Case Title: M.H. v. City of Cuyahoga Falls

Citation: 2012-Ohio-5336

Docket Number: 2011-1588

State: ohio

Court: Ohio Supreme Court

Date: 2012-11-20T00:00:00Z

Document:
[Until this opinion appears in the Ohio Official Reports advance sheets, it may be cited as 
M.H. v. Cuyahoga Falls, Slip Opinion No. 2012-Ohio-5336.] 
 
 
 
NOTICE 
This slip opinion is subject to formal revision before it is published in 
an advance sheet of the Ohio Official Reports.  Readers are requested 
to promptly notify the Reporter of Decisions, Supreme Court of Ohio, 
65 South Front Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215, of any typographical or 
other formal errors in the opinion, in order that corrections may be 
made before the opinion is published. 
 
SLIP OPINION NO. 2012-OHIO-5336 
M.H. ET AL., APPELLEES, v. THE CITY OF CUYAHOGA FALLS,  
APPELLANT, ET AL. 
[Until this opinion appears in the Ohio Official Reports advance sheets,  
it may be cited as M.H. v. Cuyahoga Falls, Slip Opinion No. 2012-Ohio-5336.] 
Political-subdivision tort immunity—R.C. 2744.02—Exception to immunity—
Indoor municipal pool—Injury occurred on the grounds of a building that 
was used in connection with the performance of a governmental function. 
(No. 2011-1588—Submitted June 19, 2012—Decided November 20, 2012.) 
APPEAL from the Court of Appeals of Summit County,  
No. 25582, 2011-Ohio-3795. 
__________________ 
PFEIFER, J. 
{¶ 1} The question before us is whether the city of Cuyahoga Falls is 
immune from liability, pursuant to R.C. Chapter 2744, in an action brought by a 
minor and his parents after the minor was injured at an indoor swimming pool 
maintained by the city.  For the reasons that follow, we conclude that the city has 
not shown on its motion for summary judgment that it is entitled to immunity 
SUPREME COURT OF OHIO 
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under R.C. 2744.02(A)(1), because under R.C. 2744.02(B)(4), a political 
subdivision can be held liable for injury caused by the negligence of its 
employees that occurred within the grounds of  buildings used in performing a 
governmental function applies.  Accordingly, Cuyahoga Falls is not immune from 
liability, and we affirm the decision of the court of appeals. 
Background 
{¶ 2} Appellee M.H. suffered a broken knee while at the city of 
Cuyahoga Falls’ natatorium.  In his complaint, M.H. alleged that the injury had 
occurred because of negligence on the part of Cuyahoga Falls.  Among other 
defenses, Cuyahoga Falls claimed to be immune from liability pursuant to R.C. 
Chapter 2744.  Cuyahoga Falls moved for summary judgment, which the trial 
court granted on the ground that indoor swimming pools do not fall under R.C. 
2744.02(B)(4), which sets forth an exception to immunity for injury caused by 
negligence of a political subdivision’s employee within or on the grounds of a 
building used in connection with a governmental function.  The court of appeals 
reversed, concluding that because the pool was in “a building used in connection 
with the performance of a governmental function,” M.H. v. Cuyahoga Falls, 9th 
Dist. No. 25582, 2011-Ohio-3795, ¶ 20, the exception to political-subdivision tort 
immunity in R.C. 2744.02(B)(4) applies. 
{¶ 3} We accepted Cuyahoga Falls’ discretionary appeal.  M.H. v. 
Cuyahoga Falls, 130 Ohio St.3d 1493, 2011-Ohio-6556, 958 N.E.2d 956. 
Analysis 
R.C. Chapter 2744 
{¶ 4} R.C. 2744.02(A)(1) generally confers immunity from liability for 
injury caused by a political subdivision’s acts and omissions “in connection with a 
governmental or proprietary function.” 
{¶ 5} R.C. 2744.01(C)(2)(u)(iv) states that the design, maintenance, and 
operation of a municipal swimming pool are governmental functions. 
January Term, 2012 
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{¶ 6} R.C. 2744.02(B)(4) states that “political subdivisions are liable for 
injury * * * that is caused by the negligence of their employees and that occurs 
within or on the grounds of, and is due to physical defects within or on the 
grounds of, buildings that are used in connection with the performance of a 
governmental function.” 
Application of R.C. Chapter 2744 
