[Cite as R & J Solutions, Inc. v. Moses, 2021-Ohio-1315.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO 

TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT 

R & J Solutions, Inc., : 

 Plaintiff-Appellant, : No. 19AP-703 

 (C.P.C. No. 17CV-2522)

v. : 

 (REGULAR CALENDAR) 

Ambrose Moses, III, Esq., : 

 Defendant-Appellee. : 

 

D E C I S I O N 

Rendered on April 15, 2021 

 

On brief: Ric Daniell, for appellant. Argued: Ric Daniell.

On brief: Ambrose Moses, III, pro se. Argued: Ambrose 

Moses, III.

 

APPEAL from the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas 

DORRIAN, P.J. 

{¶ 1} Plaintiff-appellant, R & J Solutions, Inc., appeals the September 16, 2019 

decision and entry of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas granting judgment 

following a bench trial in favor of defendant-appellee, Ambrose Moses, III, Esq., on 

appellant's claim for legal malpractice. For the following reasons, we reverse.

I. Facts and Procedural History 

{¶ 2} On March 13, 2017, appellant filed a complaint in the trial court asserting a 

claim of legal malpractice against appellee. In its complaint, appellant, an Ohio corporation, 

alleged appellee represented it in a prior lawsuit filed by Premier Trailer Leasing, Inc. 

("Premier"), which sought to collect funds from appellant. Appellant alleged Premier filed 

a discovery request on August 23, 2016, but appellee never disclosed the discovery request 
No. 19AP-703 2 

to appellant or otherwise responded to the same. Appellant alleged that Premier filed a 

motion for summary judgment on October 18, 2016, and appellee never informed appellant 

of such motion. Instead of responding with evidence or affidavits to Premier's motion for 

summary judgment, appellee filed a response containing arguments based on Texas law. 

Appellant alleged that due to appellee's negligence, summary judgment was granted to 

Premier in the amount of $40,279.37 plus costs. 

{¶ 3} On April 16, 2017, appellee filed an answer admitting he provided legal 

advice, counsel, and representation to appellant, but denying the other allegations giving 

rise to appellant's claim. On December 7, 2017, appellant filed a motion for leave to file an 

untimely summary judgment motion on the issue of liability. On December 26, 2017, 

appellee filed a memorandum in opposition to appellant's December 7, 2017 motion for 

leave. On May 10, 2018, the trial court granted appellant's December 7, 2017 motion for 

leave to file an untimely summary judgment motion on the issue of liability, giving 

appellant seven days to file such motion.1

{¶ 4} On August 12, 2019, the matter proceeded to bench trial. At trial, appellant 

called appellee, who was proceeding pro se, as a witness as if on cross-examination. 

Appellee testified he spoke with Renatha Mitchell, the CEO of appellant, about an ongoing 

collection matter between appellant and Premier. Appellee agreed to communicate on 

appellant's behalf with the collections agency that had been engaged on behalf of Premier. 

Appellee testified appellant wanted time to determine how much was actually owed and, 

thereafter, to make payment on such amount. Appellee received documents from appellant 

indicating that the amount owed by appellant to Premier was $1,186. 

{¶ 5} Appellee testified that Premier filed a complaint against appellant on 

January 15, 2016 and he filed an answer on behalf of appellant on February 18, 2016. 

Premier filed a motion for summary judgment against appellant on October 18, 2016, in 

which it asserted appellant had been served on August 23, 2016 with discovery requests, 

including requests for production of documents, requests for admissions and 

interrogatories, but appellant had not responded to such requests by the deadline of 

September 20, 2016. Appellee agreed that appellant had been served with such discovery 

 

1 We note the record does not reflect that appellant filed a motion for summary judgment following the court's 

May 10, 2018 decision. 
No. 19AP-703 3 

requests and that he did not provide any response. Appellee stated he received documents 

from appellant that he could have used in responding to the discovery request to 

demonstrate that appellant "did not owe the amount claimed by [Premier]." (Tr. at 39.) 

