[Cite as First Merit Bank v. Akron Gen. Med. Ctr., 2018-Ohio-2689.]

COURT OF APPEALS 

STARK COUNTY, OHIO 

FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT 

FIRSTMERIT BANK, N.A. 

 Plaintiff-Appellee 

-vsAKRON GENERAL MEDICAL 

CENTER, et al. 

 Defendants-Appellants 

JUDGES: 

Hon. John W. Wise, P. J. 

Hon. W. Scott Gwin, J. 

Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J. 

Case No. 2017 CA 00134 

O P I N I O N 

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Civil Appeal from the Court of Common 

Pleas, Probate Division, Case No. 225942 

JUDGMENT: Affirmed 

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: July 9, 2018 

APPEARANCES: 

For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant DHSC 

REX W. MILLER ROCCO D. POTENZA 

LESH, CASNER & MILLER HANNA, CAMPBELL & POWELL 

Suite 606 Belden Place 3737 Embassy Parkway, Suite 100 

4150 Belden Village Street, NW Akron, Ohio 44333 

Canton, Ohio 44718-3651 

 For Massillon Rotary 

For Defendant AG 

 JUSTIN S. GREENFELDER 

TODD K. DeBOE BUCKINGHAM DOOLITTLE & Burroughs LLC 

PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL 4518 Fulton Drive, NW, Suite 200 

Charitable Law Division PO Box 35548 

30 East Broad Street, 14th Floor Canton, Ohio 44735 

Columbus, Ohio 43215 

 For Health Foundation 

 MARK R. PERCIVAL 

 BROWN & PERCIVAL CO., LPA 

 121 Lincoln Way East 

 Massillon, Ohio 44646
Stark County, Case No. 2017 CA 00134 2

Wise, P. J. 

{¶1} Appellant DHSC, LLC dba Affinity Medical Center appeals the June 20, 

2017, decision of the Stark County Probate Court’s decision declaring it was not entitled 

to proceeds from the Kathryn L. Seymour Amended Trust. 

{¶2} Appellees in this matter are First Merit Bank, N.A., Massillon Rotary 

Foundation Trust, The Health Foundation of Greater Massillon, Akron General Medical 

Center and the Attorney General Mike Dewine. 

STATEMENT OF THE FACTS 

{¶3} On April 18, 2016, Plaintiff-Appellee FirstMerit Bank, N.A. (FirstMerit), as 

Trustee of the Kathryn L. Seymour Revocable Trust, filed a complaint for declaratory 

judgment with the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, Probate Division. First Merit 

stated that Kathryn L. Seymour had established a Trust and among the beneficiaries of 

the Trust, she named Massillon Community Hospital. 

{¶4} In its Complaint, FirstMerit alleged that while Massillon Community Hospital 

was a not-for-profit hospital at the time Ms. Seymour established the trust, it subsequently 

was sold to a for-profit entity and became known as Affinity Medical Center. FirstMerit 

further alleged that the Seymour Trust was a "charitable trust" and that because her 

charitable intent could not be carried out, the court should apply the cy pres doctrine and 

designate the proceeds of the Trust be distributed to another charitable organization. 

{¶5} FirstMerit named as Defendants Akron General Medical Center, Appellant, 

DHSC, LLC dba Affinity Medical Center (hereinafter referred to as "Affinity"), St. John 

United Church of Christ, Salvation Army and the Ohio Attorney General. Thereafter, the 

Greater Health Foundation of Massillon and the Greater Massillon Rotary Foundation 
Stark County, Case No. 2017 CA 00134 3

intervened as Defendants, claiming interest in the proceeds of the Trust. All parties 

entered answers to the Trustee's complaint. Thereafter, pursuant to Order of the Court, 

the parties submitted briefs in support of their respective positions. 

{¶6} On June 20, 2017, the Stark County Probate Court issued an Order 

declaring that Appellant Affinity was not entitled to the proceeds of the Trust. Instead, the 

court held that the cy pres doctrine applied and awarded the proceeds of the Trust be 

distributed to Defendants Health Foundation of Greater Massillon and Massillon Rotary 

Foundation Trust. 

{¶7} It is from this decision Appellant Affinity now appeals, raising the following 

errors for review: 

ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR 

{¶8} “I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN CONCLUDING THAT APPELLANTAFFINITY, WAS NOT ENTITLED TO THE PROCEEDS OF THE AMENDED TRUST, 

WHERE THE CLEAR AND UNAMBIGUOUS TERMS OF KATHRYN SEYMOUR'S 

AMENDED TRUST EXPRESSED HER INTENT THAT THE PROCEEDS BE 

DISTRIBUTED TO MCH, ITS SUCCESSORS OR ASSIGNS, FOR THE SPECIFIC 

PURPOSE OF IMPROVING THE HOSPITAL FACILITIES. 

