Court Opinion

ID: 3190600
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-03-31 20:07:45.754862+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:36:06.704945
License: Public Domain

[Cite as Boddie v. Landers, 2016-Ohio-1410.]

                             IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO

                                  TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

Howard Boddie, Jr.,                              :

                Plaintiff-Appellant,             :                    No. 15AP-962
                                                                  (C.P.C. No. 14CV-10846)
v.                                               :
                                                             (ACCELERATED CALENDAR)
Kevin Landers et al.,                            :

                Defendants-Appellees.            :

                                           D E C I S I O N

                                     Rendered on March 31, 2016

                On brief: Howard Boddie, Jr., pro se.

                On brief: Zeiger, Tigges & Little LLP, Marion H. Little, Jr.,
                and Christopher J. Hogan, for appellees Kevin Landers and
                Jerry Revish.

                  APPEAL from the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas
PER CURIAM.
        {¶ 1} Plaintiff-appellant, Howard Boddie, Jr., appeals pro se the September 17,
2015 judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas granting summary
judgment in favor of defendants-appellees Kevin Landers and Jerry Revish ("appellees").
For the reasons that follow, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
I. Facts and Procedural History
        {¶ 2} Appellant is an inmate currently incarcerated at the Chillicothe Correctional
Institution. He filed his complaint on October 22, 2014, asserting six claims against
appellees and Karen Monroe, including dereliction of duty, negligence, malicious
disregard for appellant's civil and constitutional rights, defamation of character and
reputation, slander and libel, and conspiracy.         The trial court dismissed appellant's
complaint with prejudice against Monroe for failure to prosecute and perfect service. The
No. 15AP-962                                                                              2

complaint arises out of a news story concerning the issue of domestic violence televised in
September 2014. Appellant alleged that the news story was false and appellees failed to
investigate the story properly and, as a result, he was ridiculed and harassed by his fellow
inmates and, therefore, was seeking compensatory monetary damages.
       {¶ 3} The news story concerned a new city of Columbus program to help victims
of domestic violence and Landers interviewed Monroe as a victim of domestic violence as
part of the story. Appellant contends that several points in the news story were not true,
including:
              (1) Kicking Ms. Monroe in the stomach making her lose her
              spleen, where 34 staples were put in her chest after waking
              up in a hospital for days later. (2) Cannot prove that plaintiff
              was in prison for beating Ms. Monroe in the face, with a
              picture of her aired to the public towards a conviction that
              plaintiff is serving time for. (3) that Ms. Monroe has called
              the Columbus Police 34 times on plaintiff and that she has
              not been afforded help to a shelter for battered women. (4)
              That plaintiff has cut Ms. Monroe with fingernails. (5) That
              plaintiff is in prison due to any victim statement or charges
              pressed on him through the Franklin County Prosecutor's
              Office; by Ms. Karen Monroe. (6) That Ms. Karen Monroe
              has testified at trial or has filed a complaint with the
              Franklin County Prosecutor Office that Plaintiff Howard
              Boddie, Jr., grabbed and pointed a gun at her.

(Sic passim.) (June 12, 2015 Appellant's Motion to Consider, 9.)
       {¶ 4} Appellant also alleged that he had been corresponding and telephoning
Revish regarding appellant's contentions that: he was kidnapped and wrongfully
imprisoned, the Columbus Police had attempted to kill him and Monroe, and that Monroe
was mentally ill and a liar and, therefore, Revish should have warned Landers that the
news story was false.
       {¶ 5} Appellant filed a motion for default judgment. Appellees filed a motion to
file an answer instanter and a memorandum in opposition to appellant's motion for
default judgment. The trial court granted appellees' motion to file an answer instanter
and denied appellant's motion for default judgment. Appellant then filed a motion to
strike appellees' answer which the trial court denied. On May 19, 2015, appellant filed a
motion for summary judgment. Appellant attached an affidavit and seven pages of
transcript from an unidentified trial to his motion for summary judgment.
No. 15AP-962                                                                            3

