Court Opinion

ID: 2697449
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 17:10:23.303504+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:37:18.030977
License: Public Domain

[Cite as Motorists Mut. Ins. v. Flynn, 2013-Ohio-1501.]

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

MOTORISTS MUTUAL INSURANCE
COMPANY,                                                  :   Case No. 11CA28

Plaintiff-Appellant,                                      :

vs.                                                       :   DECISION AND JUDGMENT ENTRY

KATHRYN M. FLYNN,                                         :

Defendant-Appellee.                                       :   RELEASED: 03/28/13

_______________________________________________________________

                                             APPEARANCES:

COUNSEL FOR APPELLANT:                     Steven J. Zeehandelar, 471 East Broad Street, Suite 1200,
                                           Columbus, Ohio 43215

COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE:         Kevin R. Whitmer, 105 East Fourth Street, Suite 1400,
                              Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
________________________________________________________________

CIVIL CASE FROM COMMON PLEAS COURT
DATE JOURNALIZED:
MCFARLAND, P.J.

        {¶1} This is an appeal from a Highland County Common Pleas Court summary judgment

in favor of Kathryn M. Flynn, defendant below and appellee herein. The trial court determined

that appellee is not liable for damages that resulted when a tree fell on neighboring property. We

disagree and reverse the trial court’s decision.

        {¶2} Motorists Mutual Insurance Company, plaintiff below and appellant herein, assigns

the following errors for review:

                 FIRST ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR:
Highland App. No. 28                                                                                 2

               “THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT GRANTED
               DEFENDANT-APPELLEE’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY
               JUDGMENT AS GENUINE ISSUES OF MATERIAL FACT ARE
               IN DISPUTE.”

               SECOND ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR:

               “THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT FAILED TO
               CONSTRUE THE EVIDENCE MOST STRONGLY IN FAVOR
               OF PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT, THE NON-MOVING PARTY.”

       {¶3} On February 18, 2009, a tree situated on appellee’s property fell onto her neighbor’s

(Anita O’Connor) property. Appellant, O’Connor’s insurer, subsequently filed a complaint against

appellee and alleged that appellee was negligent for failing to have the tree removed.

       {¶4} Subsequently, appellee requested summary judgment and asserted that appellant could

not demonstrate that appellee had actual or constructive notice that the tree constituted a patent

danger. Appellee submitted an affidavit in which she stated that she “did not know, * * * nor * * *

have any reason to know, that there was any defect or dangerous condition associated with the

tree.” She further stated that “[a]t the time the tree fell, it appeared healthy and was green in

color.” She also stated that no one had told her that the tree was “defective, rotten or otherwise

dangerous.”

       {¶5} Appellant responded that genuine issues of material fact remained as to whether

appellee knew, or should have known, that the tree posed a danger. Appellant presented

O’Connor’s affidavit wherein she stated that she had spoken with appellee’s relatives, who helped

care for appellee’s property, and “notified each of them on several occasions that the tree needed to

come down.” Appellant then stated:

             “It is difficult, if not impossible to believe that at least one of the
       aforementioned relatives did not pass along Ms. O’Connor’s concerns to the
Highland App. No. 28                                                                                   3

       Defendant. Whether or not such communications were discussed with Defendant
       constitute material questions of fact and should be left to be heard by the trier of
       fact.”

Appellant further asserted that the photographs show the tree perilously close to O’Connor’s

property and in danger of falling. Appellant argues that the photographs of the leaning tree, at the

very least, raise a genuine issue of material fact as to whether a reasonable person would have been

placed on notice of the dangerous condition of the tree and would have taken steps to remove the

danger it posed to appellant’s residence.

       {¶6} After considering the evidentiary materials, the trial court awarded appellee summary

judgment. This appeal followed.

       {¶7} Appellant’s two assignments of error challenge the trial court’s summary judgment.

Because the same standard of review governs both assignments of error, we have combined them.