When asked why he did not respond to the discovery requests, appellee stated "[q]uite 

honestly, I'm not recalling the full reason for that. I just had a lot of other things that were 

going on and I believe it just got caught up in the -- sort of the work of the office, just sort 

of overlooked." (Tr. at 43.) Appellee stated it was not appellant's fault that he did not 

respond to the discovery request. When asked "[i]f there's no response to a request for 

admissions, then under the Civil Rules, can't this request be deemed admitted," appellee 

responded "[g]enerally, that's the case, yes." (Tr. at 18-19.) 

{¶ 6} Appellee testified he filed a response to Premier's motion for summary 

judgment on December 12, 2016, in which he argued that Premier was not following the 

terms of their contract or Texas law, pursuant to a choice of law provision in the contract. 

Appellee admitted this strategy was not successful in terms of the determination on the 

merits in that action. However, he testified that his purpose in the representation was "to 

buy time" for appellant "to take appropriate legal means, have time for them to work out a 

resolution and to raise funds to pay" the amount due to Premier. (Tr. at 12.) Appellee 

testified that the trial court in the underlying case granted summary judgment to Premier 

on December 16, 2016, finding there was no dispute as to any material fact of record in the 

case. Appellee testified it was his understanding appellant eventually paid $15,000 to settle 

the underlying case following summary judgment. 

{¶ 7} Renatha Mitchell testified she was the secretary, treasurer, and CEO of 

appellant. Mitchell testified she asked appellee to represent appellant upon receiving a 

collection notice from Premier. Mitchell met with appellee before Premier filed its case 

against appellant. At the meeting, appellee reviewed appellant's documentation related to 

Premier. Later, Mitchell e-mailed any and all documents she possessed regarding the 

collections matter to appellee. 

{¶ 8} After Premier filed its complaint against appellant, Mitchell testified she 

called and sent text messages to appellee on a number of occasions. Appellee did not inform 

Mitchell that a motion for summary judgment had been filed by Premier. Mitchell testified 

she sent appellee a text on December 13, 2016, in which she urgently asked him to contact 
No. 19AP-703 4 

her. Mitchell thereafter sent appellee a text informing him she had noticed his filing a 

memo in opposition to Premier's motion for summary judgment. On January 3, 2017, after 

the trial court in the underlying case had granted summary judgment in favor of Premier, 

Mitchell sent another text message to appellee stating she had called and left messages for 

him. Mitchell received no response to any of these messages. Appellee never informed 

Mitchell that the trial court had granted judgment in favor of Premier. Mitchell was 

unaware that judgment had been rendered against appellant until after receiving a certified 

copy of the judgment. 

{¶ 9} Mitchell testified that based on 63 hours of research conducted by employees 

of appellant, the amount due to Premier was $1,886.00. The trial court's decision granting 

summary judgment in favor of Premier found that appellant was liable for a total of 

$40,279.37 plus interest and costs. After the trial court granted summary judgment in favor 

of Premier in the underlying matter, Mitchell filed a motion under Civ.R. 60(B) seeking 

relief from the judgment, which was denied. Mitchell then settled the underlying matter 

with Premier for $15,000.00. 

{¶ 10} On September 16, 2019, the trial court filed a decision and entry following the 

bench trial finding appellant failed to prove its claim for legal malpractice because expert 

testimony was required to establish the standard of care. Additionally, the trial court found 

appellant failed to establish causation. 

II. Assignments of Error 

{¶ 11} Appellant appeals and assigns the following two assignments of error for our 

review: 

[I.] The lower court erred in finding that R & J Solutions 

needed an expert witness to show that Appellee failed to 

conform to the applicable standard of care. 

[II.] The lower court erred in finding that there was no ca[us]al 

connection between the conduct by Appellee complained of 

and the resulting damages. 

III. Analysis 

{¶ 12} In its two assignments of error, appellant argues the trial court erred in 

finding that it did not establish the elements of its legal malpractice claim against appellee. 

