Court Opinion

ID: 2699136
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 18:00:26.48039+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:51:21.114489
License: Public Domain

[Cite as D & E Farms v. Trull, 2012-Ohio-5236.]

                                       COURT OF APPEALS
                                    ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO
                                   FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

D & E FARMS                                          JUDGES:
                                                     Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, P.J.
        Plaintiff-Appellant                          Hon. W. Scott Gwin, J.
                                                     Hon. William B. Hoffman, J.
-vs-
                                                     Case No. 12-COA-001
DWAINE TRULL, AKA MIKE D. TRULL

        Defendant-Appellee                           OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                          Appeal from the Ashland County Court of
                                                  Common Pleas, Case No. 10-CIV-282

JUDGMENT:                                         Dismissed

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY:                           November 6, 2012

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee                            For Defendant-Appellant

DWAINE TRULL, aka MIKE D. TRULL                   BRENT L. ENGLISH
Address Unknown                                   Law Offices of Brent L. English
                                                  M.K. Ferguson Plaza, Suite 470
                                                  1500 West Third Street
                                                  Cleveland, Ohio 44113-1422
Ashland County, Case No. 12-COA-001                                                     2

Hoffman, J.

       {¶1}   Plaintiff-appellant D&E Farms appeals the December 14, 2011 Judgment

Entry entered by the Ashland County Court of Common Pleas dismissing its complaint it

had filed against Dwaine Trull, aka Mike D. Trull, for lack of prosecution.

                                  STATEMENT OF THE CASE

       {¶2}   On June 28, 2010, Appellant filed a complaint for declaratory judgment to

quiet title to land against Dwaine Trull, aka Mike D. Trull, and various John Does.

       {¶3}   On July 6, 2010, Appellant was notified of the failure of service upon

Dwaine Trull, aka Mike D. Trull, by certified mail.

       {¶4}   On January 14, 2011, the trial court gave Appellant notice of its intent to

dismiss the case, without prejudice, unless Appellant undertook steps to effectuate

service on or before January 31, 2011.

       {¶5}   On January 19, 2011, Appellant filed a motion to appoint a special process

server, which the trial court granted.

       {¶6}   On January 31, 2011, Appellant filed a memorandum in opposition to and

objections to the trial court's notice of intent to dismiss the case for failure to obtain

service and submission of good cause for not doing so.

       {¶7}   On February 3, 2011, via Judgment Entry, the trial court granted Appellant

an additional six months from the date of the judgment entry to perfect service upon the

defendant.

       {¶8}   On August 11, 2011, Appellant filed a motion for enlargement of time to

perfect service upon the defendant.
Ashland County, Case No. 12-COA-001                                                    3

       {¶9}   Via Judgment Entry filed August 16, 2011, the trial court granted Appellant

until October 3, 2011 to perfect service upon the defendants.         The Court noted,

"however, that this Order does not extend to nor otherwise modify the 'case

commencement date' as determined pursuant to Civ. R. 3."

       {¶10} On October 3, 2011, Appellant filed a motion for second enlargement of

time to perfect service upon the defendant.

       {¶11} Via Judgment Entry filed October 5, 2011, the trial court ordered the

matter to be dismissed on November 11, 2011, if service should not be perfected upon

the Defendant prior to said date, as service in the case had not been perfected within

one year of filing of the complaint.

       {¶12} Via Judgment Entry filed December 14, 2011, the trial court dismissed the

matter for lack of prosecution, citing service had not been obtained on the defendant

and no further pleading had been filed by Appellant.

       {¶13} Appellant now appeals, assigning as error:

       {¶14} “I.   THE    TRIAL    COURT      ERRED       BY   DISMISSING   PLAINTIFF’S

COMPLAINT WITH PREJUDICE WHERE PLAINTIFF FAILED TO OBTAIN SERVICE

WITHIN ONE YEAR OF FILING DESPITE THE PROVISIONS OF OHIO R. CIV. PROC.

41(B)(3) AND (4) AND WHERE THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS HAD NOT EXPIRED

BECAUSE THE DEFENDANT HAD ABSCONDED FROM THE STATE OF OHIO FOR

SOME OR ALL OF THE TIME THAT THE COMPLAINT WAS PENDING.”

       {¶15} Ohio Civil Rule 41(A)(B)(1) reads,

       {¶16} "(B) Involuntary dismissal: effect thereof
Ashland County, Case No. 12-COA-001                                                      4

       {¶17} "(1) Failure to prosecute. Where the plaintiff fails to prosecute, or comply

with these rules or any court order, the court upon motion of a defendant or on its own

motion may, after notice to the plaintiff's counsel, dismiss an action or claim.

       {¶18} "***

       {¶19} "(3) Adjudication on the merits; exception. A dismissal under division (B) of

this rule and any dismissal not provided for in this rule, except as provided in division

(B)(4) of this rule, operates as an adjudication upon the merits unless the court, in its

order for dismissal, otherwise specifies.

       {¶20} "(4) Failure other than on the merits. A dismissal for either of the following

reasons shall operate as a failure otherwise than on the merits:

       {¶21} "(a) lack of jurisdiction over the person or the subject matter;

       {¶22} "(b) failure to join a party under Civ. R. 19 or Civ. R. 19.1."

       {¶23} Here, the trial court dismissed the complaint for lack of proper prosecution

pursuant to Civil Rule 41(B)(1). The December 14, 2011 entry does not expressly

indicate the dismissal is an adjudication on the merits. The entry indicates the dismissal

was for lack of jurisdiction over the defendant because Appellant failed to obtain

service. The dismissal was otherwise than on the merits pursuant to Civ.R. 41(B)(4)(a);

therefore, without prejudice.

       {¶24} An action dismissed without prejudice for failure to prosecute is a

dismissal otherwise than on the merits, and as such, is not a final, appealable order.

Ebbets Partners, Ltd. v. Day, 171 Ohio App.3d 20, 2007-Ohio-1667. Furthermore, only

final orders are subject to appellate review. Noble v. Colwell (1989), 44 Ohio St.3d 155,
Ashland County, Case No. 12-COA-001                                                 5

556 N.E.2d 1169. As the December 14, 2011 Judgment Entry is a non-final order, this

Court lacks jurisdiction to consider Appellant's appeal.

       {¶25} Accordingly, the appeal is ordered dismissed.

By: Hoffman, J.

Delaney, P.J. and

Gwin, J. concur

                                             s/William B. Hoffman__________________
                                             HON. WILLIAM B. HOFFMAN

                                             s/ Patricia A. Delaney _________________
                                             HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY

                                             s/ W. Scott Gwin_____________________
                                             HON. W. SCOTT GWIN
Ashland County, Case No. 12-COA-001                                                 6

            IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO
                         FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

D & E FARMS                                  :
                                             :
       Plaintiff-Appellant                   :
                                             :
-vs-                                         :         JUDGMENT ENTRY
                                             :
DWAINE TRULL, AKA MIKE D. TRULL              :
                                             :
       Defendant-Appellee                    :         Case No. 12-COA-001

       For the reason stated in our accompanying Opinion, this appeal is ordered

dismissed for lack of a final appealable order. Costs to Appellant.

                                             s/ William B. Hoffman _________________
                                             HON. WILLIAM B. HOFFMAN

                                             s/ Patricia A. Delaney _________________
                                             HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY

                                             s/ W. Scott Gwin_____________________
                                             HON. W. SCOTT GWIN