       {¶8} In its first assignment of error, appellant asserts that genuine issues of material fact

remain as to whether appellee had actual or constructive notice that the tree posed a danger of

falling onto O’Connor’s property. Appellant argues that the tree’s “position and posture” indicated

that the tree posed a patently dangerous hazard. Appellant claims that the photographs depict the

tree as “over two-stories in height, with its trunk growing at an unusual angle out of the ground,

and its highest point looming toward Ms. O’Connor’s home” and, thus, establish that appellee had

actual or constructive notice “of the patent defect with the tree.” Appellant contends that even if

the tree appeared green and healthy to appellee, “it was not going to defy gravity and * * * it was

going to fall at some point in time.” Appellant asserts that appellee “should have been on notice of

this fact, or she should have had the tree inspected on its leaning posture.” Appellant further

argues, without citation to authority, that “[i]t is common knowledge that trees that lean with such

intensity in urban areas are typically removed or replanted because there is a rational and
Highland App. No. 28                                                                                 4

reasonable fear that they will fall.”

       {¶9} Additionally, appellant complains that the trial court improperly discredited

O’Connor’s affidavit. Appellant contends that O’Connor was competent to offer her opinion that

the tree posed a danger:

               “A reasonable person, based on lay-person’s perceptions and knowledge of
       basic physics and gravity could determine that a tree, that is as massive as the one at
       issue herein and that is towering towards a neighbor’s home, would likely fall, and
       that the landowner should have been well aware of this fact.”

       {¶10} In its second assignment of error, appellant argues that the trial court failed to

construe the evidence most strongly in its favor. Appellant asserts that the trial court failed to

construe the photographic evidence of the leaning tree most strongly in her favor as the non-

moving party.

                                                   I

                                        STANDARD OF REVIEW

       {¶11} When appellate courts review trial court summary judgment decisions, the appellate

court conducts a de novo review. E.g., Grafton v. Ohio Edison Co., 77 Ohio St. 3d 102, 105, 671
N.E.2d 241 (1996). Accordingly, appellate courts must independently review the record to

determine whether summary judgment is appropriate and need not defer to the trial court. Brown

v. Scioto Cty. Bd. of Commrs., 87 Ohio App. 3d 704, 711, 622 N.E.2d 1153 (1993); Morehead v.

Conley, 75 Ohio App. 3d 409, 411-412, 599 N.E.2d 786 (1991). Thus, to determine whether a trial

court properly granted summary judgment, an appellate court must review the Civ.R. 56 standard

for granting a summary judgment motion, as well as the applicable law. Civ.R. 56(C) provides:

                Summary judgment shall be rendered forthwith if the pleadings, depositions,
Highland App. No. 28                                                                                   5

       answers to interrogatories, written admissions, affidavits, transcripts of evidence in
       the pending case, and written stipulations of fact, 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. No evidence or stipulation may be
       considered except as stated in this rule. A summary judgment shall not be rendered
       unless it appears from the evidence or stipulation, and only from the evidence or
       stipulation, that reasonable minds can come to but one conclusion and that
       conclusion is adverse to the party against whom the motion for summary judgment
       is made, that party being entitled to have the evidence or stipulation construed most
       strongly in the party’s favor.

       {¶12} Accordingly, courts may not grant summary judgment unless the evidentiary

materials demonstrate that (1) no genuine issue as to any material fact remains to be litigated, (2)

after construing the evidence most strongly in the nonmoving party’s favor, reasonable minds can

come to but one conclusion, which is adverse to the nonmoving party, and (3) the moving party is

entitled to judgment as a matter of law. E.g., Vahila v. Hall, 77 Ohio St. 3d 421, 429-30, 674
N.E.2d 1164 (1997).

       {¶13} In responding to a motion for summary judgment, a nonmoving party may not rest

on “unsupported allegations in the pleadings.” Harless v. Willis Day Warehousing Co., 54 Ohio

St.2d 64, 66, 375 N.E.2d 46 (1978). Rather, Civ.R. 56 requires a nonmoving party to respond with

competent evidence to demonstrate the existence of a genuine issue of material fact. Civ.R. 56(E)

provides:

               * * * * When a motion for summary judgment is made and supported as
       provided in this rule, an adverse party may not rest upon the mere allegations or
       denials of the party’s pleadings, but the party’s response, by affidavit or as
       otherwise provided in this rule, must set forth specific facts showing that there is a
       genuine issue for trial. If the party does not so respond, summary judgment, if
       appropriate, shall be entered against the party.