A. Applicable Law 
No. 19AP-703 5 

{¶ 13} "To establish a cause of action for legal malpractice based on negligent 

representation, a plaintiff must show (1) that the attorney owed a duty or obligation to the 

plaintiff, (2) that there was a breach of that duty or obligation and that the attorney failed 

to conform to the standard required by law, and (3) that there is a causal connection 

between the conduct complained of and the resulting damage or loss." Vahila v. Hall, 77 

Ohio St.3d 421 (1997), syllabus. The first element, that an attorney owed a duty to the 

plaintiff, is "typically established through the existence of some form of attorney-client 

relationship." McBroom v. Gertmenian, 10th Dist. No. 18AP-204, 2018-Ohio-3884, ¶ 18, 

citing Illinois Natl. Ins. Co. v. Wiles, Boyle, Burkholder & Bringardner Co., L.P.A., 10th 

Dist. No. 10AP-290, 2010-Ohio-5872, ¶ 19, citing Natl. Union Fire Ins. Co. v. Wuerth, 122 

Ohio St.3d 594, 2009-Ohio-3601, ¶ 10. See Svaldi v. Holmes, 10th Dist. No. 12AP-167, 

2012-Ohio-6161, ¶ 18, quoting Advanced Analytics Laboratories, Inc. v. Kegler, Brown, 

Hill & Ritter, L.P.A., 148 Ohio App.3d 440, 2002-ohio-3328, ¶ 34 (10th Dist.) (" 'An 

attorney's duty to his or her client exists in relation to the scope of representation sought 

by the client and undertaken by the attorney.' "). The trial court found the first element met 

because appellee represented appellant in the underlying action. The parties do not dispute 

this finding on appeal. Therefore, we consider whether appellant established the remaining 

elements. 

B. First Assignment of Error - Breach of Duty 

{¶ 14} In its first assignment of error, appellant argues the trial court erred in 

finding it did not meet the second element of its legal malpractice claim. Specifically, 

appellant argues the trial court erred in finding expert testimony was required to determine 

whether appellee failed to conform to the applicable standard of care. 

{¶ 15} With regard to the second element of a legal malpractice claim, a plaintiff 

cannot merely demonstrate " 'imperfect representation,' " but rather " 'must establish a 

failure to conform to the applicable standard of care.' " Tarazi v. Siddiqi, 10th Dist. No. 

19AP-557, 2020-Ohio-3432, ¶ 11, quoting Seoane-Vazquez v. Rosenberg, 10th Dist. No. 

19AP-16, 2019-Ohio-4997, ¶ 23. "The duty of an attorney to his client is to * * * exercise the 

knowledge, skill, and ability ordinarily possessed and exercised by members of the legal 

profession similarly situated, and to be ordinarily and reasonably diligent, careful, and 

prudent in discharging the duties he has assumed." (Internal quotations omitted.) Phillips 
No. 19AP-703 6 

v. Wilkinson, 10th Dist. No. 17AP-231, 2017-Ohio-8505, ¶ 14, quoting Yates v. Brown, 185 

Ohio App.3d 742, 2010-Ohio-35, ¶ 17 (9th Dist.), quoting Palmer v. Westmeyer, 48 Ohio 

App.3d 296, 298 (6th Dist.1988), quoting 67 Ohio Jurisprudence 3d, Malpractice, Section 

9, at 16 (1986). "This 'standard of care' has been described as that which 'a reasonable 

attorney, similarly situated, would have [done] under the circumstances.' " Goldberg v. 

Mittman, 10th Dist. No. 07AP-304, 2007-Ohio-6599, ¶ 11, quoting Brunstetter v. Keating, 

11th Dist. No. 2002-T-0057, 2003-Ohio-3270, ¶ 18. 

{¶ 16} In McInnis v. Hyatt Legal Clinics, 10 Ohio St.3d 112 (1984), the Supreme 

Court of Ohio held that, in a legal malpractice case, expert testimony is generally required 

in order to prove breach of the duty that the attorney owed to the plaintiff, unless the 

claimed breach of professional duty is "well within the common understanding of * * * 

laymen." Id. at 113. See Whiteside v. Conroy, 10th Dist. No. 05AP-123, 2005-Ohio-5098, 

¶ 50. " 'Expert testimony is required so that the trier of fact does not have to speculate on 

the standard of care, particularly in a complex case involving [matters] which are normally 

not within the realm of understanding of the layman.' " Lundeen v. Graff, 10th Dist. No. 

