[Cite as McQuown v. Coventry Twp., 2017-Ohio-7151.]
STATE OF OHIO ) IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
)ss: NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
COUNTY OF SUMMIT )
TERRY MCQUOWN C.A. No. 28202
Appellant
v. APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT
ENTERED IN THE
COVENTRY TOWNSHIP COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
COUNTY OF SUMMIT, OHIO
Appellee CASE No. CV 2015-04-2272
DECISION AND JOURNAL ENTRY
Dated: August 9, 2017
SCHAFER, Judge.
{¶1} Plaintiff-Appellant, Terry McQuown, appeals the judgment of the Summit County
Court of Common Pleas granting Defendant-Appellee, Coventry Township’s, motion for
summary judgment and denying his motion for partial summary judgment as moot. For the
reasons set forth in this opinion, we reverse and remand for further proceedings consistent with
this opinion.
I.
{¶2} Mr. McQuown purchased a residential property located on North House Drive in
Coventry Township, Ohio, in 1998. A surface water drainage/sewer pipe maintained and
operated by Coventry Township runs parallel along the side of the road in the front of Mr.
McQuown’s property. This drainage pipe is not at issue in this appeal. However, the water from
this drainage pipe empties into an uncovered ditch in the western portion of Mr. McQuown’s
2
front yard. In this ditch exists the inlet to a separate underground drain pipe (“the drain pipe”)1
that runs perpendicular to the road and ditch and leads downhill to a retention pond located
behind Mr. McQuown’s property. This drain pipe was evidently installed to drain accumulating
ditch water from the front of Mr. McQuown’s property through the side of the yard and out the
back of the property to the retention pond. The deed for Mr. McQuown’s property expressly
states that the property is subject to a seven and one half foot drainage easement on the west side
of the lot, where the drain pipe is located. However, the deed does not state who has the benefit
of the easement. On April 9, 2013, Mr. McQuown was clearing debris from the ditch in his front
yard when he lost his balance and fell onto a sharp rusted metal rod positioned directly in front of
the inlet of the underground drain pipe. Mr. McQuown impaled his right arm on the metal rod.
{¶3} Mr. McQuown and his wife, Patricia, initially filed a lawsuit against Coventry
Township pleading causes of action for negligence and loss of consortium. However, the
McQuowns voluntarily dismissed that complaint. Mr. McQuown thereafter refiled his complaint
in the instant matter against Coventry Township, pleading one count of negligence. Mrs.
McQuown is not a party to the present lawsuit. Coventry Township subsequently filed an
answer denying the allegations set forth in Mr. McQuown’s complaint and raised several
affirmative defenses, including immunity and the applicability of the “open and obvious”
doctrine. The matter then proceeded through the pretrial process.
{¶4} On October 30, 2015, Coventry Township filed a motion for summary judgment
arguing that, as a political subdivision, it is entitled to immunity and that no exceptions to
political subdivision immunity apply in this matter. Moreover, Coventry Township argued that it
is entitled to summary judgment with respect to Mr. McQuown’s negligence claim because any
1
These two drain pipes are not connected.
3
danger associated with the metal rod was an open and obvious hazard. Mr. McQuown
subsequently filed a brief in opposition to Coventry Township’s summary judgment motion, to
which Coventry Township filed a reply brief.
{¶5} Thereafter, Mr. McQuown filed a motion for partial summary judgment wherein
he argues that the open and obvious doctrine is not applicable in this case. Mr. McQuown also
argues in his motion for partial summary judgment that there is no genuine issue of material fact
that Coventry Township operates a storm water sewer system and that the area of his property
where he was injured was part of that system. Coventry Township filed a brief in opposition to
Mr. McQuown’s motion for partial summary judgment.
{¶6} The trial court held a hearing on the parties’ respective motions for summary
judgment. On March 18, 2016, the trial court granted Coventry Township’s motion for summary
judgment and denied Mr. McQuown’s motion for partial summary judgment as moot.