       {¶14} Consequently, once a moving party satisfies its Civ.R. 56 burden, the nonmoving

party must demonstrate, by affidavit or by producing Civ.R. 56(C) evidence, that a genuine issue

of material fact remains for trial. A trial court may grant a properly supported motion for summary
Highland App. No. 28                                                                                    6

judgment if the nonmoving party does not respond, by affidavit or as otherwise, with specific facts

to show that a genuine issue exists for trial. Dresher v. Burt, 75 Ohio St. 3d 280, 293, 662 N.E.2d
264 (1996); Jackson v. Alert Fire & Safety Equip., Inc., 58 Ohio St. 3d 48, 52, 567 N.E.2d 1027

(1991). Additionally, when ruling on a summary judgment motion, a trial court may not weigh the

evidence or choose among reasonable inferences. Dupler v. Mansfield Journal, 64 Ohio St. 2d 116,

121, 413 N.E.2d 1187 (1980); Johnson v. Pohlman, 162 Ohio App. 3d 240, 2005-Ohio-3554, 833
N.E.2d 313, ¶37.

          {¶15} We further note that “simply because resolution of a question of law involves a

consideration of the evidence does not mean that the question of law is converted into a question of

fact or that a factual issue is raised.” Ruta v. Breckenridge-Remy Co., 69 Ohio St. 2d 66, 68, 430
N.E.2d 935 (1982). As stated in O’Day v. Webb, 29 Ohio St. 2d 215, 219, 280 N.E.2d 896 (1972):

                  “[A] review of the evidence is more often than not vital to the resolution of a
          question of law. But the fact that a question of law involves a consideration of the
          facts or the evidence does not turn it into a question of fact.”

Accord Henley v. Youngstown Bd. Zoning Appeals, 90 Ohio St. 3d 142, 148, 735 N.E.2d 433

(2000).

                                                    II

                                             NEGLIGENCE

          {¶16} A negligence action requires a plaintiff to establish that (1) the defendant owed the

plaintiff a duty of care, (2) the defendant breached the duty of care, and (3) as a direct and

proximate result of the defendant’s breach, the plaintiff suffered injury. E.g., Texler v. D.O.

Summers Cleaners, 81 Ohio St. 3d 677, 680, 693 N.E.2d 217 (1998); Jeffers v. Olexo, 43 Ohio

St.3d 140, 142, 539 N.E.2d 614 (1989); Menifee v. Ohio Welding Products, Inc., 15 Ohio St. 3d 75,
Highland App. No. 28                                                                                    7

472 N.E.2d 707 (1984). If a defendant points to evidence illustrating that the plaintiff will be

unable to prove any one of the foregoing elements and if the plaintiff fails to respond as Civ.R. 56

provides, the defendant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. See Feichtner v. Cleveland, 95
Ohio App. 3d 388, 394, 642 N.E.2d 657 (1994); Keister v. Park Centre Lanes, 3 Ohio App. 3d 19,

443 N.E.2d 532 (1981).

       {¶17} “In order for a plaintiff to establish the duty element in a negligence action arising

from a fallen tree, the evidence must establish that the landowner had actual or constructive notice

of a patent danger that the tree would fall.” Wertz v. Cooper, 4th Dist. No. 06CA3077, 2006-Ohio-

6844, ¶12,1 citing Heckert v. Patrick, 15 Ohio St. 3d 402, 405, 473 N.E.2d 1204 (1984); Bertram v.

