Court Opinion

ID: 2701219
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 19:30:40.103859+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:53:41.014432
License: Public Domain

[Cite as Iannuzzi v. Harris, 2011-Ohio-3185.]
                           STATE OF OHIO, MAHONING COUNTY

                                  IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                                        SEVENTH DISTRICT

CELESTE S. IANNUZZI,                             )
                                                 )
        PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE,                      )
                                                 )
VS.                                              )          CASE NO. 10-MA-117
                                                 )
ERIC W. HARRIS, ET AL.,                          )                  OPINION
                                                 )
        DEFENDANTS-APPELLANTS.                   )

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDINGS:                        Civil Appeal from Court of Common
                                                 Pleas of Mahoning County, Ohio
                                                 Case No. 09CV2508

JUDGMENT:                                        Affirmed in part
                                                 Reversed in part
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellee                           Attorney Ilan Wexler
                                                 Attorney Robert D. Vizmeg
                                                 Attorney Raymond J. Tisone
                                                 21 N. Wickliffe Circle
                                                 Youngstown, Ohio 44515

For Defendants-Appellants                        Attorney Neil D. Schor
                                                 26 Market Street, Suite 1200
                                                 P.O. Box 6077
                                                 Youngstown, Ohio 44501-6077

                                                 Paul Gains
                                                 Prosecutor
                                                 Attorney Gina DeGenova Bricker
                                                 Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
                                                 21 W. Boardman Street, 6th Floor
                                                 Youngstown, Ohio 44503
JUDGES:

Hon. Gene Donofrio
Hon. Joseph J. Vukovich
Hon. Mary DeGenaro
                       -2-

Dated: June 17, 2011
[Cite as Iannuzzi v. Harris, 2011-Ohio-3185.]
DONOFRIO, J.

        {¶1}     Defendants-appellants, Eric Harris and the Mahoning County Sheriff
Randall Wellington, appeal from a Mahoning County Common Pleas Court judgment
denying their motion for summary judgment on a negligence claim filed by plaintiff-
appellee, Celeste Iannuzzi.
        {¶2}     On July 13, 2007 at approximately 9:00 p.m., appellant Sheriff’s Deputy
Eric Harris was working traffic patrol in Canfield Township on Route 224. Deputy
Harris was sitting in his patrol car in the Westford Place office complex monitoring
traffic speed with his radar.           According to Deputy Harris, he clocked a vehicle
travelling eastbound at 59 miles per hour in a 45-mile-per-hour zone. Consequently,
Deputy Harris activated his lights and began to pull out onto 224. As he pulled out
into traffic, a vehicle driven by appellee collided with Deputy Harris’s patrol car in the
second eastbound lane (closest to the middle lane of the five lane road).
        {¶3}     On July 2, 2009, appellee filed a complaint against appellants raising a
negligence claim for injuries she sustained arising out of the traffic collision.
Appellants filed an answer asserting the defense of sovereign immunity, among other
defenses.
        {¶4}     Appellants then filed a motion for summary judgment asserting that they
were immune from liability under R.C. Chapter 2744. and no genuine issues of
material fact existed. The trial court denied this motion finding that genuine issues of
material fact did exist. Appellants filed a timely notice of appeal on July 16, 2010.
        {¶5}     Initially, it should be noted that while generally the denial of a summary
judgment motion is not a final, appealable order, in this case it is. Here appellants’
motion for summary judgment was based on the premise of governmental immunity.
The Ohio Supreme Court has held: “When a trial court denies a motion in which a
political subdivision or its employee seeks immunity under R.C. Chapter 2744, that
order denies the benefit of an alleged immunity and is therefore a final, appealable
order pursuant to R.C. 2744.02(C).” Hubbell v. City of Xenia, 115 Ohio St. 3d 77,
2007-Ohio-4839, at the syllabus.
        {¶6}     Appellants raise two assignments of error that both allege the denial of
                                                                                  -2-