15AP-32, 2015-Ohio-4462, ¶ 17, quoting Northwestern Life Ins. Co. v. Rogers, 61 Ohio 

App.3d 506, 512 (10th Dist.1989). See Goldberg at ¶ 13 (listing cases in which this court 

has held expert testimony is required to demonstrate breach of duty). However, no expert 

testimony is required where "the alleged breach of care is so obvious that it can be 

determined from the ordinary knowledge and experience of laymen." Roberts v. Hutton, 

152 Ohio App.3d 412, 2003-Ohio-1650, ¶ 55 (10th Dist.). We have also stated that expert 

testimony is not required in cases in which the breach is "so obvious that it may be 

determined by the court as a matter of law." (Internal quotations omitted.) Brust v. 

Kravitz, 10th Dist. No. 16AP-201, 2016-Ohio-7871, ¶ 41, quoting Bloom v. Dieckmann, 11 

Ohio App.3d 202, 203 (1st Dist.1983), quoting Annotation, 14 A.L.R.4th 170, 173 (1982). 

See Kent's Excavating Servs. v. Leneghan, 8th Dist. No. 104820, 2017-Ohio-1371, ¶ 17 

(where the claimed errors are " 'so simple and obvious,' expert testimony is not required to 

demonstrate the breach of the attorney's standard of care"). 

{¶ 17} Here, the trial court found expert testimony was required to determine 

whether appellee failed to conform to the applicable standard of care because it was "unable 

to conclude that [appellee's] failure to respond to requests for admissions and the written 
No. 19AP-703 7 

response to the motion for summary judgment is such that a layperson could determine if 

a breach occurred absent expert testimony." (Decision at 4.) The court noted appellee's 

testimony that "not responding to the request for admissions and the argument raised in 

the memo contra to the summary judgment motion fell within the strategy to provide 

[appellant] time to pay off any amount owed." (Decision at 4.) Thus, the trial court found 

the legal issues presented in the case were not within the ordinary knowledge of a layperson 

and not so obvious as may be determined as a matter of law. 

{¶ 18} We disagree with the trial court, at least with regard to missing the discovery 

deadline. A layperson may not be able to determine, without expert assistance, if the 

strategy in making certain arguments in response to a summary judgment motion 

conforms to a lawyer's standard of care. However, a layperson could determine, without 

expert assistance, if missing a deadline because it was overlooked and not the client's fault 

conforms to a lawyer's standard of care. 

{¶ 19} Courts in several cases have found that expert testimony is not required to 

establish breach of duty in a legal malpractice claim. In one such case, an Ohio appellate 

court found that an attorney's alleged negligence was so clear to constitute negligence as a 

matter of law such that expert testimony was not necessary as to standard of care and 

breach where the attorney "fail[ed] to keep himself apprised of the status of the case and 

miss[ed] a decision dismissing the case within the time to appeal." Harris v. Rossi, 11th 

Dist. No. 2017-T-0045, 2018-Ohio-4573, ¶ 53. See Estate of Hards v. Walton, 8th Dist. No. 

93185, 2010-Ohio-3596, ¶ 12-13 (finding expert testimony not required where attorney did 

not assert that failure to file response to motion for judgment on the pleadings constituted 

an exercise of professional judgment, but instead conceded that filing deadline was missed 

because he was distracted by a family emergency). We have previously noted that "expert 

testimony may not be necessary to support a legal malpractice claim where the attorney 

fails to file a viable claim before the statute of limitations expires." Brust at ¶ 41, citing 

DePugh v. Sladoje, 111 Ohio App.3d 675, 681-82 (2d Dist.1996). We have also stated that 