Specifically, the trial court concluded that Coventry Township is immune from liability under
R.C. 2744.02 and, in the alternative, that the metal rod constituted an open and obvious hazard,
thus obviating any duty of care that Coventry Township may have owed to Mr. McQuown.
{¶7} Mr. McQuown filed this timely appeal and raises three assignments of error for
our review.
II.
Assignment of Error I
The trial court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of Defendant
Coventry Township on McQuown’s negligence claim because a question of
fact remains as to whether the drainage pipe located on McQuown’s
property, maintained and used by Defendant Coventry was part of a storm
water sewer system constituting a proprietary function under Ohio R.C. §
2744.01(G) for which Coventry has no immunity under Ohio R.C. §
2744.02(B)(2).
4
{¶8} In his first assignment of error, Mr. McQuown argues that the trial court erred by
granting Coventry Township’s motion for summary judgment on the basis that it is entitled to
political subdivision immunity. We agree.
A. Standard of Review
{¶9} We review a trial court’s award of summary judgment de novo. Grafton v. Ohio
Edison Co., 77 Ohio St.3d 102, 105 (1996). Summary judgment is only appropriate where (1) no
genuine issue of material fact exists; (2) the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law;
and (3) the evidence can only produce a finding that is contrary to the non-moving party. Civ.R.
56(C). Before making such a contrary finding, however, a court must view the evidence “most
strongly in favor” of the non-moving party, id., and resolve all doubts in its favor, Murphy v.
Reynoldsburg, 65 Ohio St.3d 356, 358-359 (1992).
{¶10} Summary judgment proceedings create a burden-shifting framework. To prevail
on a motion for summary judgment, the movant has the initial burden to identify the portions of
the record demonstrating the lack of a genuine issue of material fact and the movant’s
entitlement to judgment as a matter of law. Dresher v. Burt, 75 Ohio St.3d 280, 283 (1996). In
satisfying this initial burden, the movant need not offer affirmative evidence, but it must identify
those portions of the record that support her argument. Id. Once the movant overcomes the
initial burden, the non-moving party is precluded from merely resting upon the allegations
contained in the pleadings to establish a genuine issue of material fact. Civ.R. 56(E). Instead, it
has the reciprocal burden of responding and setting forth specific facts that demonstrate the
existence of a “genuine triable issue.” State ex rel. Zimmerman v. Tompkins, 75 Ohio St.3d 447,
449 (1996).
5
B. Political Subdivision Tort Liability
{¶11} “R.C. Chapter 2744, the Political Subdivision Tort Liability Act, absolved
political subdivisions of tort liability, subject to certain exceptions.” Moore v. Streetsboro, 11th
Dist. Portage No. 2008-P-0017, 2009-Ohio-6511, ¶ 41, citing Franks v. Lopez, 69 Ohio St.3d
345, 347 (1994). “In order to determine whether a political subdivision is immune from liability,
we engage in a three-tiered analysis.” Elton v. Sparkes, 9th Dist. Summit No. 27684, 2016-
Ohio-1067, ¶ 10, quoting Moss v. Lorain Cty. Bd. of Mental Retardation, 9th Dist. Lorain No.
13CA010335, 2014-Ohio-969, ¶ 10. “The first tier sets forth the premise that, ‘[e]xcept as
provided in division (B) of [R.C. 2744.02], a political subdivision is not liable in damages in a
civil action for injury, death, or loss to person or property allegedly caused by an act or omission
of the political subdivision or an employee of the political subdivision in connection with a
governmental or proprietary function.’” Elton at ¶ 10, quoting Moss at ¶ 10, quoting R.C.
2744.02(A)(1). Coventry Township qualifies as a political subdivision pursuant to R.C.
2744.01(F).
