Court Opinion

ID: 4385691
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-04-10 15:41:20.054149+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:50:27.406268
License: Public Domain

[Cite as Premier Homes, Inc. v. Hanna Commercial, L.L.C., 2019-Ohio-1336.]

                                      COURT OF APPEALS
                                     STARK COUNTY, OHIO
                                  FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

 PREMIER HOMES, INC., ET AL.                          JUDGES:
                                                      Hon. William B. Hoffman, P.J
         Plaintiffs                                   Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J.
                                                      Hon. Earle E. Wise, Jr., J.
 -vs-
                                                      Case No. 2018CA00108
 HANNA COMMERCIAL, LLC, ET AL.

        Defendants-Cross-Claim                        O P I N IO N
        Defendants-Appellants

 and

 LAURI M. WEINFELD LIVING TRUST,
 LAURI M. WEINFELD AND
 IRWIN J. WEINFELD, M.D, AS
 CO-TRUSTEES, ET AL.

         Defendants-Cross-Claim
         Plaintiffs-Appellees

 CHARACTER OF PROCEEDINGS:                            Appeal from the Stark County Court of
                                                      Common Pleas, Case No. 2016CV00019

 JUDGMENT:                                            Reversed and Remanded

 DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY:                              April 8, 2019

 For Cross-Claim Defendants-Appellants                For Cross-Claim Plaintiffs-Appellees

 MICHAEL S. GRUBER                                    SCOTT M. ZURAKOWSKI
 JASON N. BING                                        JOSEPH J. PASQUARELLA
 6370 Mt. Pleasant Street, NW                         4775 Munson Street, NW
 North Canton, Ohio 44720                             P.O. Box 36963
                                                      Canton, Ohio 44735-6963
 KARL H. SCHNEIDER
 21 East State Street, Suite 1700
 Columbus, Ohio 43215
Stark County, Case No. 2018CA00108                                                       2

Hoffman, P.J.
      {¶1}    Appellants, Hanna Commercial, LLC, Chartwell Auctions, LLC, Joel D.

Dutton, Jared E. Dutton, and Jack C. Davis (hereinafter “Chartwell parties”), appeal the

judgment entered by the Stark County Common Pleas Court denying their motion to stay

the claims against them pending arbitration. Appellees are Lauri M. Weinfeld Living Trust,

Lauri M. Weinfeld and Irwin J. Weinfeld, M.D., as co-trustees and individually, and Dee

Mar Lake Properties, LLC, (hereinafter “Weinfeld parties”)

                          STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE

      {¶2}    On November 11, 2015, the Chartwell parties and the Weinfeld parties

entered into an auction agreement whereby the Weinfeld parties hired the Chartwell

parteis to auction off their real property consisting of a home and a banquet center. The

auction agreement included an arbitration provision in the event of a dispute arising from

the agreement. The auction bids were accepted using a multi-parcel method. First the

properties were offered separately, then they were offered together. The home was sold

first separately to the plaintiffs, Premier Homes, Inc., Johannes Schlabach, and Rebecca

Gingerich, and the banquet center was subsequently sold separately to another party,

who did not go through with the purchase of the banquet center. As a result, the Chartwell

parties re-auctioned and resold both properties to Leo and Carol Soehnlen, even though

the home had already been purchased by the plaintiffs. A dispute arose over the true

ownership of the properties.

       {¶3}   On January 5, 2016, the plaintiffs filed a complaint against several of the

Chartwell parties and Weinfeld parties seeking specific performance.             Amended

complaints were filed on April 14, and June 6, 2016, to include all of the named Chartwell

parties and Weinfeld parties. Plaintiffs asserted claims for specific performance or in the
Stark County, Case No. 2018CA00108                                                            3

alternative, breach of contract, promissory estoppel, negligent misrepresentation,

violations of R.C. Chapter 4707 governing auctioneers, and intentional interference with

contractual or prospective contractual relationships.

       {¶4}   The Weinfeld parties filed a cross-claim against the Chartwell parties, with

the exception of Appellant Davis, for indemnification and/or contribution. The Chartwell

parties filed a motion to stay the cross-claim pending arbitration pursuant to the arbitration

provision in the auction agreement and R.C. 2711.02(B) on April 27, 2016.