      {¶ 6} Appellees filed a memorandum in opposition and a cross-motion for
summary judgment on May 27, 2015. Appellees attached 12 exhibits, including affidavits,
judgment entries and decisions from this court to their motion. Appellant filed a motion
"To Consider Civil Rule 56(C) in his Motion in Opposition to Defendant's [sic] Cross-
Motion for Summary Judgment, and the Plaintiff's Current Affidavit in Support." The
trial court construed part of appellant's response as a motion to strike. As part of this
filing, appellant also alleged that appellees are liable under 42 U.S.C. 1983 because they
participated in joint action with state agents. Appellant alleged joint action with the
prosecutor's office because appellees contacted the prosecutor's office and received
Monroe's name as a possible candidate for the story.
      {¶ 7} On September 17, 2015, the trial court denied appellant's motion for
summary judgment and his motion to strike appellees' motion for summary judgment
and affidavit in support and granted appellees' motion for summary judgment. Then, on
September 29, 2015, the trial court dismissed the complaint against the final defendant,
Monroe, for lack of prosecution, thus rendering the trial court's judgment on
September 17, 2015 a final appealable order. Appellant filed a notice of appeal only from
the September 17, 2015 judgment denying his motion for summary judgment and
granting appellees' motion for summary judgment.
II. Assignments of Error
      {¶ 8} Appellant appeals, assigning the following two errors for our review:
             [I.] The Judgment of the Trial Court in entering Summary
             Judgment in Mr. Kevin Landers and Mr. Revish's favor
             should be overturned, and vacated because the Defendants-
             Appellees did report a non-privileged News Story outside the
             official record, with inaccurate information, and excluded
             relevant information according to O.R.C. ANN. 2317.05.

             [II.] The Judgment of the Trial Court in denying Plaintiff-
             Appellant's Motion for Summary Judgment, with prejudice
             should be overturned, and vacated because the disclosure in
             the news story were made without prior investigation
             rendering inaccurate information, and excluding relevant
             information governed by O.R.C. 2317.05. summary [sic]
             Judgment should be entered in favor of Howard Boddie, Jr.,
             as there were no genuine issues of material facts that
             Defendants Landers and Revish were privileged in
             accordance with O.R.C. Ann 2317.05 to report a non-
No. 15AP-962                                                                                 4

                privilege News Story outside the official record with
                inaccurate information, and excluded factual information.

(Sic Passim.)
III. Legal Analysis
       {¶ 9} Appellant's two assignments of error are related and will be discussed
together. Appellant contends that the trial court erred in granting appellees' motion for
summary judgment and denying his motion for summary judgment because the news
story contained inaccurate information, appellees failed to investigate the news story fully,
and excluded relevant information and, therefore, appellees cannot invoke the privilege in
R.C. 2317.05.
       {¶ 10} We review a summary judgment motion de novo. Reed v. Davis, 10th Dist.
No. 13AP-15, 2013-Ohio-3742, ¶ 9. In reviewing a trial court's disposition of a summary
judgment motion, an appellate court applies the same standard as the trial court and
conducts an independent review without deference to the trial court's determination.
Maust v. Bank One Columbus, N.A., 83 Ohio App.3d 103, 107 (10th Dist.1992).
       {¶ 11} Pursuant to Civ.R. 56(C), summary judgment "shall be rendered forthwith if
the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, written admissions, affidavits,
transcripts of evidence, and written stipulations of facts, if any, timely filed in the action,
show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is
entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Thus, summary judgment is appropriate when
(1) there is no genuine issue of material fact remaining to be litigated, (2) the moving
party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law, and (3) viewing the evidence most
strongly in favor of the non-moving party, reasonable minds can come to but one
conclusion, that conclusion being adverse to the non-moving party. Harless v. Willis Day
Warehousing Co., 54 Ohio St.2d 64, 66 (1978).
       {¶ 12} "[T]he moving party bears the initial responsibility of informing the trial
court of the basis for the motion, and identifying those portions of the record before the
trial court which demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of fact on a material element
of the nonmoving party's claim."       Dresher v. Burt, 75 Ohio St.3d 280, 292 (1996).
Requiring a party seeking summary judgment to disclose the basis for the motion and
support the motion with evidence is "well founded in Ohio law." Vahila v. Hall, 77 Ohio
No. 15AP-962                                                                             5