" '[t]he failure to abide by a client's specific instructions may be sufficient to establish a 

breach of a professional duty without expert testimony.' " Id., quoting Dimacchia v. Burke, 

904 F.2d 36 (6th Cir.1990), citing McInnis at 113.
No. 19AP-703 8 

{¶ 20} In this case, Premier received summary judgment in the underlying case 

following appellee's failure to respond to their requests for admissions. We have previously 

stated that " '[p]ursuant to the express language of Civ.R. 36(A), requests for admissions 

are "self-executing; if there is no response to a request or an admission, the matter is 

admitted. Unlike other discovery matters, the admission is made automatically and 

requires no further action by the party requesting the admission." * * * Thus, once a party 

fails to timely respond to the requests for admissions, the defaulted admissions become 

facts.' " Goldberg at ¶ 24, quoting Palmer-Donavin v. Hanna, 10th Dist. No. 06AP-699, 

2007-Ohio-2242, ¶ 10, quoting Bronski v. Rite Aid Corp., 4th Dist. No. 88 CA 21 (Feb. 16, 

1989). The record reflects that because there was no response to Premier's request for 

admissions regarding the amounts allegedly owed by appellant, the admissions were made 

automatically and became facts. As a result, the trial court in the underlying matter found 

there was no dispute as to a genuine issue of material fact and granted summary judgment. 

{¶ 21} In his testimony before the trial court, appellee admitted he failed to respond 

to Premier's discovery requests, including their written request for admissions pursuant to 

Civ.R. 36. When asked "[i]f there's no response to a request for admissions, then under the 

Civil Rules, can't this request be deemed admitted," appellee responded "[g]enerally, that's 

the case, yes." (Tr. at 18-19.) Furthermore, appellee acknowledged the documents provided 

by appellant could have been used to demonstrate that it "did not owe the amount claimed 

by [Premier]." (Tr. at 39.) Appellee acknowledged he "overlooked" providing a response to 

Premier's discovery request. (Tr. at 43.) The Rules of Professional Conduct state that "[a] 

lawyer shall act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client." 

(Emphasis omitted.) Prof.Cond.Rule 1.3. A comment to this rule explains that "[d]elay and 

neglect are inconsistent with a lawyer's duty of diligence, undermine public confidence, and 

may prejudice a client's cause. Reasonable diligence and promptness are expected of a 

lawyer in handling all client matters and will be evaluated in light of all relevant 

circumstances." Prof.Cond.R. 1.3, comment 3. Consistent with this rule, it has been held 

that " 'attorneys are expected to keep themselves advised of the progress of their cases.' " 

Yoder v. Thorpe, 10th Dist. No. 07AP-225, 2007-Ohio-5866, ¶ 13, quoting Metcalf v. Ohio 

State Univ. Hosps., 2 Ohio App.3d 166, 168 (10th Dist.1981). 
No. 19AP-703 9 

{¶ 22} Therefore, on the facts of this case, based on appellee's testimony and the 

undisputed record regarding appellee's failure to respond to Premier's request for 

admissions, expert testimony was not required to establish the standard of care and breach 

as to missing the discovery deadline. Harris at ¶ 53; Hards at ¶ 12-13. Accordingly, we 

sustain appellant's first assignment of error. 

C. Second Assignment of Error - Causation 

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

concluding there was no causal connection between the conduct of appellee and the 

resulting damages in the underlying litigation. The trial court found it was unable to 

"conclude that [appellee's] negligence, if any, is the reason judgment in the amount of 

$40,279.37 was granted against [appellant] in the Premier action." (Decision at 5.) The 

court found that "[w]hile [appellant] argued that the total amount due was $1,186.00, this 

Court will note that Premier provided evidence in the underlying litigation to suggest that 

the amount owed was substantially higher than $1,186.00." (Decision at 5.) Furthermore, 

the court noted that appellant "was able to settle the matter post-judgment for an amount 

less than the awarded judgment but still greater than $1,186.00." (Decision at 5.)

