Court Opinion

ID: 4515589
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-03-12 17:16:02.032578+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:24:55.130758
License: Public Domain

[Cite as Seese v. Buckeye Career Ctr., 2020-Ohio-933.]

                                       COURT OF APPEALS
                                  TUSCARAWAS COUNTY, OHIO
                                   FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

HUNTER SEESE, ET AL.          :                          JUDGES:
                              :                          Hon. William B. Hoffman, P.J.
     Plaintiffs-Appellees     :                          Hon. W. Scott Gwin, J.
                              :                          Hon. Earle E. Wise, Jr., J.
-vs-                          :
                              :
BUCKEYE CAREER CENTER, ET AL. :                          Case No. 2019 AP 09 0038
                              :
     Defendants-Appellants    :                          OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                                 Appeal from the Court of Common
                                                         Pleas, Case No. 2018 CT 06 0522

JUDGMENT:                                                Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT:                                        March 11, 2020

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiffs-Appellees                                 For Defendants-Appellants

MARK C. WILLIS                                           DOUGLAS G. LEAK
MATTHEW L. RIZZI, JR.                                    KENNETH A. CALDERONE
HEATHER R. NINNI                                         CATHERINE E. NAGY
670 West Market Street                                   ANNE M. MARKOWSKI
Akron, OH 44303                                          3737 Embassy Parkway, Suite 100
                                                         Akron, OH 44333
Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2019 AP 09 0038                                             2

Wise, Earle, J.

      {¶ 1} Defendants-Appellants, Buckeye Career Center, Buckeye Career Center

Board of Education, Buckeye Joint Vocational School District, Buckeye Joint Vocational

School District Board of Education, and Ryan Irwin appeal the September 10, 2019

judgment entry of the Court of Common Pleas of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, denying their

motions for summary judgment. Plaintiffs-Appellees are Hunter Seese and Christine

George.

                        FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

      {¶ 2} On March 27, 2017, appellee Seese was attending an Energy Operations

class at Buckeye Career Center. At the time, he was sixteen years old. The class was

taught by appellant Irwin. The lesson for that day was about load securement using

chains and snap binders and additional pipes or bars ("cheater bars") to gain leverage on

the handle of the snap binder. The cheater bar in use during the lesson was a fence post

driver. When Seese was securing his load during the lab portion of the class, the fence

post driver slipped off the snap binder handle and the handle flew backwards and struck

Seese in the face, causing injuries.

      {¶ 3} On June 15, 2018, Seese, together with his mother, filed a complaint

against appellants, claiming negligence, respondeat superior/vicarious liability, and loss

of consortium. The complaint alleged Irwin was negligent in the instruction, training, and

supervision of Seese, the incident occurred on the grounds of the Buckeye Career Center,

and the post driver and the snap binder handle were physical defects.

      {¶ 4} On April 25, 2019, Irwin filed a motion for summary judgment, claiming

immunity under R.C. 2744.03(A)(6)(b). On April 26, 2019, the remaining appellants filed
Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2019 AP 09 0038                                            3

a motion for summary judgment, claiming immunity under R.C. Chapter 2744.             By

judgment entry filed September 10, 2019, the trial court denied the motions, finding

genuine issues of material fact to exist.

       {¶ 5} Appellants filed an appeal and this matter is now before this court for

consideration. Assignments of error are as follows:

                                              I

       {¶ 6} "THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING DEFENDANTS-APPELLANTS

BUCKEYE      CAREER       CENTER,      BUCKEYE      CAREER     CENTER      BOARD     OF

EDUCATION, BUCKEYE JOINT VOCATIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT AND BUCKEYE

JOINT VOCATIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION'S MOTION FOR

SUMMARY JUDGMENT BECAUSE THEY WERE ENTITLED TO POLITICAL

SUBDIVISION IMMUNITY UNDER R.C. 2744.02 AND R.C. 2744.03."

                                             II

       {¶ 7} "THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING DEFENDANT-APPELLANT

RYAN IRWIN'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT BECAUSE HE WAS ENTITLED

TO IMMUNITY UNDER R.C. 2744.03 (A)(6)(b)."

                                            I, II

       {¶ 8} In their two assignments of error, appellants claim the trial court erred in

denying their motions for summary judgment as they are covered by immunity under R.C.

Chapter 2744. We disagree.

       {¶ 9} Summary Judgment motions are to be resolved in light of the dictates of

Civ.R. 56. Said rule was reaffirmed by the Supreme Court of Ohio in State ex rel.

Zimmerman v. Tompkins, 75 Ohio St.3d 447, 448, 663 N.E.2d 639 (1996):
Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2019 AP 09 0038                                             4

             Civ.R. 56(C) provides that before summary judgment may be

      granted, it must be determined that (1) no genuine issue as to any material

      fact remains to be litigated, (2) the moving party is entitled to judgment as

      a matter of law, and (3) it appears from the evidence that reasonable minds

      can come to but one conclusion, and viewing such evidence most strongly

      in favor of the nonmoving party, that conclusion is adverse to the party

      against whom the motion for summary judgment is made. State ex. rel.