{¶12} In the second tier of the immunity analysis, “we determine whether one of the five
exceptions to immunity outlined in R.C. 2744.02(B) applies to hold the political subdivision
liable for damages.” Elton at ¶ 10, quoting Moss at ¶ 10. An exception to immunity contained in
R.C. 2744.02(B)(2) provides that “political subdivisions are liable for injury, death, or loss to
person or property caused by the negligent performance of acts by their employees with respect
to proprietary functions of the political subdivisions.” Accordingly, “[p]ursuant to R.C.
2744.02(B)(2), a political subdivision is liable in damages in a civil action for injury, death, or
loss to persons or property caused by an act or omission of the political subdivision or any of its
employees in connection with the performance of a proprietary function.” Hill v. Urbana, 79
6
Ohio St.3d 130 (1997), paragraph one of the syllabus. A proprietary function is defined, in
relevant part, as a function that “promotes or preserves the public peace, health, safety, or
welfare and that involves activities that are customarily engaged in by nongovernmental
persons.” R.C. 2744.01(G)(1)(b). R.C. 2744.01(G)(2)(d) states that a “proprietary function”
includes, but is not limited to, “[t]he maintenance, destruction, operation, and upkeep of a sewer
system[.]” As the Second District Court of Appeals has noted “[t]here is no definition of ‘sewer
system’ in the immunity statute.” Guenther v. Springfield Twp. Trustees, 2d Dist. Clark No.
2010-CA-114, 2012-Ohio-203, ¶ 14. Accordingly, the term “sewer system” “should be
construed more narrowly than broadly.” Id.; Anderson v. Warren Local School Dist. Bd. of Ed.,
4th Dist. Washington No. 16CA21, 2017-Ohio-436, ¶ 54.
{¶13} With respect to the third tier of the immunity analysis, “immunity may be
restored, and the political subdivision will not be liable, if one of the defenses enumerated in
R.C. 2744.03(A) applies.” Elton at ¶ 10, quoting Moss at ¶ 10.
C. Analysis
{¶14} In his complaint, Mr. McQuown asserted that his property “was subject to a seven
and one half foot easement owned and/or utilized by” Coventry Township “for the operation and
maintenance of a storm water sewer system designed to benefit the public.” Mr. McQuown
asserted in his complaint that on April 9, 2013, he fell and impaled his right arm on a metal rod
that was positioned in front of the drain inlet to the storm water sewer system located on
Coventry Township’s easement on the west side of his property. Lastly, Mr. McQuown asserted
that Coventry Township’s operation and maintenance of the storm water sewer system
constitutes a proprietary function under R.C. 2744.01(G) for which Coventry Township has no
immunity pursuant to R.C. 2744.02(B)(2).
7
{¶15} In its motion for summary judgment, Coventry Township argues that it is entitled
to immunity with respect to Mr. McQuown’s negligence claim because: (1) the record is devoid
of any evidence demonstrating that Coventry Township owns, operates, and maintains a “storm
water sewer system;” (2) there is no grant or reservation of a drainage easement to or in favor of
Coventry Township across Mr. McQuown’s property; (3) there is no evidence that Coventry
Township placed or left the metal rod on Mr. McQuown’s property; and (4) Coventry Township
did not have actual or constructive notice of a hazardous condition or potential danger (i.e. the
metal rod) on Mr. McQuown’s property.
{¶16} In support of its motion for summary judgment, Coventry Township cites to the
affidavit of Attorney Thomas E. Parrish, the president of Johnson & Parrish Title Agency, Inc.