{¶ 24} The Supreme Court has provided different standards for determining 

causation in legal malpractice cases. First, in Vahila, the court set forth the "some evidence" 

standard, which requires a plaintiff to demonstrate "some evidence of the merits of the 

underlying claim" to establish the causation element. Id. at 428. Next, in Environmental 

Network Corp. v. Goodman Weiss Miller, L.L.P., 119 Ohio St.3d 209, 2008-Ohio-3833, 

¶ 16, the court set forth the "but for" test for causation in applying the "case-within-a-case 

doctrine." 

{¶ 25} In Vahila, the claimed malpractice consisted of the defendant attorneys' 

"failure * * * to properly disclose all matters and/or legal consequences surrounding the 

various plea bargains entered into by Terry Vahila and the settlement arrangements agreed 

to by [plaintiffs] with respect to the several civil matters." Id. at 427. The plaintiffs alleged 

losses of $100,000 and lost profits of at least $200,000. Id. at 422. The court found that 

on "the facts of [the] case, [plaintiffs] have arguably sustained damage or loss regardless of 

the fact that they may be unable to prove that they would have been successful in the 

underlying matter(s)." Id. at 427. 
No. 19AP-703 10 

{¶ 26} The court noted that "the requirement of causation often dictates that the 

merits of the malpractice action depend upon the merits of the underlying case." Id. at 427-

28. Although the court recognized that "a plaintiff in a legal malpractice action may be 

required, depending on the situation, to provide some evidence of the merits of the 

underlying claim," the court declined to "endorse a blanket proposition that requires a 

plaintiff to prove, in every instance, that he or she would have been successful in the 

underlying matter." Id. at 428. 

{¶ 27} In Environmental Network, the plaintiffs filed a legal malpractice suit 

claiming that the defendant attorney's "malpractice resulted in a coerced settlement and 

that appellees would have achieved a better result if the underlying case had been tried to 

its conclusion." Id. at ¶ 9. Following trial, the jury found in favor of the plaintiffs and 

awarded them damages. The trial court denied the defendant's motion for judgment 

notwithstanding the verdict or, in the alternative, a new trial, on grounds that plaintiffs had 

satisfied their burden under Vahila of establishing proximate causation by producing 

"some evidence" on the merits of their claims in the underlying action. 

{¶ 28} On appeal, the Supreme Court noted that in Vahila it had "rejected a 

wholesale adoption of a 'but for' test for proving causation and the mandatory application 

of the "case-within-a-case doctrine." Environmental Network at ¶ 16. Under the casewithin-a-case doctrine: 

"All the issues that would have been litigated in the previous 

action are litigated between the plaintiff and the plaintiffs 

former lawyer, with the latter taking the place and bearing the 

burdens that properly would have fallen on the defendant in 

the original action. Similarly, the plaintiff bears the burden the 

plaintiff would have borne in the original trial; in considering 

whether the plaintiff has carried that burden, however, the trier 

of fact may consider whether the defendant lawyer's 

misconduct has made it more difficult for the plaintiff to prove 

what would have been the result in the original trial." 

Id. at ¶ 16, quoting Restatement of the Law 3d, Law Governing Lawyers, Section 53, at 390, 

Comment b (2000). 

{¶ 29} Unlike the plaintiffs in Vahila, who sustained losses regardless of the merits 

of the underlying case, the plaintiffs in Environmental Network "could recover only if they 

could prove that they would have succeeded in the underlying case and that the judgment 
No. 19AP-703 11 

would have been better than the terms of the settlement." Id. at ¶ 18. Thus, the court found 

that the theory of the case "place[d] the merits of the underlying litigation directly at issue 

because it stands to reason that in order to prove causation and damages, [the plaintiffs] 

must establish that [the defendant's] actions resulted in settling the case for less than [the 

plaintiffs] would have received had the matter gone to trial." Id. Accordingly, the court 

found that where the plaintiffs' "sole theory for recovery is that if the underlying matter had 

been tried to conclusion, they would have received a more favorable outcome than they 

obtained in the settlement," the case-within-a-case doctrine applied. Id.2

{¶ 30} Under the facts and circumstances present in this matter, we find the test in 