summary judgment was improper. Therefore, the same standard of review applies to
both alleged errors.
       {¶7}    In reviewing a trial court’s decision on a summary judgment motion,
appellate courts apply a de novo standard of review. Cole v. Am. Industries &
Resources Corp. (1998), 128 Ohio App. 3d 546, 552. Thus, we shall apply the same
test as the trial court in determining whether summary judgment was proper. Civ.R.
56(C) provides that the trial court shall render summary judgment if no genuine issue
of material fact exists and when construing the evidence most strongly in favor of the
nonmoving party, reasonable minds can only conclude that the moving party is
entitled to judgment as a matter of law. State ex rel. Parsons v. Flemming (1994), 68
Ohio St. 3d 509, 511. A “material fact” depends on the substantive law of the claim
being litigated. Hoyt, Inc. v. Gordon & Assoc., Inc. (1995), 104 Ohio App. 3d 598,
603, citing Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc. (1986), 477 U.S. 242, 247-48.
       {¶8}    Additionally, the law on political subdivision immunity applies to both
assignments of error.
       {¶9}    Whether a political subdivision is entitled to immunity is analyzed using
a three-tiered process. Green Cty. Agricultural Soc. v. Liming (2000), 89 Ohio St. 3d
551, 556.     Under the first tier, R.C. 2744.02(A)(1) sets out the general rule that
political subdivisions are not liable in damages. Id. at 556-57. Under the second tier,
the court must determine whether any of the exceptions to immunity set out in R.C.
2744.02(B) apply. Id. at 557. Finally, under the third tier, if the court finds that any of
R.C. 2744.02(B)'s exceptions apply, it must consider R.C. 2744.03, which provides
defenses and immunities to liability. Id.
       {¶10} Thus, in this case, we must begin our analysis under the first tier with
the premise that appellants are not liable in damages here.
       {¶11} Next, under the second tier, the possible exception to immunity in this
case is set out in R.C. 2744.02(B)(1), which provides:
       {¶12} “(B) Subject to sections 2744.03 and 2744.05 of the Revised Code, a
political subdivision is liable in damages in a civil action for injury, death, or loss to
                                                                               -3-

person or property allegedly caused by an act or omission of the political subdivision
or of any of its employees in connection with a governmental or proprietary function,
as follows:
       {¶13} “(1) Except as otherwise provided in this division, political subdivisions
are liable for injury, death, or loss to person or property caused by the negligent
operation of any motor vehicle by their employees when the employees are engaged
within the scope of their employment and authority.”
       {¶14} It is with these premises in mind that we move on to appellants’
assignments of error.
       {¶15} Appellants’ first assignment of error states:
       {¶16} “THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING SUMMARY JUDGMENT
TO APPELLANT MAHONING COUNTY SHERIFF RANDALL WELLINGTON
PURSUANT       TO    OHIO    REVISED      CODE     §2744.02(B)(1)(a)    AS    SHERIFF
WELLINGTON IS IMMUNE FROM LIABILITY BECAUSE APPELLANT DEPUTY
ERIC W. HARRIS WAS OPERATING HIS POLICE VEHICLE IN RESPONSE TO AN
EMERGENCY CALL.”
       {¶17} Appellants argue here that pursuant to R.C. 2744.02(B)(1)(a), Sheriff
Wellington is immune from liability.
       {¶18} R.C. 2744.02(B)(1)(a) provides that it is a full defense to liability under
R.C. 2744.02(B)(1) when: “A member of a municipal corporation police department
or any other police agency was operating a motor vehicle while responding to an
emergency call and the operation of the vehicle did not constitute willful or wanton
misconduct.”
       {¶19} “‘Emergency call’ means a call to duty, including, but not limited to,
communications from citizens, police dispatches, and personal observations by
peace officers of inherently dangerous situations that demand an immediate
response on the part of a peace officer.” R.C. 2744.01(A).
       {¶20} Appellants argue that because Deputy Harris was responding to a “call
to duty” when he went in pursuit of a speeding vehicle, immunity applies under R.C.
                                                                                            -4-

2744.02(B)(1)(a).
        {¶21} In raising their call to duty argument, appellants rely on Colbert v.
Cleveland, 99 Ohio St. 3d 215, 2003-Ohio-3319. In Colbert, the Ohio Supreme Court
rejected the notion that only those calls to duty that concern inherently dangerous
situations qualify as emergency calls. Id. at ¶11. Instead, it held “a call to duty
involves a situation to which a response by a peace officer is required by the officer’s
professional obligation.” Id. at ¶13.
        {¶22} In the present case, appellants assert that Deputy Harris was
responding, as part of a call to duty, to his observation of a speeding vehicle violating
a traffic law in an area that was given special treatment for radar detection and
speeding enforcement by the Sheriff based on the area’s history of accidents and
fatalities. Additionally, they point out that Deputy Harris considered the situation of
apprehending the speeding vehicle to be inherently dangerous. And they claim that
Deputy Harris activated his overhead lights and sirens before engaging in his pursuit
on Route 224.
        {¶23} Appellee seems to concede in her brief that if there in fact was a
speeding car, Deputy Harris may have been responding to a call to duty. However,
she claims she raised a genuine issue of material fact as to whether there was a
speeding car to begin with.1
        {¶24} Two witnesses offered evidence as to whether there was a speeding
vehicle of which Deputy Harris was in pursuit, Deputy Harris and Richard Eckmon.
        {¶25} In his deposition, Deputy Harris stated that just prior to the accident he
was in a parking lot at Route 224 and Westford Place conducting stationary patrol
and running radar. (Harris dep. 10). He stated that with his radar he determined that
a vehicle travelling eastbound on Route 224 was speeding. (Harris dep. 10, 15). In
response, Deputy Harris stated that he exited the parking lot to follow the speeding