       {¶5}   The arbitration provision in the agreement provides:

              In the event a dispute arises concerning this contract and/or the

       performance of Owner(s) or Auctioneer/Broker arising out of or in any way

       related to this contract or any of their acts or performances in connection

       therewith, the dispute shall be submitted to binding arbitration pursuant to

       the rules of the American Arbitration Association or similar arbitration

       organization. By agreeing to arbitration, all parties waive their right to court

       or jury trial. The party first filing shall have the right to select the arbitration

       or are waived.      The arbitration will be administered by the arbitration

       association and will include the use of its arbitrators. The arbitrators shall

       have actual experience with the auction of the type of property being sold

       pursuant to this contract. All issues of the arbitration shall be determined

       by the arbitrator. All costs and/or fees of the arbitration shall be equally

       divided among all parties and all parties shall be responsible for the paying

       [of] their own attorney’s fees. All incidental, consequential, or punitive

       damages of any type or nature are hereby waived by all parties to this
Stark County, Case No. 2018CA00108                                                           4

       contract. Any and all disputes, whether by arbitration or otherwise, shall be

       venued, heard and decided in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.

       {¶6}   On May 16, 2016, the Weinfeld parties filed an amended cross-claim

against the Chartwell parties, adding claims for breach of contract, breach of good faith,

fraudulent inducement/misrepresentation, violations of R.C. Chapters 4707 and 4735,

breach   of   common      law    fiduciary   duty,   professional    negligence,     negligent

misrepresentation, and promissory estoppel. In addition, the Weinfeld parties filed a third-

party complaint against Appellant Davis for the identical claims, and a third-party

complaint against the Soehnlens for declaratory judgment.

       {¶7}   On May 23, 2016, the plaintiffs filed a motion to bifurcate the trial, separating

their specific performance claim from their other legal causes of action. Plaintiffs also

filed a memorandum in opposition to the Chartwell parties’ motion to stay the Weinfeld

parties’ cross-claim pending arbitration.

       {¶8}   The Soehnlens filed a counterclaim against the Weinfeld parties alleging

specific performance, breach of contract, abuse of process, frivolous complaint, and

respondent superior. Also, the Soehnlens filed a cross-claim against Plaintiffs alleging

statute of frauds, abuse of process, and frivolous complaint, and included a negligence

claim against the Chartwell parties.

       {¶9}   On October 7, 2016, Appellant Davis filed a motion to stay the Weinfeld

parties’ third-party claims against him pending arbitration pursuant to the arbitration

provision in the auction agreement and R.C. 2711.02(B). The Weinfeld parties filed a
Stark County, Case No. 2018CA00108                                                           5

memorandum in opposition to the Chartwell parties’ motion to stay their cross-claim

pending arbitration.

       {¶10} On October 27, and 28, 2016, the trial court held a bench trial concerning

the specific performance claims of Plaintiffs and the Soehnlens. All parties were present.

By findings of fact and conclusions of law filed January 9, 2017, the trial court denied both

claims for specific performance, finding the auction "was conducted with mistake and

patent unfairness" and therefore requiring the Weinfeld parties to perform any sales

contract "would be unconscionable."

       {¶11} On June 26, 2017, the trial court denied the Chartwell parties’ motions to

stay the proceedings pending arbitration. The Chartwell parties filed a notice of appeal

of this decision on July 20, 2017. Thereafter, Plaintiffs dismissed all of their claims against

the Chartwell parties and the Weinfeld parties with prejudice, and the Soehnlens

dismissed their cross-claims against Plaintiffs without prejudice.            The Soehlens'

counterclaim against the Weinfeld parties was disposed of via a partial dismissal filed

August 30, 2017, and a decision on summary judgment filed November 16, 2017. As a

result, Plaintiffs and the Soehnlens are not parties to the instant appeal.

       {¶12} By decision filed March 20, 2018, this Court found we could not determine

the reason the trial court denied the stay pending arbitration, and remanded the instant

action to the trial court to enter a new judgment with specific reasoning. Premier Homes,

Inc. v. Hanna Commercial, LLC, 5th Dist. Stark No. 2017CA00135, 2018-Ohio-1126.

