee. We disagree with appellant.

{¶23} The Ohio Supreme Court has held that foreclosure actions proceed in two

stages, both of which end in a final appealable judgment: the order of foreclosure and

the confirmation of sale. Farmers State Bank v. Sponaugle, --- Ohio St.3d ---, 2019-Ohio-

2518, --N.E.3d ---. The order of foreclosure determines that “damages have occurred

and sets forth the parties’ rights and liabilities as they are related to those damages,” and

orders the property be sold by sheriff’s sale, while the order confirming the sale sets forth

the specific damage amount and distributes the funds. Id.; Citimortgage, Inc. v.

Roznowski, 139 Ohio St.3d 299, 2014-Ohio-1984, 11 N.E.3d 1140. The Ohio Supreme

Court determined a court cannot state with certainty the total amount of damages,

including costs, taxes, expenses, and fees for inspections, appraisals, property protection

and maintenance, at the time of the foreclosure decree since the amount would likely

change depending on how long it took to sell the property and “no judgment of foreclosure

and sale would ever be final if we required courts to compute taxes and all future costs

as a prerequisite to finality.” Id.

{¶24} As to the foreclosure decree, on appeal, parties may challenge the decision

to grant the decree of foreclosure. Id. An appeal of the confirmation of sale is limited to

challenging the confirmation order and issues related to the confirmation proceedings,

such as computation of the final total amount owed, including costs, taxes, expenses, and

fees. Id.

{¶25} In this case, the foreclosure decree resolved all the rights and liabilities of

the parties, subject only to the ministerial task of calculating the final amounts at the
Guernsey County, Case No. 19CA000019 9

confirmation proceedings. If a dispute as to the final amounts due does arise, the parties

may challenge those amounts by appealing the confirmation of sale. Id.; JTS Capital LLC

v. Lake Cottage Communities Ltd., 5th Dist. Perry No. 16-CA-00010, 2017-Ohio-1437.

{¶26} Appellant also argues the trial court’s entry is not final and appealable

because the trial court did not determine the redemption amount that appellant would

have to tender to the county treasurer to redeem the land pursuant to R.C. 5721.25.

Appellant’s motion to redeem was filed on May 20, 2019, approximately thirty days after

the trial court entered the decree of foreclosure. While it is permissible for appellant to

file a motion to redeem pursuant to R.C. 5721.25 after a foreclosure complaint has been

instituted “but before the filing of an entry of confirmation of sale,” the fact that a motion

to redeem was filed after the foreclosure decree does not render the foreclosure decree

a non-final appealable order. The Ohio Supreme Court has held the fact that the

foreclosure entry and decree is final and appealable does not hamper the right of

redemption because the right to redeem may be exercised at any time before the sheriff’s

sale is confirmed. Citimortgage v. Roznowski, 139 Ohio St.3d 299, 2014-Ohio-1984, 11

N.E.3d 1140.

{¶27} Upon review, we find the trial court’s judgment entry and decree of

foreclosure is a final appealable order. Appellant’s second assignment of error is

overruled.

{¶28} Based on the foregoing, appellant’s assignments of error are overruled.
Guernsey County, Case No. 19CA000019 10

{¶29} The judgment entries of the Guernsey County Court of Common Pleas are

affirmed.

By Gwin, P.J.

Hoffman, J., and

Delaney, J., concur