1 We should note that in their response brief, appellants argue that appellee never raised this
argument in the trial court. However, appellants are mistaken. While appellee did spend quite a bit of
her response to summary judgment on other arguments, she also argued that she “presented
evidence that could lead a reasonable mind to believe that Deputy Harris was not attempting to pursue
a speeding vehicle eastbound on Route 224” and cited to Richard Eckmon’s affidavit.
                                                                              -5-

vehicle. (Harris dep. 15, 16). Deputy Harris stated that instead of pulling out of the
right lane of a parking lot that was for cars to exit and head eastbound on Route 224,
he exited out of the straight lane, which was designed for entrance into the parking
lot. (Harris dep. 15-16). And when asked why he did not turn into the curb lane
heading eastbound and instead attempted to turn into the inside eastbound lane,
Deputy Harris stated that he wanted to make sure all the traffic was stopped. (Harris
dep. 17). Deputy Harris stated that he activated his lights and siren. (Harris dep.
16). He stated that as he attempted to enter the inside eastbound lane, the collision
occurred. (Harris dep. 23).
      {¶26} Eckmon witnessed the traffic accident in question. He averred that he
was driving eastbound on Route 224 in the outside lane while a woman was driving
next to him in the inside lane also heading east. (Eckmon Aff.) Eckmon did not recall
any other cars ahead of them. (Eckmon Aff.) Nor did he recall that anyone had
passed them or was travelling faster than them between Raccoon Road and
Westford Place. (Eckmon Aff.) Eckmon noticed a police car approach Route 224
from Westford Place. (Eckmon Aff.) He saw that the police car was not going to stop
and, therefore, applied his brakes very hard to avoid a collision.      (Eckmon Aff.)
Eckmon stated that while he noticed the officer’s lights turn on just as the officer
reached Route 224, at no time did he hear a siren. (Eckmon Aff.) Eckmon then
witnessed the accident. (Eckmon Aff.) He stated that he remembered having seen a
couple of police cars parked along the south side of Route 224 near Sheetz, Bob
Evans, or Ruby Tuesday’s. (Eckmon Aff.) This caused Eckmon to believe that the
officer involved in the accident may have been turning around to meet with the other
officers “as he was turning their way [which was westbound].” (Emphasis added;
Eckmon Aff.)
      {¶27} Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to appellee, as we are
required to do, raises a genuine issue of material fact as to whether Deputy Harris
was actually in pursuit of a speeding vehicle when appellee’s vehicle collided with his
cruiser. Eckmon’s statements call into question whether Deputy Harris was pursuing
                                                                             -6-

a speeding car travelling eastbound on Route 224. Contrary to what Deputy Harris
stated, Eckmon indicated that Deputy Harris appeared to be turning westbound, not
eastbound. Furthermore, Eckmon did not recall seeing another vehicle travelling in
front of him that could have been speeding. Additionally, Deputy Harris’s statements
that he did not exit the parking lot from the lane that would have directed him
eastbound on Route 224 and that he decided not to simply turn into the curbside,
eastbound lane lend credence to Eckmon’s statements.
       {¶28} As such, Sheriff Wellington is not entitled to summary judgment on the
basis of R.C. 2744.02(B)(1)(a) because there is a genuine issue of material fact as to
whether Deputy Harris was responding to a call to duty. Accordingly, appellants’ first
assignment of error is without merit.
       {¶29} Appellants’ second assignment of error states:
       {¶30} “THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING SUMMARY JUDGMENT
TO APPELLANTS MAHONING COUNTY SHERIFF RANDALL WELLINGTON AND
DEPUTY ERIC W. HARRIS AS APPELLANTS ARE IMMUNE FROM LIABILITY
PURSUANT TO ORC §§ 2744.02(B)(1)(a) AND 2744.03(A)(6)(b), BECAUSE
DEPUTY HARRIS DID NOT ACT IN A WILLFUL, WANTON OR RECKLESS
MANNER OR WITH MALICIOUS PURPOSE OR IN BAD FAITH IN THE
OPERATION OF HIS POLICE VEHICLE.”
       {¶31} Here appellants assert that pursuant to R.C. 2744.02(B)(1)(a) Sheriff
Wellington is immune from liability and pursuant to R.C. 2744.03(A)(6) Deputy Harris
is immune from liability. They base their assertions on the argument that Deputy
Harris’s conduct was within the scope of his employment and was not willful,
reckless, or in bad faith.
       {¶32} Appellants argue that appellee never asserted in her complaint or
amended complaint that Deputy Harris acted outside the scope of his employment,
with malicious purpose, in bad faith, or in a wanton or reckless manner. Instead, they
contend, appellee merely stated a claim for negligence.
       {¶33} Appellants assert that Sheriff Wellington is entitled to immunity under
                                                                                  -7-

