Court Opinion

ID: 2697688
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 17:13:21.317691+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:32:06.558441
License: Public Domain

[Cite as Universal One Credit Union, Inc. v. Bethel, 2012-Ohio-1934.]

                        IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                           FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                 ROSS COUNTY

UNIVERSAL ONE CREDIT UNION, :
INC.,                              :
      Plaintiff-Appellee,          : Case No. 11CA3222
                                   :
      vs.                          : Released: April 26, 2012
                                   :
THELMA BETHEL and                  : DECISION AND JUDGMENT
GREGORY MOORE                      : ENTRY
      Defendants-Appellants.       :
                             APPEARANCES:

Joseph P. Sulzer, Chillicothe, Ohio, for Appellants.

Stephen D. Miles and Vincent A. Lewis, Dayton, Ohio, for Appellee.

McFarland, J.:

      {¶1} Appellants Thelma Bethel and Gregory Moore appeal the trial court’s

decision entering summary judgment against them for breach of a loan agreement.

Appellants argue the trial court abused its discretion when it entered summary

judgment against them. Having reviewed the record, we agree with the trial

court’s judgment and overrule Appellants’ sole assignment of error. As such, we

affirm the trial court’s judgment.

                                               FACTS

      {¶2} On June 27, 2009, Appellants obtained a loan from Appellee Universal

One Credit Union, Inc. (“Universal”), borrowing $24,638.75 to purchase a 2005
Ross App. No. 11CA3222                                                             2

Ford F-250 truck, in which Universal retained a security interest. In the summer of

2010, Appellants began to miss payments, causing the balance to increase. In

response, Universal repossessed the vehicle and sold it at public auction.

Universal subsequently credited Appellants’ account with $8,333.28. The

remaining deficiency balance, as of September 30, 2010, was $15,812.44.

      {¶3} Universal filed its complaint to recoup the deficiency balance. After

approximately two months, Universal requested leave to file a motion for summary

judgment and tendered a motion for summary judgment. Appellants filed a

responsive memorandum. While captioned as a memorandum contra Universal’s

motion for summary judgment, Appellants’ memorandum actually requested the

court deny Universal leave to file its motion for summary judgment, and did not

include any argument addressing Universal’s actual motion for summary

judgment. Appellants alleged they intended to conduct discovery and the court

should accordingly deny Universal leave to file a motion for summary judgment.

      {¶4} In the trial court’s decision, it first noted there was no trial or pretrial

set in the matter and Universal did not need to obtain leave to file its motion for

summary judgment. Thus, it considered Universal’s tendered motion for summary

judgment filed.

      {¶5} The trial court then considered Appellants’ memorandum contra as a

request for additional time to conduct discovery and respond to Universal’s motion
Ross App. No. 11CA3222                                                         3

under Civ.R. 56(F). However, because Appellants attached no affidavit to their

memorandum, the court was unable to properly consider such request.

      {¶6} Finally, the trial court turned to the merits of Universal’s motion for

summary judgment. Universal had attached a copy of the signed loan agreement to

its complaint. Universal then attached an affidavit from Universal’s Division

Manager, who averred Appellants were in default and stated the amount due, based

upon periodic account statements he incorporated by reference. Finding no

genuine issues of material fact and finding Universal was entitled to judgment as a

matter of law, the trial court granted summary judgment to Universal. Appellants

now appeal.

                           ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR

      I.      “THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION BY

GRANTING SUMMARY JUDGMENT TO THE PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE.”

                                Standard of Review

      {¶7} “Appellate courts review summary judgments de novo.” Wells Fargo

v. Phillabaum, 4th Dist. No. 10CA10, 2011-Ohio-1311, at ¶ 7, citing Broadnax v.

Greene Credit Service (1997), 118 Ohio App.3d 881, 887, 694 N.E.2d 167 and

Coventry Twp. v. Ecker (1995), 101 Ohio App.3d 38, 41, 654 N.E.2d 1327. “In

other words, we afford no deference whatsoever to a trial court’s decision, and,

instead, conduct our own independent review to determine if summary judgment is
Ross App. No. 11CA3222                                                           4

appropriate.” Wells Fargo at ¶ 7, citing Woods v. Dutta (1997), 119 Ohio App.3d

228, 233-234, 695 N.E.2d 18 and Phillips v. Rayburn (1996), 113 Ohio App.3d

374, 377, 680 N.E.2d 1279.