       {¶13} On remand, the trial court found the arbitration clause in the auction

agreement violates public policy. The court found the arbitration clause circumvents the

Weinfeld parties’ statutory causes of action and related remedies as set forth in R.C.
Stark County, Case No. 2018CA00108                                                          6

4707.23(B) and R.C. 4707.261. The court further found arbitration would equate to a

waiver of Chartwell parties’ liability for breach of fiduciary duties. Judgment Entry, July 6,

2018.

        {¶14} It is from the July 6, 2018 judgment of the trial court the Chartwell parties

prosecute their appeal, assigning as error:

              THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING THE HANNA PARTIES’

        MOTION(S) TO STAY THE WEINFELD PARTIES’ CROSS-CLAIM AND

        THIRD PARTY COMPLAINT AGAINST THE HANNA PARTIES PENDING

        ARBITRATION PURSUANT TO THE VALID AND ENFORCEABLE

        ARBITRATION PROVISION IN THE AGREEMENT.

        {¶15} The Chartwell parties argue the trial court erred in finding the arbitration

clause void as against public policy.

        {¶16} “When addressing whether a trial court has properly granted motions to

stay proceedings and compel arbitration, the standard of review is abuse of discretion.”

Eagle v. Fred Martin Motor Co., 157 Ohio App.3d 150, 2004–Ohio–829, ¶ 10 (9th Dist.

Summit), citing Carter Steel & Fabricating Co. v. Danis Bldg. Constr. Co., 126 Ohio

App.3d 251, 254–255 (3d Dist. Logan 1998). However, at issue in the case sub judice is

the enforceability of the arbitration clause as a matter of public policy, which is a question

of law. See Murray v. David Moore Builders, Inc., 9th Dist. Summit No. 23257, 2006–

Ohio–6751, ¶ 8; Eagle at ¶ 11. “[W]hen an appellate court is presented with purely legal

questions, the standard of review to be applied is de novo.” Eagle at ¶ 11.
Stark County, Case No. 2018CA00108                                                         7

       {¶17} Ohio’s public policy encourages the use of arbitration to settle disputes.

Eagle at ¶ 14, citing Schaefer v. Allstate Ins. Co., 63 Ohio St.3d 708, 711–712 (1992).

Accordingly, there exists a presumption in favor of arbitration when the disputed issue

falls within the scope of the arbitration agreement. Eagle at ¶ 14, citing Williams v. Aetna

Fin. Co., 83 Ohio St.3d 464, 471 (1998). Arbitration agreements are “valid, irrevocable,

and enforceable, except upon grounds that exist at law or in equity for the revocation of

any contract.” R.C. 2711.01(A); Eagle at ¶ 16.

       {¶18} Although on remand the trial court specifically found the agreement violated

public policy, the Weinfeld parties argue because Chartwell Auctions, LLC and Hanna

Commercial Real Estate did not sign the agreement and the agreement was not validly

executed pursuant to instructions set forth in a letter from the Ohio Department of

Agriculture, the Chartwell parties cannot compel arbitration in this matter. The Weinfeld

parties did not raise this argument in their brief in opposition to the motion to stay in the

trial court.   A litigant who has the opportunity to raise an issue in the trial court, but

declines to do so, waives the right to raise that issue on appeal. The Strip Delaware, LLC

v. Landry's Restaurants, Inc., 5th Dist. Stark No. 2010CA00316, 2011–Ohio–4075, ¶41;

State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Cheeks, 5th Dist. Stark No. 2013CA00135, 2014-Ohio-

410, ¶12.

       {¶19} Further, in its January 9, 2017 judgment entry following trial on the equitable

relief sought in the case, the trial court identified Appellants herein collectively as

“Chartwell,” and Appellees herein as “the Weinfelds.” The court specifically found:
Stark County, Case No. 2018CA00108                                                        8

              The Weinfelds and Chartwell entered into an “Exclusive Auction

       Agreement” effective November 11, 2015, which provided Chartwell the

       “exclusive right and authority” to sell the Tudor Home and Banquet Center

       on behalf of the Weinfelds at auction (the “Auction Agreement”). [Exh. A,

       ¶1]. The Weinfelds and Chartwell agreed this auction would be held on

       December 14, 2015 (the “Auction”). [Id. at ¶2]. The Auction Agreement

       was signed by Ms. Lauri Weinfeld and Jared Dutton as “auctioneer” on

       behalf of Chartwell.