{¶9} “II. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN CONSIDERING EXTRINSIC 

EVIDENCE, WHEN IT INDICATED IT WOULD NOT DO SO. MOREOVER, IF RESORT 

TO EXTRINSIC EVIDENCE IS APPROPRIATE DUE TO ANY PERCEIVED AMBIGUITY, 

THE EXTRINSIC EVIDENCE DEMONSTRATES THAT MS. SEYMOUR KNEW, AT THE 

TIME SHE EXECUTED HER AMENDED TRUST, THAT MCH WOULD BECOME A FORPROFIT HOSPITAL. 
Stark County, Case No. 2017 CA 00134 4

{¶10} “III. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN APPLYING THE CY PRES DOCTRINE 

WHERE THE GRANTOR CLEARLY RESTRICTED THE BEQUEST TO A SPECIFIC 

LIMITED PURPOSE. THE CY PRES DOCTRINE ONLY APPLIES WHERE THE TRUST 

LANGUAGE EXHIBITS A GENERAL CHARITABLE INTENT.” 

I., II., III. 

{¶11} We have chosen to address these assignments collectively because of the 

interrelationship of the facts and laws pertinent to each assignment of error. 

{¶12} In each of its assignments of error, Appellant claims the trial court erred in 

finding that Appellant Affinity was not entitled to the proceeds from the Trust and applying 

the cy pres doctrine. We disagree. 

{¶13} This case involves the Kathryn Seymour Amended Trust Agreement, which 

provided, inter alia, that upon Ms. Seymour’s death, her personal and real property would 

be distributed to her daughter. The balance of the trust estate was to be distributed as 

follows: 

2. All of the rest, residue and remainder of the trust estate shall be 

converted to cash and distributed as follows: 

a. Fifty percent (50%) thereof to St. John's United Church of Christ 

presently located at 121 Tremont Ave. S.E., Massillon, Ohio, its successors 

or assigns. This bequest is unrestricted and the Board of Trustees or other 

governing body may use and expend the same for the benefit of St. John's 

United Church of Christ, its successors or assigns, in any manner it deems 

appropriate. 
Stark County, Case No. 2017 CA 00134 5

b. Forty percent (40%) thereof to the Massillon Community Hospital, 

its successors or assigns. These funds shall be restricted so as to benefit 

only the facilities of said hospital at 875 Eighth Street, N.E., Massillon, Ohio. 

These improvements need not be limited to building renovation. Any 

expenditure of funds which benefit the operation of the above location shall 

be permitted. 

c. Ten percent (10%) thereof to the general fund of the Massillon, 

Ohio Branch of the Salvation Army. 

Cy Pres Doctrine 

{¶14} The cy pres doctrine is a rule of construction by which charitable gifts are 

preserved for the public benefit. In the law of trusts it refers to a rule of construction used 

by courts of equity to effectuate the intention of a charitable donor “as near as may be” 

when it has become impossible or impractical by reason of changing conditions or 

circumstances to give literal effect to the donor's intention. Cheney v. State Council of 

Ohio Junior Order United Am. Mechanics (1959), 11 O.O.2d 112, 162 N.E.2d 242, 244. 

{¶15} The cy pres doctrine is a saving device that permits a court to direct the 

application of the property held in a charitable trust to a charitable purpose different from 

that designated in the trust instrument. Daloia v. Franciscan Health Sys. of Cent. Ohio, 

Inc. (1997), 79 Ohio St.3d 98, 106, 679 N.E.2d 1084. 

“ ‘Roughly speaking, it is the doctrine that equity will, when the charity 

is originally or later becomes impossible, inexpedient, or impracticable of 

fulfillment, substitute another charitable object which is believed to 

approach the original purpose as closely as possible. It is the theory that 
Stark County, Case No. 2017 CA 00134 6

equity has the power to revise a charitable trust where the settlor had a 

general charitable intent in order to meet unexpected emergencies or 

changes in conditions which threaten its existence.’” (Emphasis added.) Id.,

quoting Bogert, Trusts & Trustees (2 Ed.Rev.1991) 95-96, Section 431. 

{¶16} At common law, Ohio courts have followed the traditional view that before 

the cy pres doctrine will be applied by a court, the following three essentials must be 

present: 

 (1) there must be a valid charitable trust and one that is invalid will 

not be cured by an application of the doctrine; 

 (2) it must be established that it is impossible or impractical to carry 

out the specific purposes of the trust; 

 (3) it must be established that the donor evinced a general charitable 

intent. Cheney at 244. 