{¶ 7} Cuyahoga Falls is a political subdivision and therefore is able to 
assert immunity.  R.C. 2744.02(A)(1).  It is uncontroverted that by maintaining 
and operating the city of Cuyahoga Falls’ natatorium, Cuyahoga Falls was 
performing a governmental function.  Thus, Cuyahoga Fall would be immune 
from liability unless an exception to immunity applies.  See generally Cater v. 
Cleveland, 83 Ohio St.3d 24, 28-29, 697 N.E.2d 610 (1998). 
{¶ 8} This case seems to fit clearly within the exception under R.C. 
2744.02(B)(4).  The complaint alleged that the city was negligent in the care or 
control of its pool or diving board and that the negligence caused the injury 
suffered by M.H.  The pool is within a building that is “used in connection with 
the performance of a governmental function.” 
{¶ 9} The only impediment that we see to a resolution based solely on 
the plain language of the statute is language found in Cater.  In Cater, a 12-year-
old boy died from complications after nearly drowning in a municipal pool.  Id. at 
24.  The appellate court certified a conflict asking “ ‘whether a governmental 
function and the absolute immunity provided it under R.C. 2744.01(C)(2)(u) [are] 
still subject to the exceptions to immunity provided in R.C. 2744.02(B)(3) and 
(4).’ ”  Id. at 27.  This court held that “[t]he operation of a municipal swimming 
pool, although defined as a governmental function in R.C. 2744.01(C)(2)(u), is 
subject to the exceptions to immunity set forth in former R.C. 2744.02(B) and to 
the available defenses enumerated in R.C. 2744.03.”  Id. at syllabus. 
SUPREME COURT OF OHIO 
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{¶ 10} In reaching that conclusion, the lead opinion, which no justice 
joined, discussed R.C. 2744.02(B)(4).  “Unlike a courthouse or office building 
where government business is conducted, a city recreation center houses 
recreational activities.”  Id. at 31.  The opinion expressed concern that imposing 
liability on a political subdivision for injuries at an indoor swimming pool created 
an artificial distinction between indoor pools and outdoor pools, for which there 
would be no liability, because the injury had not occurred in a building.  Id. at 31-
32.  We are not persuaded that this language has ongoing relevance.  Instead, we 
conclude that the plain language of the statute is sufficient to guide us in reaching 
a decision. 
{¶ 11} It is clear that the operation of a pool is a government function.  In 
this case, it is equally clear that the injury “occur[ed] within or on the grounds of 
a building that was used in connection with the performance of a governmental 
function.  Accordingly, we conclude that the exception in R.C. 2744.02(B)(4) 
applies. 
Conclusion 
{¶ 12} Summary judgment may be granted when “(1) [n]o genuine issue 
as to any material fact remains to be litigated; (2) the moving party is entitled to 
judgment as a matter of law; and (3) it appears from the evidence that reasonable 
minds can come to but one conclusion, and viewing such evidence most strongly 
in favor of the party against whom the motion for summary judgment is made, 
that conclusion is adverse to that party.”  Temple v. Wean United, Inc., 50 Ohio 
St.2d 317, 327, 364 N.E.2d 267 (1977), citing Civ.R. 56(C).  Based on our 
conclusion that the exception to immunity contained in R.C. 2744.02(B)(4) is 
applicable, Cuyahoga Falls is not entitled to judgment as a matter of law on its 
motion for summary judgment. 
{¶ 13} We affirm the judgment of the court of appeals and remand to the 
trial court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. 
January Term, 2012 
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Judgment affirmed 
and cause remanded. 
O’CONNOR, C.J., and LUNDBERG STRATTON, O’DONNELL, LANZINGER, 
CUPP, and MCGEE BROWN, JJ., concur. 
__________________ 
Elk & Elk Co., Ltd., Kimberly C. Young, and William J. Price, for 
appellees. 
Paul A. Janis, Cuyahoga Falls Director of Law, and Hope L. Jones, 
Deputy Director of Law, for appellant. 
Paul W. Flowers Co., L.P.A., and Paul W. Flowers, urging affirmance for 
amicus curiae, Ohio Association for Justice. 
______________________