[Cite as ALSOL, Inc. v. Barbolovici, 2018-Ohio-5032.]

Court of Appeals of Ohio 

EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT 

COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA 

JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION 

No. 106651 

 

ALSOL, INC.

PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE 

vs. 

FABIAN BARBOLOVICI, ET AL.

 DEFENDANTS-APPELLANTS 

JUDGMENT: 

AFFIRMED

Civil Appeal from the 

Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas 

Case No. CV-17-876306 

BEFORE: Stewart, J., E.A. Gallagher, A.J., and Boyle, J. 

RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: December 13, 2018 
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANTS

Alan H. Kraus 

Lazzaro and Kraus 

20133 Farnsleigh Road, Second Floor 

Shaker Heights, OH 44122 

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE 

David M. Lynch1

333 Babbitt Road 

Euclid, OH 44123 

Also Listed:

Alsol, Inc. 

4623 Clark Avenue 

Cleveland, OH 44102 

 

1

 Effective November 22, 2018, David M. Lynch resigned from the practice of law with disciplinary action pending. 

 This was after briefing and oral argument. See In re Resignation of Lynch, Slip Opinion No. 2018-Ohio-4671. 
MELODY J. STEWART, J.: 

{¶1} Defendant-appellant Fabian Barbolovici requested that this appeal be placed on our 

accelerated calendar under App.R. 11.1 and Loc.App.R. 11.1. By doing so, he has agreed that we 

may render a decision in “brief and conclusionary form.” 

{¶2} In a pretrial conference on plaintiff-appellee Alsol, Inc.’s complaint to quiet title to 

real property, the court ordered Alsol to file a preliminary judicial report as required by Loc.R. 

24(A) of the Court of Common Pleas of Cuyahoga County, General Division, under penalty of 

dismissal without prejudice. Alsol failed to file the report, so the court dismissed the case 

without prejudice. Barbolovici then filed a motion for sanctions under Civ.R. 11 and 

R.C. 2323.51. The court denied the motion, finding that Alsol did not act frivolously or 

egregiously in bringing the quiet title action because Alsol and Barbolovici had a “business 

relationship” from which the dispute arose.2

 

 

2

 As a matter collateral to the dismissal, the court had jurisdiction to consider a postdismissal motion for sanctions. 

ABN AMRO Mtge. Group, Inc. v. Evans, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 96120, 2011-Ohio-5654, ¶ 21. 
{¶3} We review the court’s decision on a motion for sanctions under Civ.R. 11 and R.C. 

2323.51 for an abuse of discretion. Murman v. Univ. Hosps. Health Sys., 2017-Ohio-1282, 88 

N.E.3d 540, ¶ 6 (8th Dist.). Barbolovici complains that the court inexplicably found that the 

parties had a “business relationship.” While the parties did not have a “business relationship” in 

the truest sense, the complaint makes the allegation that Alsol had a 50-year lease with the prior 

owner of the property and that Alsol was attempting to void Barbolovici’s purchase in order to 

sustain the lease. In addition, one of the court’s journal entries mentioned a Cleveland 

Municipal Court eviction action between the parties. It is not beyond reason that the “business 

relationship” to which the court referred was Alsol’s attempt to enforce its lease and avoid 

eviction, a course of action that the court could rationally conclude was not so frivolous as to 

warrant sanctions. Under the very broad standard of review employed in sanctions cases, we 

find no error. 

{¶4} Judgment affirmed. 

It is ordered that appellee recover of appellants costs herein taxed. 

The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal. 

It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the common pleas 

court to carry this judgment into execution. 

A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the 

Rules of Appellate Procedure. 

______________________________________________ 

MELODY J. STEWART, JUDGE 

EILEEN A. GALLAGHER, A.J., and 

MARY J. BOYLE, J., CONCUR