St.3d 421, 429 (1997). Thus, the moving party may not fulfill its initial burden simply by
making a conclusory assertion that the non-moving party has no evidence to prove its
case. Dresher at 293. Rather, the moving party must support its motion by pointing to
some evidence of the type set forth in Civ.R. 56(C), which affirmatively demonstrates that
the non-moving party has no evidence to support the non-moving party's claims. Id. If
the moving party has satisfied its initial burden under Civ.R. 56(C), then "the nonmoving
party * * * has a reciprocal burden outlined in Civ.R. 56(E) to set forth specific facts
showing that there is a genuine issue for trial and, if the nonmovant does not so respond,
summary judgment, if appropriate, shall be entered against the nonmoving party." Id.
       {¶ 13} In this case, the trial court granted summary judgment in favor of appellees
on appellant's six claims: (1) dereliction of duty, (2) negligence, (3) malicious disregard
for appellant's civil and constitutional rights, (4) defamation, (5) slander and libel, and
(6) conspiracy. We will review the trial court's decision on each claim.
       {¶ 14} Initially, appellant contends that appellees cannot invoke the privilege of
R.C. 2317.05 because the news story contained inaccurate information. R.C. 2317.05
provides, as follows:
              The publication of a fair and impartial report of the return of
              any indictment, the issuing of any warrant, the arrest of any
              person accused of crime, or the filing of any affidavit,
              pleading, or other document in any criminal or civil cause in
              any court of competent jurisdiction, or of a fair and impartial
              report of the contents thereof, is privileged, unless it is
              proved that the same was published maliciously, or that
              defendant has refused or neglected to publish in the same
              manner in which the publication complained of appeared, a
              reasonable written explanation or contradiction thereof by
              the plaintiff, or that the publisher has refused, upon request
              of the plaintiff, to publish the subsequent determination of
              such suit or action. This section and section 2317.04 of the
              Revised Code do not authorize the publication of
              blasphemous or indecent matter.

       {¶ 15} "To qualify for the protection set forth in R.C. 2317.05, a publication must
convey 'the essence of the official record to the ordinary reader, without misleading the
reader by the inclusion of inaccurate extra-record information or the exclusion of relevant
information in the record.' " Singh v. ABA Publishing Am. Bar Assn., 10th Dist. No.
No. 15AP-962                                                                                 6

02AP-1125, 2003-Ohio-2314, ¶ 15, quoting Oney v. Allen, 39 Ohio St.3d 103 (1988),
paragraph three of the syllabus.
       {¶ 16} However, R.C. 2317.05, or "the fair report privilege," is inapplicable here
because the news story was not a report of the return of any indictment, the issuing of any
warrant, the arrest of any person accused of crime, or the filing of any affidavit, pleading,
or other document in any criminal or civil cause. Thus, appellees cannot invoke the
privilege here.
       {¶ 17} Appellant's first claim is for dereliction of duty.      Appellant's claim for
dereliction of duty fails because it does not exist as a civil claim in Ohio. The state of Ohio
has codified dereliction of duty in a criminal statute. See R.C. 2921.44. Ohio law does not
recognize a private cause of action for "dereliction of duty." White v. Stafford, 8th Dist.
No. 61838 (Jan. 14, 1993). "In the absence of a specific provision to the contrary, criminal
statutes generally do not create a private cause of action, but give rise only to a right of
prosecution by the state." George v. State, 10th Dist. No. 10AP-4, 2010-Ohio-5262, ¶ 32,
citing Lewis v. J.E. Wiggins & Co., 10th Dist. No. 04AP-469, 2004-Ohio-6724; McNichols
v. Rennicker, 5th Dist. No. 2002 AP 04 0026, 2002-Ohio-7215; Johnson v. Ferguson-
Ramos, 10th Dist. No. 04AP-1180, 2005-Ohio-3280; White. Thus, the trial court did not
err in granting appellees' motion for summary judgment regarding dereliction of duty.
       {¶ 18} Similarly, appellant's claim for malicious disregard for civil and
constitutional rights must also fail. Although appellant does not specify 42 U.S.C. 1983 in
his complaint, that section provides a remedy for violations of substantive rights created
under the U.S. Constitution. Section 1983 does not create substantive rights, but provides
a remedy for violations. Baker v. McCollan, 443 U.S. 137, 144 (1979), fn. 3; Shirokey v.
Marth, 63 Ohio St.3d 113, 116 (1992). "In order to prevail on a claim under Section 1983,
a plaintiff must establish: (1) that the conduct in controversy was committed by a person
acting under color of state law, and (2) that the conduct deprived plaintiff of a federal
constitutional or statutory right."    Miller v. Leesburg, 10th Dist. No. 97APE10-1379
(Dec. 1, 1998), citing Parratt v. Taylor, 451 U.S. 527, 535 (1981), overruled in part on
other grounds, Daniels v. Williams, 474 U.S. 327, 330-31 (1986); 1946 St. Clair Corp. v.
Cleveland, 49 Ohio St.3d 33, 34 (1990).
No. 15AP-962                                                                               7