Ohio Dept. of Transp., Court of Claims No.2002-7924-AD, 2003-Ohio-2608. If the landowner

does not have actual or constructive notice of a tree’s defective condition that may result in injury

to others, the landowner will not be liable. Heckert, 15 Ohio St. 3d at 405; Stevens v. Jeffrey Allen

Corp., 131 Ohio App. 3d 298, 302-303, 722 N.E.2d 533 (1997). The Heckert court explained a

landowner’s liability for a fallen tree as follows:

               “Generally, one may use his land as he sees fit, providing that his use does
       not invade the rights of others. In assessing the liability of a landowner for injuries
       to others, the law in this country, including Ohio, has in some respects viewed the
       passive use of one’s land differently than an active use. A passive use includes the
       use and enjoyment of the natural growth on the land.
               Accordingly, the Restatement of the Law of Torts sets forth the general rule
       that ‘[n]either a possessor of land, nor a vendor, lessor, or other transferor, is liable
       for physical harm caused to others outside of the land by a natural condition of the
       land.’ 2 Restatement of the Law 2d, Torts (1965) 258, Section 363(1). This is
       contrasted with the principle applied to structures or objects placed upon the
       property by owners which occasion an injury to others outside the land. Section
       364 of the Restatement of Torts 2d, supra, at 259, states that a possessor of land is

       1
       Because the case sub judice involves the same legal
principles as Wertz, we have liberally quoted Wertz throughout the
remainder of this opinion.
Highland App. No. 28                                                                          8

    subject to liability to others outside the land for physical harm caused by a structure
    or artificial construction on the land which the possessor realizes or should realize
    will involve an unreasonable risk of harm. A typical example of such artificial
    structure is a sign which overhangs a street or sidewalk that falls, thereby causing
    injuries to passing pedestrians.
    See Annotation (1957), 55 A.L.R. 2d 178, 190; 39 American Jurisprudence 2d
    (1968), Highways, Streets and Bridges, Section 453, and cases cited therein.
             There is an exception to the general rule, however, concerning the duty of a
    property owner relating to the natural condition of and growth upon his land. This
    exception relates to growing trees with limbs overhanging a public street or
    highway. The law encompassing this exception varies rather markedly throughout
    the United States. However, it is generally stated that an owner of land abutting a
    highway may be held liable on negligence principles under certain circumstances
    for injuries or damages resulting from a tree or limb falling onto the highway from
    such property. Hensley v. Montgomery Cty., 25 Md.App. 361,
    334 A.2d 542 (1975); Carver v. Salt River Valley Water Users’ Assn., 104 Ariz.
513, 456 P.2d 371 (1969); Albin v. Natl. Bank of Commerce, 60 Wash.2d 745, 375
P.2d 487 (1962); Lemon v. Edwards, 344 S.W.2d 822 (Ky.1961); and Hay v.
    Norwalk Lodge No. 730, B.P.O.E., 92 Ohio App. 14, 109 N.E.2d 481 [49 Ohio Op. 189]
    (1951).
             Section 363(2) of the Restatement of Torts 2d, supra, at 258, specifically
    provides that a possessor of land in an urban area is subject to liability to persons
    using a public highway for physical harm arising from the condition of trees near
    the highway. The use of the term ‘urban’ in this section of the Restatement
    introduces yet a further variation in the application of the rules concerning a
    property owner’s duty or responsibility. In addition, a caveat following Section
    363(2) states that the drafters express no opinion as to whether the rule would apply
    to a possessor of land in a rural area. Accordingly, there appears to have developed
    a distinction throughout the United States that there is a lesser standard of care with
    reference to rural, farm, timber, or little used land as opposed to strictly urban
    property.
             In the main, the cases applying the distinction often state that the urban
    owner has a duty of reasonable care relative to the tree, including inspection to
    make sure that it is safe. The duty placed upon the urban landowner, who has only
    a few trees, is not a heavy burden. This is in contrast to the rural landowner who
    may have trees of forest dimensions which would impose a duty of immense
    proportions, and constitute an onerous burden. Hensley, supra, 334 A.2d at 545.
             The leading case in Ohio discussing the urban-rural distinction is Hay,
    supra. In that case, the Court of Appeals for Huron County held as follows:
             ‘Although there is no duty imposed upon the owner of property abutting a
    rural highway to inspect growing trees adjacent thereto or to ascertain defects which
    may result in injury to a traveler on the highway, an owner having knowledge,
    actual or constructive, of a patently defective condition of a tree which may result in
    injury to a traveler must exercise reasonable care to prevent harm to a person
Highland App. No. 28                                                                                     9