       {¶20} Judgment Entry, January 9, 2017, Finding of Fact 8

       {¶21} This finding by the trial court was not appealed. Further, to enforce an

arbitration clause it is only necessary the provision be in writing; a party's agreement to

the provision need not be evidenced by the signature of the party to be charged. Garcia

v. Wayne Homes, LLC, 2nd Dist. Clark No. 2001 CA 53, 2002-Ohio-1884, *8. For these

reasons, we reject Appellees’ argument.

       {¶22} The trial court first found the arbitration provision violated public policy

because it circumvents R.C. 4707.32(B) and R.C. 4707.261, which provide professional

standards for auctioneers and a statutory right of action in favor of any person harmed by

violation of the professional standards. The court found enforcement of the arbitration

provision would deprive Appellees of their statutory cause of action. We disagree.

       {¶23} A refusal to enforce a contract on the grounds of public policy is

distinguished from a finding of unconscionability. Eagle v. Fred Martin Motor Co., 9th Dist.

No. 21522, 157 Ohio App.3d 150, 2004-Ohio-829, 809 N.E.2d 1161, ¶ 63. Rather than
Stark County, Case No. 2018CA00108                                                         9

focusing on the relationship between the parties and the effect of the agreement upon

them, public policy analysis requires the court to consider the impact of such

arrangements upon society as a whole. Id.

       {¶24} R.C. 4707.32(B) states in pertinent part:

              A person who asserts that the person has been aggrieved by the

       actions of both an auction firm and a licensed auctioneer related to an

       auction that resulted in actual and direct losses to the aggrieved person

       may file a cause of action with a court of competent jurisdiction

       claiming that a violation of this chapter or rules adopted under it resulted in

       the actual and direct losses.

       {¶25} Chapter 1345 of the Ohio Revised Code, the Consumer Sales Practices

Act, is a remedial statute designed to provide remedies to protect consumers. Similarly,

R.C. 4707.23(B) is a remedial statute designed to protect anyone aggrieved by the

actions of an auctioneer or auction firm. In finding statutory claims under the Consumer

Sales Practices Act may be arbitrated, the Court of Appeals for the Second District held

as follows:

              It is well settled that statutory claims may be the subject of an

       arbitration agreement. The Supreme Court has stated that “[h]aving made

       the bargain to arbitrate, the party should be held to it unless [the legislature]

       itself has evidenced an intention to preclude a waiver of judicial remedies
Stark County, Case No. 2018CA00108                                                       10

      for the statutory rights at issue.” Moreover, “so long as the prospective

      litigant effectively may vindicate his or her statutory cause of action in the

      arbitral forum, the statute will continue to serve both its remedial and

      deterrent function.”

             Nothing in R.C. Chapter 1345 reflects a policy that claims falling

      under it be enforced in court and not in arbitration or suggests that parties

      to a consumer transaction covered by the CSPA cannot agree to arbitrate

      such matters. Ohio courts have uniformly held that parties to a consumer

      transaction covered by the CSPA can agree to arbitrate such matters and

      that arbitration does not deprive the complainant of any remedies available

      under CSPA claims. Because Appellants are able to vindicate their statutory

      cause of action in the arbitral forum, the statute retains its deterrent effect.

      In the instant case, the parties bound themselves to settle any dispute

      arising from the contract through arbitration and did not except CSPA

      claims. Therefore, Appellants' CSPA claims are subject to arbitration per

      the parties' agreement.

      {¶26} Garcia, supra, *14, citing Parsley v. Terminix International Company, L.P.

(S.D. Ohio Sept. 15, 1998), Western Division App. No. C–3–97–394, unreported; Gilmer

v. Interstate/Johnson Lane Corp., 500 U.S. 20, 26, 111 S.Ct. 1647, 114 L.Ed.2d 26;

Vincent v. Neyer, 139 Ohio App.3d 848, 851, 745 N.E.2d 1127 (2000); Smith v. Whitlatch

& Co., 137 Ohio App.3d 682, 685, 739 N.E.2d 857 (2000); Karamol v. Continental Estates,
Stark County, Case No. 2018CA00108                                                      11

Inc., Wood App. No. WD–00–012, unreported (September 22, 2000); Stehli v. Action

Custom Homes, Inc., Geauga App. No. 98–G–2198, unreported (Sept. 24, 1999).