Vahila to be the appropriate test. Unlike in Environmental Network, the underlying case 

in this matter was determined on the merits when the trial court granted summary 

judgment in favor of Premier. Furthermore, appellant's theory of the case did not rely on 

demonstrating that it would have succeeded in the underlying case. Instead, appellant's 

theory of the case, like in Vahila, was that due to appellee's alleged failures to respond to 

the discovery requests, including the request for admissions, appellee failed to secure viable 

defenses for appellant and, as a result, appellant sustained damages regardless of the fact 

that it may be unable to prove it would have been successful in the underlying matter. Thus, 

in order to establish causation, appellant was required, pursuant to Vahila, to " 'provide 

some evidence of the merits of the underlying claim.' " Goldberg at ¶ 23, quoting Frump v. 

Conley, 10th Dist. No. 99AP-561 (Feb. 17, 2000). In order to meet this standard, appellant 

was required to "demonstrat[e] that the claims or defenses that the attorney allegedly 

negligently failed to assert were 'at least colorable.' " Id., quoting Williams-Roseman v. 

Owen, 10th Dist. No. 99AP-871 (Sept. 21, 2000). 

{¶ 31} Although the trial court found appellant failed to establish causation, the trial 

court did not identify the test it applied in reaching this conclusion. Nor are we able to 

determine from the text of the trial court's analysis the standard against which appellant's 

claim was measured. Therefore, because the trial court's decision lacks sufficient clarity to 

 

2 We note that "Ohio courts have held that expert testimony is not required to establish proximate cause in a 

legal malpractice action." McGraw v. Jarvis, 10th Dist. No. 19AP-538, 2021-Ohio-522, ¶ 36, citing Morris v. 

Morris, 9th Dist. No. 21350, 2003-Ohio-3510, ¶ 21. Similarly, "while a plaintiff claiming legal malpractice 

must put forth evidence of damages, there is no requirement in Ohio law that those damages be supported by 

expert testimony." McGraw at ¶ 36. 
No. 19AP-703 12 

enable meaningful appellate review, we must remand this matter for the trial court to apply 

Vahila in the first instance to determine whether appellant met the "some evidence" 

standard of causation. See Yurkowski v. Univ. of Cincinnati, 10th Dist. No. 13AP-1049, 

2015-Ohio-1511, ¶ 17 (finding that where the "trial court applied the incorrect standard of 

care in evaluating the testimony, it was necessary for the trial court on remand to 

independently weigh the expert testimony and resolve the conflicting opinions in applying 

the correct standard"); State v. J.L.S., 10th Dist. No. 18AP-125, 2019-Ohio-4173, ¶ 80 

(finding it was necessary to remand where trial court applied improper standard and trial 

court's decision lacked sufficient clarity to enable meaningful appellate review); Brothers 

v. Morrone-O'Keefe Dev. Co., LLC, 10th Dist. No. 05AP-161, 2006-Ohio-1160, ¶ 20-23 

(where trial court applied incorrect standard in determining liability, reviewing court must 

reverse and remand to the trial court to determine weight of the evidence in light of the 

correct standard); Talley v. Talley, 10th Dist. No. 15AP-812, 2016-Ohio-3533, ¶ 27, citing 

Kaechele v. Kaechele, 35 Ohio St.3d 93 (1988), paragraph two of the syllabus (remanding 

where " trial court failed to provide sufficient detail to enable meaningful appellate review"). 

Furthermore, if, after applying the standard set forth in Vahila, the trial court determines 

the causation element was met, it should proceed to determine the appropriate amount of 

damages. Accordingly, we sustain appellant's second assignment of error. 

IV. Conclusion 

{¶ 32} Having sustained appellant's two assignments of error, we reverse the 

judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas and remand this matter to that 

court for further proceedings in accordance with law and consistent with this decision. 

Judgment reversed; 

cause remanded with instructions. 

BROWN and SADLER, JJ., concur.