R.C. 2744.02(B)(1)(a). It is only a full defense to liability for the political subdivision
under R.C. 2744.02(B)(1)(a) when: “A member of a municipal corporation police
department or any other police agency was [1] operating a motor vehicle while
responding to an emergency call and [2] the operation of the vehicle did not
constitute willful or wanton misconduct.”       (Emphasis added.)       As discussed in
appellants’ first assignment of error, a genuine issue of material fact exists as to
whether Deputy Harris was responding to a call to duty (emergency call) because a
question exists as to whether he was in fact pursuing a speeding vehicle. Thus,
whether Deputy Harris’s operation of his vehicle constituted willful or wanton
misconduct is not determinative of whether Sheriff Wellington is entitled to immunity
under R.C. 2744.02(B)(1) since both conditions set out in that section must apply.
       {¶34} As to Deputy Harris, however, immunity applies under R.C.
2744.03(A)(6).
       {¶35} R.C. 2744.03(A)(6) provides:
       {¶36} “(A) In a civil action brought against a political subdivision or an
employee of a political subdivision to recover damages for injury, death, or loss to
person or property allegedly caused by any act or omission in connection with a
governmental or proprietary function, the following defenses or immunities may be
asserted to establish nonliability:
       {¶37} “* * *
       {¶38} “(6) In addition to any immunity or defense referred to in division (A)(7)
of this section * * * the employee is immune from liability unless one of the following
applies:
       {¶39} “(a) The employee's acts or omissions were manifestly outside the
scope of the employee's employment or official responsibilities;
       {¶40} “(b) The employee's acts or omissions were with malicious purpose, in
bad faith, or in a wanton or reckless manner;
       {¶41} “(c) Civil liability is expressly imposed upon the employee by a section
of the Revised Code. * * *.”
                                                                                 -8-

       {¶42} As appellants point out, appellee did not assert in either her complaint
or her first amended complaint that Deputy Harris acted with a malicious purpose, in
bad faith, or in a wanton or reckless manner. Nor did she allege that he was acting
outside of the scope of his employment. She merely asserted that Deputy Harris,
while in the scope of his employment, acted negligently.
       {¶43} In Elston v. Howland Local Schools, 113 Ohio St. 3d 314, 316, 2007-
Ohio-2070, the appellate court reversed the trial court’s grant of summary judgment
to the school on its claimed immunity. In part, the appellate court concluded that
genuine issues of material fact existed regarding whether the coach in question acted
with a malicious purpose, in bad faith, or in a wanton and reckless manner despite
the fact that the plaintiff had not included any such allegations of malice, bad faith, or
reckless conduct in his amended complaint. The Ohio Supreme Court reversed the
appellate court’s decision, in part reasoning:
       {¶44} “[B]ecause the amended complaint failed to allege malice, bad faith, or
wanton or reckless conduct, the appellate court strayed well beyond the pleadings
and erred in reversing the judgment of the trial court in that regard, and we need not
further address that issue.” Id. at ¶31.
       {¶45} Following Elston, other courts have also found that a party’s complaint
against a political subdivision must specifically allege malice, bad faith, or wanton or
reckless conduct in order to argue these issues on summary judgment. See Smith v.
Martin, 176 Ohio App. 3d 567, 2008-Ohio-2978, at ¶¶32-33; Ohio Bell Tel. Co. v.
Digioia-Suburban Excavating , L.L.C., 8th Dist. Nos. 89708,89907, 2008-Ohio-1409,
at ¶¶39-40.
       {¶46} Thus, because appellee failed to assert in her complaint or first
amended complaint that Deputy Harris acted with malice, bad faith, or wanton or
reckless conduct, she may not now rely on such allegations to defeat Deputy Harris’s
personal immunity under R.C. 2744.03(A)(6).
       {¶47} Consequently, Deputy Harris is entitled to immunity under R.C.
2744.03(A)(6) and the trial court erred in failing to grant summary judgment in his
                                                                                -9-

favor.
         {¶48} Accordingly, appellants’ second assignment of error has merit as it
applies to Deputy Harris but it does not have merit as it applies to Sheriff Wellington.
         {¶49} For the reasons stated above, the trial court’s judgment is hereby
reversed in part and summary judgment is entered in favor of Deputy Harris. The
trial court’s judgment is affirmed as it applies to Sheriff Wellington.

Vukovich, J. concurs.

DeGenaro, J. concurs.