Mr. Parrish attests that he reviewed an examination of the land title records in connection with
Mr. McQuown’s property on House Drive. Mr. Parrish attests that “[t]he search of the land title
records [go] back to 1880. William A. Farriss was the allotor of the Farriss Hills Allotment2
filed August 6, 1953. The recorded plat does not show a 7 1/2 foot drainage easement across the
west side of the subject premises (Lot 34). It does show a reserved 15 foot wife ‘drain ditch’
affecting the east side of Lot 32 and the west side of Lot 33.” (Emphasis sic.) Mr. Parrish also
attests that he reviewed copies of all the deeds in the chain of title and that his examination “did
not disclose any grant or reservation of a drainage easement across the subject property to or in
favor of Coventry Township.” Finally, Mr. Parrish avers that in his “expert opinion, to a
reasonable degree of certainty, [Mr. McQuown’s] property is not subject to any easement in
favor of or owned by Coventry Township for storm water drainage purposes. There is no such
easement found in the examination of the back chain of title to the property” and “[t]here is no
2
The Farris Hills Allotment is the residential subdivision where Mr. McQuown’s
property is located.
8
recorded drainage easement ever granted to Coventry Township across, over or under the subject
property.”
{¶17} Coventry Township’s motion for summary judgment also cites to the affidavit of
Robert Lael Stouffer, the road superintendent of Coventry Township. In his affidavit, Mr.
Stouffer attests that he has been a full-time employee of Coventry Township since 2000 and that
he has personally inspected the area in the vicinity of Mr. McQuown’s property. Mr. Stouffer
attests that Coventry Township “does not own, operate or maintain a ‘storm water sewer
system’” and that no such “‘storm water sewer system’ [is] located adjacent to the McQuown
property” on House Drive. As such, Mr. Stouffer avers that Coventry Township never
performed any modifications and/or repairs to a storm water sewer system.
{¶18} Additionally, Mr. Stouffer attests in his affidavit that Coventry Township “did not
install, own, maintain or otherwise have anything to do with the ‘metal rod’” that injured Mr.
McQuown, nor had he ever seen a metal rod similar to the one removed from the McQuown
property anywhere else in Coventry Township. He further attests that Coventry Township did
not place “a broken, rusted, metal rod approximately one inch in diameter in front of the drainage
sewer [.]” Mr. Stouffer avers that at no time during his employment with Coventry Township
did anyone ever advise him that a metal rod existed on Mr. McQuown’s property. Mr. Stouffer
further avers that Coventry Township had no actual or constructive notice of the rod’s existence
prior to April 9, 2013, when Mr. McQuown sustained his injuries. Indeed, on this point,
Coventry Township cites to Mr. McQuown’s own deposition testimony wherein he states that the
metal rod had been on his property since he bought the house in 1998. Mr. McQuown testified
that he knew that the metal rod was located on his property, but that he never notified Coventry
Township about it. He further testified that he never asked Coventry Township to remove the
9
metal rod for him, nor did he ever attempt to remove the metal rod on his own, admitting that he
had not “paid much attention to it.”
{¶19} Mr. Stouffer further attests that he assisted Mr. McQuown following the April 9,
2013 incident by removing the metal rod and placing a plastic pipe cover over the outer edges of
the exposed clay tile pipe. Mr. Stouffer avers that he did these things to accommodate Mr.
McQuown, a Coventry Township resident, and not because he had any legal responsibility to do
so. Lastly, Mr. Stouffer assets in his affidavit that “[i]n the late 1990’s and early 2000’s,
Coventry Township ran a program for Coventry residents” to “install plastic pipes in roadside
ditches and then fill and reseed the area,” but that Coventry Township “did not acquire an
easement over [Mr. McQuown’s] property as part of the program.” Mr. McQuown testified
during his deposition that Coventry Township never performed any work on his property
following the installation of the plastic pipe in 2000.
{¶20} Based on the foregoing evidence, we determine that Coventry Township satisfied
its initial Dresher burden in demonstrating that no genuine issue of material fact remained to be
litigated regarding whether its performance of a proprietary function caused Mr. McQuown’s
injuries.
{¶21} With Coventry Township having met its initial burden, the burden then shifted to
Mr. McQuown as the non-moving party to provide specific facts which would demonstrate the
existence of a “genuine triable issue” to be litigated at trial. Tompkins, 75 Ohio St.3d at 449. In
his brief in opposition to Coventry Township’s motion for summary judgment, Mr. McQuown
argued that summary judgment is inappropriate because genuine issues of material fact remain
with respect to: (1) whether Coventry Township operates a storm water sewer system; and (2)
10
whether “Coventry Township has an easement on [his] property that is an integral part of its
storm water sewer system.”