       {¶ 19} To satisfy the "under color of law" requirement, a plaintiff must
demonstrate that "the conduct complained of was taken pursuant to power possessed by
virtue of state law and made possible only because the wrongdoer was clothed with the
authority of state law." George at ¶ 29, citing Roe v. Franklin Cty., 109 Ohio App.3d 772,
778 (10th Dist.1996). "A private party is deemed a state actor if there is a sufficient nexus
between the government and the private party's conduct so that the conduct may be fairly
attributed to the state itself." Zhelezny v. Olesh, 10th Dist. No. 12AP-681, 2013-Ohio-
4337, ¶ 44. Here, appellees were not acting under color of law nor can their conduct be
attributed to the state. Appellant makes an allegation of collusion because Landers
contacted the prosecutor, but, without more, this does not constitute evidence of a
sufficient nexus between the government and Landers in order to find state action.
Appellant cannot pursue a civil rights action against appellees because they are private
citizens. Forsyth v. Dearth, 2d Dist. No. 98-CA-96 (June 4, 1999). Thus, the trial court
properly granted appellees' motion for summary judgment as to appellant's claim for
malicious disregard of civil and constitutional rights.
       {¶ 20} Appellant also asserted a negligence claim contending that appellees failed
to investigate the news story and determine it was false. To assert a negligence action,
appellant was required to prove the existence of a duty, a breach of that duty, and an
injury proximately resulting from that breach. Schnetz v. Ohio Dept. of Rehab. & Corr.,
195 Ohio App.3d 207, 2011-Ohio-3927 (10th Dist.). Appellees do not owe appellant an
independent duty of care. However, negligence is the standard applied in a private person
defamation case. Fuchs v. Scripps Howard Broadcasting Co., 170 Ohio App.3d 679,
2006-Ohio-5349, ¶ 30 (1st Dist.). "Private-person defamation plaintiffs must show by
clear and convincing evidence that the defendant failed to act reasonably in attempting to
discover the truth or falsity or defamatory character of the publication." Id.
       {¶ 21} "Defamation is a false publication that injures a person's reputation,
exposes him to public hatred, contempt, ridicule, shame or disgrace; or affects him
adversely in his trade or business." Sweitzer v. Outlet Communications, Inc., 133 Ohio
App.3d 102, 108 (10th Dist.1999). There are two forms of defamation, including libel or
slander. Generally, slander refers to spoken defamatory words and libel refers to written
defamatory words. Woods v. Capital Univ., 10th Dist. No. 09AP-166, 2009-Ohio-5672,
No. 15AP-962                                                                                     8