{¶17} The common-law doctrine of cy pres has recently been codified at 

R.C. §5804.13, which provides: 

 (A) Except as otherwise provided in division (B) of this section, if a 

particular charitable purpose becomes unlawful, impracticable, or 

impossible to achieve, all of the following apply: 

 (1) The trust does not fail in whole or in part. 

 (2) The trust property does not revert to the settlor or the settlor's 

successors in interest. 

 (3) The court may apply cy pres to modify or terminate the trust by 

directing that the trust property be applied or distributed, in whole or in part, 
Stark County, Case No. 2017 CA 00134 7

in a manner consistent with the settlor's charitable purposes. In accordance 

with section 109.25 of the Revised Code, the attorney general is a 

necessary party to a judicial proceeding brought under this section. 

 (B) A provision in the terms of a charitable trust for the distribution of 

the trust property to a noncharitable beneficiary prevails over the power of 

the court under division (A) of this section to apply cy pres to modify or 

terminate the trust. 

{¶18} The official comment to R.C. §5804.13 indicates that this codification 

“modifies the doctrine of cy pres by presuming that the settlor had a general charitable 

intent when a particular charitable purpose becomes impossible or impracticable to 

achieve.” 

{¶19} In the case sub judice, the trial court made the following findings: 

 [T]he Grantor demonstrated a charitable intent. 

 Due to the changing circumstances surrounding the merger of 

Massillon Community Hospital as a now for-profit hospital operating as 

Affinity Hospital, the Grantor’s charitable intent has become frustrated and 

impossible to achieve. 

 A distribution of the funds to a for-profit hospital would contradict 

Grantor’s overt charitable desires. (June 20, 2017, JE at 8) 

{¶20} Based on these findings, the probate court determined that pursuant to 

R.C. §5804.13, the court could apply the cy pres doctrine in order to save the charitable 

distribution and maintain Grantor’s overarching charitable intent. 
Stark County, Case No. 2017 CA 00134 8

{¶21} Upon review, we find no error in the trial court’s analysis or decision in this 

matter. Initially, we find that the trial court’s determination that the gift to Massillon 

Community Hospital was impossible to carry out because such entity no longer existed. 

The trial court then found, as do we, that DHSC dba Affinity was not an appropriate 

recipient of the gift because it is a for-profit entity. 

{¶22} The trial court then looked at the dispositive language contained in the Trust 

and found it to be clear and unambiguous. The court found that the Settlor had intended 

for her residuary estate to be distributed to only charitable organizations, i.e., a church, a 

non-profit hospital and the Salvation Army. The court found that such evidenced a 

charitable intent. 

{¶23} We likewise find that Ms. Seymour’s intent was charitable, as evidenced by 

choosing only charitable organizations and in leaving approximately half of the residue 

and remainder of her Trust to a hospital, a health-based organization. Where a trust 

benefits the general promotion of health, the settlor’s intent is presumed to be charitable. 

Bank One Tr. Co., NA v. Miami Valley Hosp., 2nd Dist. Montgomery No. 19703, 2003-

Ohio-4590, ¶ 26. A trust established to generally benefit the promotion of health is a per 

se demonstration of the testator's charitable intent. See Scott, Law of Trusts, at Section 

368, p. 130. The law favors charitable bequests, and they are liberally construed to 

accomplish the testator or grantor's purpose. Wills v. Union Savings & Trust Co. (1982), 

69 Ohio St.2d 382, 386, 23 O.O.3d 350, 352–353, 433 N.E.2d 152, 156; Becker v. Fisher

(1925), 112 Ohio St. 284, 294–295, 147 N.E. 744, 747; Hess v. Sommers (1982), 4 Ohio 

App.3d 281, 285, 4 OBR 500, 504–505, 448 N.E.2d 494, 498–499. 
Stark County, Case No. 2017 CA 00134 9

{¶24} Finally, we find no merit in Appellant’s argument that the trial court erred in 

considering extrinsic evidence in reaching its decision. Appellant argues that Massillon 

Community Hospital’s status as a not-for-profit organization is not contained in Ms. 

Seymour’s Trust agreement and therefore constitutes extrinsic evidence. The non-profit 

status of Massillon Community Hospital was agreed to by the parties as set forth in the 

Complaint and Answers thereto and was never a contested issue in this matter. DHSC 

dba Affinity admitted in its Answer that Massillon Community Hospital was a non-profit 

organization at the time Ms. Seymour amended her Trust to include such gift. As such, 

we do not find that the trial court considered extrinsic evidence in making its ultimate 

decision in this matter. 

{¶25} Accordingly, Appellant’s assignments of error are overruled. 

{¶26} For the reasons stated in the foregoing opinion, the judgment of the Court 

of Common Pleas, Probate Division, Stark County, Ohio, is affirmed. 

By: Wise, P. J. 

Gwin, J., and 

Baldwin, J., concur. 

 

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