      Parsons v. Fleming (1994), 68 Ohio St.3d 509, 511, 628 N.E.2d 1377, 1379,

      citing Temple v. Wean United, Inc. (1977), 50 Ohio St.2d 317, 327, 4 O.O3d

      466, 472, 364 N.E.2d 267, 274.

      {¶ 10} As an appellate court reviewing summary judgment motions, we must stand

in the shoes of the trial court and review summary judgments on the same standard and

evidence as the trial court. Smiddy v. The Wedding Party, Inc., 30 Ohio St.3d 35, 506

N.E.2d 212 (1987).

      {¶ 11} The denial of immunity to a political subdivision under R.C. Chapter 2744 is

a final, appealable order pursuant to R.C. 2744.02(C). Hubbell v. City of Xenia, 115 Ohio

St.3d 77, syllabus, 2007-Ohio-4839, 873 N.E.2d 878.

      {¶ 12} Determining whether a political subdivision is immune from liability requires

a three-part analysis. Elston v. Howland Local Schools, 113 Ohio St.3d 314, 865 N.E.2d

845, 2007-Ohio-2070.     First, R.C. 2744.02(A) provides broad immunity to political

subdivisions. It is undisputed the Buckeye appellants are political subdivisions and Irwin
Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2019 AP 09 0038                                                 5

is an employee thereof, and the operation of the classroom was a governmental or

proprietary function.    Second, it must be determined if an exception applies under

subsection (B). If so, then third, it must be determined whether any of the defenses in

R.C. 2744.03(A) apply to reinstate immunity. This three-part analysis does not apply to

individual employees of a political subdivision. Pearson v. Warrensville Heights City

Schools, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 88527, 2008-Ohio-1102.

       {¶ 13} R.C. 2744.02 governs political subdivisions not liable for injury, death, or

loss and exceptions. Subsection (B) lists exceptions to immunity, and states the following

relevant to this case:

              (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 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:

              (4) Except as otherwise provided in section 3746.24 of the Revised

       Code, political subdivisions are liable for injury, death, or loss to person or

       property that is caused by the negligence of their employees and that occurs

       within or on the grounds of, and is due to physical defects within or on the

       grounds of, buildings that are used in connection with the performance of a

       governmental function, including, but not limited to, office buildings and

       courthouses, but not including jails, places of juvenile detention,
Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2019 AP 09 0038                                                6

       workhouses, or any other detention facility, as defined in section 2921.01 of

       the Revised Code.

       {¶ 14} In Jones v. Delaware City School District Board of Education, 5th Dist.

Delaware No. 2013 CAE 01 0009, 2013-Ohio-3907, ¶ 22-23, this court discussed the

meaning of "physical defects" as follows:

              The phrase "physical defect" is not defined in R.C. Chapter 2744.

       However, in general, courts have held the R.C. 2744.02(B)(4) physical

       defect exception may apply if the instrumentality that caused appellee's

       injury did not operate as intended due to a perceivable condition or if the

       instrumentality contained a perceivable imperfection that impaired its worth

       or utility. Leasure v. Adena Local School District, 2012-Ohio-3071, 973

       N.E.2d 810. * * *

              When an instrumentality does not operate as intended (i.e. safely)

       due to a perceivable condition, it loses its ability to function in a safe manner

       and may constitute a perceivable imperfection that diminishes the

       instrumentality's utility or worth. * * *

       {¶ 15} R.C. 2477.03 governs defenses and immunities. Pertinent to this case are

subsections (A)(3), (5), and (6)(b) which state the following:
Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2019 AP 09 0038                                              7

             (3) The political subdivision is immune from liability if the action or

      failure to act by the employee involved that gave rise to the claim of liability

      was within the discretion of the employee with respect to policy-making,

      planning, or enforcement powers by virtue of the duties and responsibilities

      of the office or position of the employee.

             (5) The political subdivision is immune from liability if the injury,

      death, or loss to person or property resulted from the exercise of judgment

      or discretion in determining whether to acquire, or how to use, equipment,

      supplies, materials, personnel, facilities, and other resources unless the

      judgment or discretion was exercised with malicious purpose, in bad faith,

      or in a wanton or reckless manner

             (6) In addition to any immunity or defense referred to in division (A)(7)

      of this section and in circumstances not covered by that division or sections

      3314.07 and 3746.24 of the Revised Code, the employee is immune from

      liability unless one of the following applies:

             (b) The employee's acts or omissions were with malicious purpose,

      in bad faith, or in a wanton or reckless manner[.]