{¶22} In support of his brief in opposition to Coventry Township’s motion for summary
judgment, Mr. McQuown cites to the deposition testimony of Mr. Stouffer. Specifically, Mr.
McQuown cites to the portion of Mr. Stouffer’s testimony where he states that the metal rod that
injured Mr. McQuown was located right on the property line between Mr. McQuown’s private
property and the public road right-of-way. Mr. Stouffer also testified that the metal rod was
positioned close enough to the public right-of-way that he felt that he could remove it without
having to worry about trespassing on private property. Additionally, Mr. McQuown cites to the
deposition of George Beckham, the zoning inspector for Coventry Township. Specifically, upon
examining a photograph of the drain inlet and metal rod, Mr. Beckham stated that it looked like
the drain line required maintenance. Mr. Beckham further stated that “[i]f [the drain inlet] was in
his yard, [he’d] do something with it.”
{¶23} Mr. McQuown also cites to his own affidavit wherein he avers that he has
witnessed employees of Coventry Township in the area of the drain pipe on his property “at least
five times before the date [he] was injured on April 9, 2013.” Specifically, Mr. McQuown attests
that Coventry Township installed underground sewer pipe in front of his house in 2000 in order
to drain storm water. Additionally, Mr. McQuown attests that:
[a]pproximately one year before the date of [his] injury, [he] met with Lael
Stouffer at the drainage easement area, and requested permission from the
Township to put limestone gravel in the drainage basin by the drainage easement,
similar to what was installed at [other locations] to eliminate the need for
maintenance. Stouffer while standing in the ditch, forbid me from putting stone
in the drain basin area and said it would * * * make matters worse by restricting
water flow and would result in weeds growing up through the gravel. [sic.]
11
Mr. McQuown further avers that approximately one week after injuring himself on April 9,
2013, Coventry Township removed the metal rod and placed a plastic pipe cover over the outer
edges of the exposed pipe in the ditch. Mr. McQuown avers that neither he nor his wife ever
asked Coventry Township to remove the metal rod or place a plastic cover over the pipe.
Moreover, Mr. McQuown avers in his affidavit that he has observed the existence of
underground storm water sewer drains at 10 other locations throughout Coventry Township,
including two other locations on North House Drive. Lastly, Mr. McQuown cites to the portion
of Mr. Stouffer’s deposition testimony where he states that Coventry Township’s storm water
drainage system ties in with drainage systems from county roads.
{¶24} Viewing the aforementioned evidence in a light most favorable to Mr. McQuown
as the non-moving party, we determine that Mr. McQuown has satisfied his reciprocal burden of
demonstrating triable issues of material fact. Given the record before us, we conclude that a
genuine issue of material fact remains regarding whether the drain pipe in Mr. McQuown’s
property is part of a sewer system that is operated and maintained by Coventry Township.
Moreover, a genuine issue of triable fact remains regarding whether the seven and one half foot
drainage easement over the western portion of Mr. McQuown’s property is in favor of Coventry
Township. Lastly, a genuine issue of material fact exists concerning whether the metal rod that
injured Mr. McQuown was located on Mr. McQuown’s private property or on the public right-
of-way. The resolution of these issues of material fact necessarily address whether or not Mr.
McQuown’s injuries were caused by Coventry Township’s negligent performance of a
proprietary function. As such, because several issues of material fact remain, we conclude that
the trial court erred by granting Coventry Township’s motion for summary judgment on the basis
of immunity.
12
{¶25} Mr. McQuown’s first assignment of error is sustained.