¶ 27.   However, "a defamatory matter broadcast by means of radio or television is
classified as libel." Holley v. WBNS 10TV, 149 Ohio App.3d 22, 2002-Ohio-4315, ¶ 29
(10th Dist.).
        {¶ 22} "To survive a motion for summary judgment in a libel action, the plaintiff
must make a sufficient showing of the existence of every element essential to its case."
Natl. Medic Servs. Corp. v. E.W. Scripps Co., 61 Ohio App.3d 752, 755 (1st Dist.1989),
citing Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317 (1986). "In Ohio, 'libel' is defined generally as
a false written publication, made with some degree of fault, reflecting injuriously on a
person's reputation, or exposing a person to public hatred, contempt, ridicule, shame or
disgrace, or affecting a person adversely in his or her trade, business or profession."
(Citations omitted.) A & B-Abell Elevator Co. v. Columbus/Cent. Ohio Bldg. & Constr.
Trades Council, 73 Ohio St.3d 1, 7 (1995).          The essential elements of libel include:
"[1] falsity, [2] defamation, [3] publication, [4] injury[,] and [5] fault."         Natl. Medic
Servs. at 755.
        {¶ 23} Since falsity is an essential element of a libel action, a true statement cannot
provide the basis for a libel action. Id. Where the record reveals that the published
reports were accurate or substantially true, a plaintiff fails to establish a prima facie case
of libel. Id. "It is sufficient [in defending against a defamation action] to show that the
imputation is substantially true, or as it is often put, to justify the 'gist,' 'the sting,' or the
substantial truth of the defamation." Id., quoting Prosser, Law of Torts 798-99 (4th
Ed.1971). Thus, even assuming falsity of the specific statements that appellant alleges are
false, if the record reveals that the published report was substantially true, then
appellant's claim that the challenged report was defamatory fails.
        {¶ 24} Appellant argues that several statements in the story, including that Monroe
called 911 34 times and that appellant caused an injury to her face and spleen are false.
The substance of the news story is that Monroe is a victim of domestic violence who could
have benefitted from the new Columbus program.                Landers was reporting a story
regarding a new city of Columbus program designed to assist domestic violence victims in
September 2012. The Columbus city prosecutor provided Landers with Monroe's name as
a victim of domestic violence to interview for the story. During Landers' interview with
Monroe, she provided photos of her injuries. Landers confirmed appellant had been
No. 15AP-962                                                                               9

convicted of the charges referenced in the story. The record demonstrates that appellant
is serving a prison term at the Chillicothe Correctional Institute. Appellant was convicted
of domestic violence, abduction, and having a weapon while under disability. Appellees
attached certified records from appellant's criminal cases to their motion for summary
judgment that demonstrated Monroe was the victim in those cases. Appellant's brief to
this court in the appeal from his conviction for abduction and domestic violence
repeatedly identifies Monroe as the victim.
       {¶ 25} Thus, appellees demonstrated that Monroe was the victim of domestic
violence committed by appellant as reported in the news story and that the story is
substantially true. Even if, as appellant contends, Monroe did not call 911 34 times and
appellant did not injure Monroe's face and spleen, the story is substantially true.
       {¶ 26} Appellant also failed to prove the necessary degree of fault required in this
case. Pursuant to Lansdowne v. Beacon Journal Publishing Co., 32 Ohio St.3d 176
(1987), a private figure plaintiff in a defamation action is required to prove by clear and
convincing evidence that the defendant failed to act reasonably in attempting to discover
the truth or falsity of the publication.      In Lansdowne, the Supreme Court of Ohio
attempted to balance "the protection to private persons from injuries to reputation and to
provide adequate 'breathing space' for freedom of the press and freedom of speech." Id. at
180. The court held that "in private-figure defamation actions, where a prima facie
showing of defamation is made by a plaintiff, the plaintiff must prove by clear and
convincing evidence that the defendant failed to act reasonably in attempting to discover
the truth or falsity or defamatory character of the publication." Id. "Clear and convincing
evidence" is that "measure or degree of proof which is more than a mere 'preponderance
of evidence,' but not to the extent of such certainty as is required 'beyond a reasonable
doubt' in criminal cases, and which will produce in the mind of the trier of facts a firm
belief or conviction as to the facts sought to be established." Id., citing Cross v. Ledford,
161 Ohio St. 469 (1954), paragraph three of the syllabus.
       {¶ 27} In Brooks v. Am. Broadcasting Cos., Inc., 999 F.2d 167, 171-72 (6th
Cir.1993), the court stated that "evidence largely consist[ing]" of the plaintiff's testimony
is "anything but clear and convincing evidence of negligence."         The appellate court
No. 15AP-962                                                                             10