        lawfully using the highway from the falling of such tree or its branches.’ Id. at
        paragraph three of the syllabus.
               It should be noted that where negligence revolves around the question of the
        existence of a hazard or defect, the legal principle prevails that notice, either actual
        or constructive, of such hazard or defect is a prerequisite to the duty of reasonable
        care. See 54 Ohio Jurisprudence 3d (1984) 540, Highways and Streets, Section
        416, and cases cited therein. Furthermore, constructive notice may be imputed to
        the one sought to be held responsible if the hazard or defect complained of is
        deemed patent.”

Id. at 403-405 (footnotes omitted).

        {¶18} In Wertz, we relied upon the foregoing principles and determined that the plaintiff

failed to establish that the defendant knew or should have known that the tree posed a danger. In

Wertz, the only evidence the plaintiff offered was her own opinion that the tree was dead or dying.

We concluded that the plaintiff’s own opinion was not sufficient to demonstrate that the defendant

had actual or constructive knowledge that the tree was dead or dying. Id. at ¶13. We observed that

the plaintiff’s allegation was conclusory and that she presented no evidence to support it. Id.

Moreover, photographs of the tree failed to show any evidence that the tree was rotten and there

was no other visible conditions to give a reasonable person actual or constructive notice of the

tree’s defective condition.

        {¶19} By contrast, in Levine v. Brown, 8th Dist. No. 92862, 2009-Ohio-5012, the court

determined that the plaintiff demonstrated that the defendant should have known that the dead tree

that fell on the plaintiff’s property posed a danger. In Levine, the plaintiff presented photographs

that showed that the tree was dead and “riddled with termite holes, with no live branches, bark, or

green leaves.” Id. at ¶25. Moreover, the “plaintiff testified that the tree had been dead for at least

a year, and that it was easily visible.” Id.

        {¶20} In the case at bar, as in Levine, we believe that the photographs appellant presented

showing the large tree significantly and unusually leaning over towards the direction of appellant’s
Highland App. No. 28                                                                                10

house raises a genuine issue of material fact as to whether a reasonable person would have cause to

believe the tree was dangerous and likely to cause harm to others. Unlike the plaintiff in Wertz,

who presented photographic evidence of a healthy tree, appellant in the case sub judice presented

several photographs showing the tree to be large and leaning significantly over to one side and

directly towards appellant’s residence. We believe the photographs raise a genuine issue of

material fact as to whether such significant and unusual leaning would give a reasonable person

actual or constructive notice that the tree was dangerous and likely to cause harm to others.

       {¶21} Additionally, we accept appellant’s complaint that the trial court failed to construe

the photographs most strongly in appellant’s favor. A court that is considering a summary

judgment need not afford the non-moving party every inference to be drawn from the evidence, but

only every reasonable inference. See Colville v. Meijer Stores Ltd., 2nd Dist. No. 2011-CA-011,

2012-Ohio-2413, ¶37 “Undoubtedly, when considering a motion for summary judgment, the court

must construe the evidence and pleadings ‘most strongly’ in that party’s favor. Civ.R. 56(C). We

agree with appellant that the photographs show a large tree leaning significantly and unusually

towards appellant’s house. Appellant is entitled to a reasonable inference from the photographs.

The photographs of the leaning tree leads to a reasonable inference that a reasonable person knew

or should have known that the tree posed a danger. The trial court erred when it failed to afford the

appellant this reasonable inference.