Assignment of Error II
The trial court erred in its failure to address and grant McQuown’s motion
for summary judgment in that there is no genuine issue of material fact that
the open-and-obvious doctrine is not available to Coventry because Coventry
failed to meet its requirements under Civ.R. 56 to provide evidence that it
was the owner or occupier of the property at issue.
Assignment of Error III
The trial court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of Defendant
Coventry Township based on the open-and-obvious affirmative defense
because Coventry failed to establish that it was the owner or occupier of the
property at issue and based on the attendant circumstances, the hazard was
not observable at the time McQuown was injured and the hazard was not
what caused McQuown to fall.
{¶26} In his second and third assignments of error, Mr. McQuown contends that the trial
court erred by granting Coventry Township’s motion for summary judgment on the basis that the
metal rod constituted an open and obvious hazard. We agree.
{¶27} To obtain relief in a negligence action, the plaintiff “must establish the existence
of a duty, a breach of that duty, and an injury proximately resulting from the breach of duty.”
Mondi v. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, Inc., 9th Dist. Summit No. 25059, 2010–Ohio–2740, ¶ 11.
The legal duty owed to an injured party is dictated by the relationship between the owner of the
premises and the injured party. Hidalgo v. Costco Wholesale Corp., 9th Dist. Lorain No.
12CA010191, 2013-Ohio-847, ¶ 7. However, when “a danger is open and obvious, a landowner
owes no duty of care to individuals lawfully on the premises.” Armstrong v. Best Buy Co., Inc.,
99 Ohio St.3d 79, 2003–Ohio–2573, syllabus. As a result, the presence of an open and obvious
danger “acts as a complete bar to any negligence claims.” Id. at ¶ 5. The reasoning for such a
complete bar “is that the open and obvious nature of the hazard itself serves as a warning [and
the owner] may reasonably expect that persons entering the premises will discover [the hazard]
13
and take appropriate measures to protect themselves.” Simmers v. Bentley Constr. Co., 64 Ohio
St.3d 642, 644 (1992).
{¶28} “Open and obvious dangers are not hidden, are not concealed from view, and are
discoverable upon ordinary inspection.” Zambo v. Tom–Car Foods, 9th Dist. Lorain No.
09CA009619, 2010–Ohio–474, ¶ 8. To decide whether a hazard is open and obvious, we must
resolve “‘the determinative issue [of] whether the [hazardous] condition is observable.’” Baker
v. Bob Evans Farms, Inc., 9th Dist. Wayne No. 13CA0023, 2014–Ohio–2850, ¶ 11, quoting
Kirksey v. Summit Cty. Parking Deck, 9th Dist. Summit No. 22755, 2005–Ohio–6742, ¶ 11. Our
inquiry on this point is an objective one and the fact that a plaintiff was unaware of the hazard is
not dispositive. Goode v. Mt. Gillion Baptist Church, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 87876, 2006–
Ohio–6936, ¶ 25. Additionally, to resolve this issue, we “must look to the totality of the
circumstances, considering ‘both the nature of the dangerous condition and any attendant
circumstances that may have existed at the time of the injury.’” Baker at ¶ 11, quoting Gehm v.
Tri–Cty., Inc., 9th Dist. Lorain No. 09CA009693, 2010–Ohio–1080, ¶ 8; see also Gardner v.
Kinstlinger, 9th Dist. Summit No. 26374, 2012–Ohio–5486, ¶ 11 (noting that “[t]he existence of
attendant circumstances do not create an exception to the open and obvious doctrine” but are
rather “considered as part of the totality of the circumstances in determining whether a genuine
issue of material fact exists regarding whether a reasonable person would have discovered the
hazard.”). Although the courts have not developed a “precise definition of attendant
circumstances,” Jenks v. Barberton, 9th Dist. Summit No. 22300, 2005–Ohio–995, ¶ 16, the
phrase encompasses “‘all facts relating to a situation such as time, place, surroundings, and other
conditions that would unreasonably increase the typical risk of a harmful result of an event.’”