concluded that the district court was not required to "accept unsupported, self-serving
testimony as evidence sufficient to create a jury question." Id. at 172.
       {¶ 28} In this case, Landers submitted an affidavit in which he stated he
investigated the story by contacting the city prosecutor's office to obtain the name of a
victim of domestic violence. He received Monroe's name and interviewed her. During the
interview, she described her experiences with appellant and showed Landers pictures of
her injuries. He also confirmed appellant's convictions referenced in the story with the
prosecutor's office. Revish submitted an affidavit in which he swears that he was not
involved with preparing or investigating the story. He also stated that he often receives
correspondence and phone calls from individuals, but he does not investigate them.
       {¶ 29} Appellant submitted his affidavit stating that appellees provided false
information and they did not investigate the information in the story before airing it.
Appellant's statements do not demonstrate that Landers failed to investigate the
truthfulness of the story. This case is similar to Baby Tenda of Greater Cincinnati, Inc. v.
Taft Broadcasting Co., 63 Ohio App.3d 550 (1st Dist.1989). In Baby Tenda, a retailer of
baby furniture and its president filed suit against the Taft Broadcasting Company for
defamation over a news story regarding sales practices. The trial court granted the
broadcasting company's motion for summary judgment. The court reviewed the case to
determine "whether any reasonable mind could find with convincing clarity that [the
reporter] failed to act reasonably in attempting to discover the truth or falsity of the
publications." Id. at 553.
       {¶ 30} The reporter testified in his deposition regarding his investigation into the
story. He received two verbal complaints about the store and two letters. He interviewed
two of the complainants. He contacted the Attorney General's office and spoke with the
chief investigator of the Consumer Protection Division regarding the Ohio Consumer
Sales Practices Act and whether the store had violated it. The reporter also testified that
he attempted to interview the president of Baby Tenda but he refused to be interviewed.
Based on the record, the appellate court found that the trial court properly granted the
broadcasting company's motion for summary judgment.
       {¶ 31} Thus, here, since appellees demonstrated that the story is substantially true,
and since appellant has not demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence that appellees
No. 15AP-962                                                                               11

acted unreasonably in the investigation of the story, appellant's claim for defamation, libel
and slander fail.
       {¶ 32} Finally, appellant alleged a conspiracy among Monroe, Landers, and
Revish to violate his rights. "Civil conspiracy" is defined as " ' " 'a malicious combination
of two or more persons to injure another in person or property, in a way not competent
for one alone, resulting in actual damages.' " ' " Zhelezny at ¶ 55, quoting Morrow v.
Reminger & Reminger Co., L.P.A., 183 Ohio App.3d 40, 2009-Ohio-2665, ¶ 40 (10th
Dist.), quoting Kenty v. Transamerica Premium Ins. Co., 72 Ohio St.3d 415, 419 (1995),
quoting LeFort v. Century 21-Maitland Realty Co., 32 Ohio St.3d 121, 126 (1987). A claim
for civil conspiracy is a derivative claim, meaning a claim for civil conspiracy cannot stand
without an underlying tort that would be actionable without the conspiracy. Zhelezny at
¶ 55. Here, appellant has not established an underlying unlawful tort.            Thus, his
conspiracy claim also fails.
       {¶ 33} Appellant also raised two new claims in his motion for summary judgment,
including invasion of privacy or publication of private affairs and intentional infliction of
emotional distress. Appellant cannot plead new claims for the first time in a motion for
summary judgment. Estate of William A. Millhon v. Millhon Clinic, Inc., 10th Dist. No.
07AP-413, 2007-Ohio-7153, ¶ 37, citing Wright v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 10th Dist. No.
83AP-153 (Aug. 9, 1983). A party cannot raise a new claim through a motion, but, rather,
the party must assert a new claim through an amended complaint. Id. At no time did
appellant seek to amend his complaint to add these new claims. Thus, appellant cannot
assert these additional claims and we find no error in the trial court's failure to address
these claims.
IV. Conclusion
       {¶ 34} For the foregoing reasons, appellant's two assignments of error are
overruled and the judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.
                                                                        Judgment affirmed.
                DORRIAN, P.J., BROWN and LUPER SCHUSTER, JJ., concur.