       {¶22} A summary judgment shall not be rendered unless it appears from the evidence that

reasonable minds can come to but one conclusion in favor of the moving party. Here the

photographic evidence of a leaning tree can lead reasonable minds to more than one conclusion: It

can lead reasonable people to conclude that the leaning was significant enough to put a reasonable
Highland App. No. 28                                                                                 11

person on notice that the tree posed a danger.

       {¶23} Accordingly, based upon the foregoing reasons, we grant appellant’s two

assignments of error and hereby reverse the trial court’s judgment and remand.

                                                   JUDGMENT REVERSED AND REMANDED.

Harsha, J., Concurring:

       {¶24} As the dissent points out, Ms. Flynn had a duty to inspect her property and the

evidence reveals she failed to do that. I conclude the photograph of the tree would allow a

reasonable person to conclude that the angle of the tree and its proximity to an adjacent structure

presented an unreasonable risk of harm to that structure. Whether a jury would ultimately reach

such a conclusion after a trial is not the issue before us. Rather, our task is to look at the evidence

in a light most favorable to Ms. Flynn and determine whether reasonable minds could differ on that

issue on the basis of the photograph and Ms. O’Connor’s affidavit. Because the summary

judgment evidence produced by the appellant satisfies that test, I agree summary judgment was

improper.
Highland App. No. 28                                                                                 12

Abele, J., Dissenting:

       {¶25} I respectfully dissent.

       {¶26} The central issue in this case is whether the lean of a tree, with nothing more, should

give a tree owner actual or constructive notice of the tree's defective condition. For the reasons set

forth below, I disagree with the principal opinion in this case and believe that the tree's owner did

not have actual or constructive notice of a defective condition and that the trial court correctly

granted summary judgment in favor of the appellee.

       {¶27} In the case sub judice, it is important to note that the only evidence submitted in

support of summary judgment is a photograph that depicts a large tree leaning at an undetermined

angle and for no discernable reasonable reason. The principal opinion cites Levine v. Brown, 8th

Dist. No. 92862, 2009-Ohio-5012, for the proposition that the defendant should have known that a

dead tree that fell on the plaintiff’s property posed a danger. In Levine, the plaintiff submitted

photographs that showed the dead tree “riddled with termite holes, with no live branches, bark, or

green leaves.” Id. at ¶25. Moreover, the “plaintiff testified that the tree had been dead for at least

a year, and that it was easily visible.” Id. The principal opinion then states that "the case at bar, as

in Levine" shows a "significant and unusual" lean toward appellant's home and raises a genuine

issue of material fact as to whether a reasonable person would have cause to believe the tree was

dangerous and likely to cause harm to others. However, unlike the tree in the case sub judice, the

photographs of the tree in Levine showed a dead tree riddled with termite holes, with no live

branches, bark or green leaves. Additionally, in Levine the plaintiff testified that the tree had been

dead for at least a year and that this fact was easily visible. Thus, it appears that the only common

factor these two trees shared was a lean. No evidence was submitted in the case at bar to establish
Highland App. No. 28                                                                                  13

that the tree at issue had any defect, including disease, termite holes, dead or fallen branches or

trunk, holes, exposed roots, lack of bark, lack of leaves or needles or any fact other than the lean of

the tree.

         {¶28} Here, the appellee land owner is an elderly woman who, it is conceded, did not

inspect her property, even though she had the duty to do so. Nevertheless, I believe that even if

appellee had personally inspected the tree, the record contains no evidence to establish that

appellee would have had either actual or constructive notice of a defective condition. Appellant

asserts that the tree's lean constitutes a patent defect of which appellee had either actual or

constructive notice. However, I do not believe that appellant presented any competent evidence to

show that the lean actually constitutes a defect. Instead, appellant offers the assertion that the tree

leaned “excessively,” and thus was defective. The appellant may believe that the lean constitutes a

defect, but many trees lean, at least some extent, and not every lean necessarily constitutes a patent

defect. Here, the photographs do not indicate a partial uprooting or other defects that would create

cause for immediate concern. Compare Levine (noting that photographs obviously showed a dead

tree).