      {¶27} R.C. 4707.32(B) uses the permissive “may” file an action in court, not the

mandatory “shall.” Nothing in the statute mandates a claim brought pursuant to this

section be brought exclusively before the court. Rather, as in the Consumer Sales

Practices arena, the parties may agree to arbitrate matters governed by Revised Code

Chapter 4707.

      {¶28} We further find the arbitration clause does not preclude the Weinfeld parties

from recovering damages allowed by R.C. 4707.32(B). R.C. 4707.32(B), as set forth

above, allows for the recovery of actual and direct losses. While the arbitration clause

herein precludes recovery of incidental, consequential or punitive damages, nothing in

the arbitration agreement precludes recovery of damages for actual and direct losses, as

allowed by statute.

      {¶29} The court also found the arbitration provision violated public policy because

it circumvented Appellees’ rights pursuant to R.C. 4707.261, which provides:

             A person who obtains a final judgment in a court of competent

      jurisdiction against a person licensed under this chapter, on the grounds of

      conduct by the licensee that is described in section 4707.15 of the Revised

      Code or that otherwise violates this chapter or rules adopted under it and

      that is associated with an act or transaction that only a licensee lawfully may

      perform, may file a verified application in a court of common pleas for an

      order directing payment from the auction recovery fund. The application
Stark County, Case No. 2018CA00108                                                        12

       shall be accompanied by the judgment entry and may seek payment in an

       amount that is equal to the portion of the judgment that remains unpaid.

              The application shall specify the nature of the act or transaction on

       which the underlying judgment was based, the activities of the applicant in

       pursuit of remedies available under the law for the collection of judgments,

       and the actual and direct losses sustained by the applicant. The applicant

       shall attach to the application a copy of each pleading and order in the

       underlying court action. In addition, the application shall include proof of the

       applicant's actual and direct loss.

              Whenever possible, the court shall require all applicants and

       prospective applicants whose claims to the fund arose from an underlying

       judgment against the same licensee to be joined in one action under this

       section so that the rights of all applicants may be equitably adjudicated and

       settled.

       {¶30} R.C. 2711.09 allows a party to confirm an arbitration award in a court of

common pleas, thus reducing the award to judgment. We find such procedure is not in

conflict with R.C. 4707.261 nor otherwise inconsistent with its availability to either party

following confirmation of the arbitration award. The judgment has the same effect as a

judgment in an action, and may be enforced as if rendered in an action in the court in

which it is entered. R.C. 2711.14. Therefore, a party who has an arbitration award

confirmed and reduced to judgment may participate in the auction recovery fund pursuant

to R.C. 4707.261 in the same manner as a party who obtained a judgment in court. We
Stark County, Case No. 2018CA00108                                                       13

find the arbitration provision in this case does not violate public policy by circumventing

Appellees’ rights pursuant to R.C. 4707.261.

         {¶31} The trial court also found the arbitration provision violates public policy

because “enforcing the arbitration provision would equate to a waiver of Defendants’

liability for any breach of fiduciary duties.” Again, we disagree.

         {¶32} The arbitration clause provides in pertinent part, “In the event a dispute

arises    concerning   this   contract   and/or   the   performance     of   Owner(s)    or

Auctioneer/Broker arising out of or in any way related to this contract or any of

their acts or performances in connection therewith, the dispute shall be submitted to

binding arbitration” (emphasis added). Nothing in this clause suggests the Weinfeld

parties’ claim of breach of fiduciary duty could not be submitted to the arbitrator, as the

arbitration applies to all disputes concerning the performance of the Chartwell parties in

any way related to the contract. (See, generally, Internatl. Culture & Trade Complex, Inc.

v. Drenik, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 13AP-596, 2014-Ohio-713, in which claims of breach of

fiduciary duty were submitted to arbitration.)

         {¶33} We find the court erred in denying a stay of the proceedings pending

arbitration on the basis the arbitration provision violated public policy. The assignment of

error is sustained.
Stark County, Case No. 2018CA00108                                                 14

The judgment of the Stark County Common Pleas Court is reversed and this cause is

remanded for further proceedings according to law, consistent with this opinion.

By: Hoffman, P.J.
Delaney, J. and
Wise, Earle, J. concur