14
Marock v. Barberton Liedertafel, 9th Dist. Summit No. 23111, 2006–Ohio–5423, ¶ 13, quoting
Hudspath v. The Cafaro Co., 11th Dist. Ashtabula No. 2004–A–0073, 2005–Ohio–6911, ¶ 19.
{¶29} As noted above, however, we determine that a genuine issue of material fact
remains regarding whether the seven and one half foot drainage easement over the western
portion of Mr. McQuown’s property is in favor of Coventry Township. We also determined that
a triable issue of material fact exists concerning whether the metal rod that injured Mr.
McQuown was located on Mr. McQuown’s private property or on the public right-of-way.
These genuine issues of material fact pervade the issues involved in an analysis of the open and
obvious doctrine, such as identifying the respective parties’ relationship to the property where
the metal rod was located and what legal duty, if any, Coventry Township owed to Mr.
McQuown with respect to the metal rod. Accordingly, with such genuine issues of material fact
remaining, we conclude that the trial court erred by granting summary judgment in favor of
Coventry Township on the basis that the metal rod constituted an open and obvious hazard. See
Vonderhaar v. Cincinnati, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-100146, 2010-Ohio-6289, ¶ 26-28
(declining to review whether an allegedly dangerous condition was open and obvious where
genuine issues of material fact remained as to whether the city was an owner or occupier of the
premises where the allegedly hazardous condition was located), citing Simmers at 645.
{¶30} Mr. McQuown’s second and third assignments of error are sustained.
III.
{¶31} Mr. McQuown’s three assignments of error are sustained. Accordingly, the
judgment of the Summit County Court of Common Pleas is reversed and this matter is remanded
for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
Judgment reversed
and cause remanded.
15
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 Appellee.
JULIE A. SCHAFER
FOR THE COURT
CARR, J.
CONCURS.
HENSAL, P. J.
DISSENTING.
{¶32} The trial court correctly granted summary judgment to the Township. I, therefore,
respectfully dissent.
{¶33} The open and obvious doctrine applies when a condition is “so obvious that it
absolves the property owner from taking any further action to protect the plaintiff.” Armstrong
16
v. Best Buy Co., Inc., 99 Ohio St.3d 79, 2003-Ohio-2573, ¶ 13. If the plaintiff is actually aware
of an unsafe condition on premises, however, the similar “known peril” doctrine applies. Raflo
v. Losantiville Country Club, 34 Ohio St.2d 1, 4 (1973) (identifying doctrine). According to the
Ohio Supreme Court, “where there is danger, and the peril is known, whoever encounters it,
voluntarily and unnecessarily, can not be regarded as exercising ordinary prudence, and therefore
does so at his own risk.” Schaefler v. City of Sandusky, 33 Ohio St. 246, 249 (1877); see also
Grossnickle v. Village of Germantown, 3 Ohio St.2d 96, 103 (1965) (“[O]ne who assumes,
voluntarily, a known hazard, must accept the consequences even though he may have exercised
the utmost care.”).
{¶34} Mr. McQuown admitted that the metal rod has been on his property since 1998.
The fact that he may have forgotten about its existence or that it was covered by leaves on the
day of his fall does not prevent the application of the known peril doctrine. Raflo at 3 (“[T]he
plaintiff’s failure to avoid a known peril is not excused by the fact that he ‘did not think,’ or
‘forgot.’”). Accordingly, this Court should overrule Mr. McQuown’s second and third
assignments of error on their merits, it should overrule his first assignment of error as moot, and
it should affirm the judgment of the trial court.
APPEARANCES:
JEROME T. LINNEN, JR., Attorney at Law, for Appellant.
IRVING B. SUGERMAN and MATTHEW GRASHOFF, Attorneys at Law, for Appellee.
McQuown v. Coventry Twp.
Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
Date filed: 2017-08-09
Citations: 2017 Ohio 7151, 95 N.E.3d 1007
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