         {¶29} Although appellant stated in her affidavit that the leaning tree presented an obvious

danger of falling, I believe that her allegation is conclusory and self-serving. Wertz v. Cooper, 4th

Dist. No. 06CA3077, 2006-Ohio-6844, Wertz at ¶13, citing Evans v. Jay Instrument & Specialty

Co., 889 F. Supp. 302, 310 (S.D.Ohio 1995) (“bald self-serving and conclusory allegations are

insufficient to withstand a motion for summary judgment”), cited in Means v. Cuyahoga Cty.

Dept. of Justice Affairs, Cuyahoga App. No. 87303, 2006-Ohio-4123; accord McCartney v.

Oblates of St. Francis deSales, 80 Ohio App. 3d 345, 609 N.E.2d 216 (1992) (stating that a trial

court ruling on a summary judgment motion is not required to accept conclusory allegations that
Highland App. No. 28                                                                                14

are devoid of any evidence to create an issue of material fact). Further, simply because appellant

believed that the lean constituted a defect does not establish that appellee knew or should have

known that the lean constituted a defect. Nationwide Ins. Co. v. Jordan, 64 Ohio Misc.2d 30, 32,

639 N.E.2d 536 (1994) (refusing to find the landowner had constructive notice of the tree’s

condition when the only person who testified that the tree was rotten and likely to fall was the

plaintiff, and stating “[h]ad the plaintiff conveyed this knowledge to her neighboring landowner,

the danger might well have been obviated, or, alternatively, the plaintiff’s hands would be clean

and the defendant would have been on notice and resultantly liable for the fall”).

        {¶30} If courts are to employ appellant’s logic that appellee knew, or should have known,

that the tree posed a danger because “it was going to fall at some point in time,” courts would be

required to impose liability on every landowner who has a tree on his or her property. Such a rule

now seemingly requires prudent landowners to remove all trees near their property line regardless

of the tree's health because all trees will fall at some point.

        {¶31} Therefore, I agree with appellant that the photographs show a leaning tree, but I do

not agree that this leads to the inescapable inference that a reasonable person would know or

should know that the tree posed a danger. Appellant’s inference drawn from the photographs is

not reasonable. Rather, it is based upon appellant's speculation that because the tree leaned, it was

in imminent danger of falling. Once again, nearly all trees lean to some extent. Here, appellant

did not present any evidence regarding the extent of a tree lean that poses a danger. It is not

enough for appellant to allege that because the tree leaned, appellee must have known that it was

going to fall. Once again, to hold otherwise would be to impose liability on every landowner with

a leaning tree.
Highland App. No. 28                                                                                  15

   {¶32} The standard the principal opinion appears to articulate is that a landowner will be

deemed to have actual or constructive notice that a tree is dangerous and likely to cause harm if the

tree's lean is "significant and unusual." I fear, however, that this standard is as amorphous as the

evidence appellant submitted in support of summary judgment. As noted previously, all trees lean

to a certain extent. However, without additional evidence to describe the tree's condition and

likelihood of falling, landowners must now assume that any leaning tree poses a hazard and must

be removed because it is likely to fall sometime in the future (as all trees, straight or leaning, will

eventually do). This is tantamount to a strict liability standard.

       {¶33} In short, I have no difficulty with the concept that a landowner must remove any tree

that poses a danger. The question, however, is when does a specific tree constitute a danger. I

believe that a photograph of an apparently heathy, but leaning, tree, without any additional

evidence, is not sufficient to meet the movant's burden in a summary judgment proceeding. I

believe that other evidence relating to the tree's health or concerning the angle element of the lean

should be required.
Highland App. No. 28                                                                                16

                                     JUDGMENT ENTRY

       It is ordered that the JUDGMENT IS REVERSED and that the CAUSE IS REMANDED.

Appellee shall pay the costs.

       The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.

       It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the Highland 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.

Harsha, J: Concurs with Concurring Opinion.
Abele, J: Dissents with Dissenting Opinion.

                                                            For the Court,

                                                    BY: _________________________
                                                    Matthew W. McFarland
                                                          Presiding 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.