      {¶8} “Summary judgment is appropriate only when (1) there is no genuine

issue of material fact, (2) reasonable minds can come to but one conclusion when

viewing the evidence in favor of the nonmoving party, and that conclusion is

adverse to the nonmoving party, and (3) the moving party is entitled to judgment as

a matter of law.” Greene v. Seal Twp. Bd. of Trustees, 194 Ohio App.3d 45, 2011-

Ohio-1392, 954 N.E.2d 1216, ¶9 (4th Dist.). citing Doe v. Shaffer, 90 Ohio St.3d

388, 390, 2000-Ohio-186, 738 N.E.2d 1243, Bostic v. Connor (1988), 37 Ohio

St.3d 144, 146, 524 N.E.2d 881, and Civ.R. 56(C).

      {¶9} “The party moving for summary judgment has the initial burden of

showing that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that it is entitled to

judgment as a matter of law.” Greene at ¶ 10, citing Dresher v. Burt (1996), 75

Ohio St.3d 280, 292, 662 N.E.2d 264. “The moving party must inform the trial

court of the basis of the motion and must identify those portions of the record that

demonstrate the absence of a material fact.” Id., citing Dresher at 293. “If the

moving party satisfies its initial burden, the nonmoving party then has the

reciprocal burden outlined in Civ. R. 56(E) to set forth specific facts showing that

there is a genuine issue for trial. If the nonmovant does not satisfy this evidentiary
Ross App. No. 11CA3222                                                            5

burden and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law, the court should

enter a summary judgment accordingly.” Id., citing Kulch v. Structural Fibers,

Inc. (1997), 78 Ohio St.3d 134, 145, 677 N.E.2d 308, citing Dresher at 295.

                                    Legal Analysis

      {¶10} Preliminarily, we note the trial court was correct Universal did not

need to obtain leave to file its motion for summary judgment, as no trial or pretrial

date was established. Civ.R. 56(A). Further, the trial court used its discretion in

reviewing Appellants’ memorandum under Civ.R. 56(F). While the trial court

could have summarily overruled Appellants’ memorandum contra as moot, it

looked to Civ.R. 56(F) to see if it could construe the memorandum in Appellants’

favor. The court could not. Thus the trial court was correct to proceed to the

merits of Universal’s motion for summary judgment.

      {¶11} “A breach of contract occurs when a party demonstrates the existence

of a binding contract or agreement; the non-breaching party performed its

contractual obligations; the other party failed to fulfill its contractual obligations

without legal excuse; and the non-breaching party suffered damages as a result of

the breach.” Osbourne v. Ahern, 4th Dist. No. 05CA9, 2005-Ohio-6517, at ¶ 21,

citing Conley v. Willis (June 14, 2001), 4th Dist. No. 00CA2746, citing Garofalo v.

Chicago Title Ins. Co. (1995), 104 Ohio App.3d 95, 108, 661 N.E.2d 218.
Ross App. No. 11CA3222                                                         6

      {¶12} Here, there were no genuine issues of material fact and Universal

demonstrated it was entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Universal’s complaint

included the loan agreement Appellants jointly signed: the contract. Universal

then attached an affidavit and supporting account statements to its motion for

summary judgment demonstrating Appellants’ breach of the contract by failing to

make timely payments. Appellants offered no legal excuse for their failure to pay.

Finally, the supporting account statements established the amount due, or

Universal’s damages. Thus, Universal demonstrated it was entitled to judgment as

a matter of law. Appellants offered no argument or evidence to the contrary.

      {¶13} Therefore, we overrule Appellants’ assignment of error and affirm the

trial court’s judgment.

                                                       JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
Ross App. No. 11CA3222                                                         7

                              JUDGMENT ENTRY

      It is ordered that the JUDGMENT BE AFFIRMED and that the 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 Ross
County Common Pleas Court to carry this judgment into execution.

       Any stay previously granted by this Court is hereby terminated as of the date
of this entry.

       A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule
27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
Exceptions.

Kline, J.: Concurs with Judgment and Opinion.
Abele, P.J.: Dissents.

                          For the Court,

                          BY: _________________________
                              Matthew W. McFarland, Judge

                             NOTICE TO COUNSEL

      Pursuant to Local Rule No. 14, this document constitutes a final
judgment entry and the time period for further appeal commences from the
date of filing with the clerk.