      {¶ 16} As explained by the Supreme Court of Ohio in Anderson v. City of Massillon,

134 Ohio St.3d 380, 2012-Ohio-5711, 983 N.E.2d 705, at ¶ 33-34:
Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2019 AP 09 0038                                                 8

              Wanton misconduct is the failure to exercise any care toward those

       to whom a duty of care is owed in circumstances in which there is great

       probability that harm will result. * * *

              Reckless conduct is characterized by the conscious disregard of or

       indifference to a known or obvious risk of harm to another that is

       unreasonable under the circumstances and is substantially greater than

       negligent conduct. * * * see also Black's Law Dictionary 1298-1299 (8th

       Ed.2004) (explaining that reckless conduct is characterized by a substantial

       and unjustifiable risk of harm to others and a conscious disregard of or

       indifference to the risk, but the actor does not desire harm).

       {¶ 17} In its judgment entry filed September 10, 2019 denying the motions for

summary judgment, the trial court generally found genuine issues of material fact to exist

as to whether appellants were entitled to immunity. The trial court did not list the material

facts at issue.

       {¶ 18} Irwin taught the Energy Operations class at Buckeye Career Center. On

the day of the incident, the lesson was about load securement, using chains and snap

binders and cheater bars to gain leverage on the handle of the snap binder. The cheater

bar slips over the handle of the snap binder. The cheater bar in use during the lesson

was a fence post driver. Irwin instructed his students on where to stand while using the

tools so as not to be in the "danger zone." Irwin depo. at 78. Irwin told the students to

"pull the chain binder down, because if it were to get away from them, it just flies up in the

air and hurts nothing." Id. at 78-79. He explained, "[i]f they're pushing down and it gets
Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2019 AP 09 0038                                                   9

away from them, then their body's in that danger zone." Id. at 79. He instructed the

students on "the procedure to use the cheater bar. The pull method, not the push." Id.

at 83, 103-104, 115. He conducted two demonstrations for the students, one inside and

one outside. Id. at 79-80, 81-82, 94-95. He could not recall if he used a cheater bar in

the indoor demonstration. Id. at 83-84. The cheater bar normally used for the procedure

was not outside, so Irwin saw the post hole driver and "I showed them this is what a

cheater bar would look like." Id. at 95. Irwin explained the fence post driver was "the

exact same thing as a bar. The only difference is the, the post hole driver has the two

welded handles on it, which can still be used for a cheater bar. It's still the same

application." Id. at 96, 109. Irwin used the fence post driver in his outdoor demonstration.

Id. at 99.

       {¶ 19} Seese stated Irwin "didn't specifically tell us where to stand whenever using

it," but did tell the students "just stay out of the way of them, you know. If they do go to

snap, you know, try to keep yourself out of the way if it's possible. If it's possible, stay out

of the way." Seese depo. at 18, 20-21. As for pushing or pulling the handle, Seese

testified Irwin "said you never know which way you're going to do it in the field. He said

you can either push or pull."        Id. at 19, 30-31.     Seese stated during the inside

demonstration, Irwin did not use a cheater bar. Id. at 21. Irwin did not conduct an outdoor

demonstration. Id. at 24, 44. Seese and his partner placed the fence post driver over the

snap binder handle and pushed down. Id. at 27. The fence post driver slipped off the

handle and the handle flew backwards and hit him in the face. Id.

       {¶ 20} Five students in class on the day of the incident were deposed. All agreed

Irwin conducted a very short inside demonstration or explanation. James depo. at 14-15;
Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2019 AP 09 0038                                               10

Armstrong depo. at 13, 26-27; Adkins depo. at 20-21; Morrison depo. at 11, 24-25;

Sprankle depo. at 10. Four students remembered Irwin instructing the students as to

where to stand and to pull down on the bar. James depo. at 10-12, 30; Armstrong depo.

at 13, 30; Adkins depo. at 9-10, 21; Sprankle depo. at 10, 14, 23. Four students agreed

Irwin conducted an outdoor demonstration, with three stating Irwin did not demonstrate

the use of the cheater bar and one stating that he did. James depo. at 11-12, 16, 29;

Adkins depo. at 10-11, 21; Morrison depo. at 12, 25; Sprankle depo. at 11-12, 23. James

did not use the fence post driver on his turn. James depo. at 17. He stated some students

did not use the fence post driver because "people were concerned that it wasn't working,

it was - - wasn't the right shape or design or even a proper cheater bar." Id. Armstrong

did not think a fence post driver was safe to use as a cheater bar. Armstrong depo. at

28-29. Adkins was not concerned about using the fence post driver as a cheater bar.

Adkins depo. at 11, 22. Morrison went after Seese and he did not use the fence post

driver. Morrison depo. at 13, 27. He did not think a fence post driver was safe to use as

a cheater bar. Id. at 27-29, 38. He was concerned for his safety from the start, so he had

already decided not to use the fence post driver even before the Seese incident. Id. at

33. He believed the fence post driver should not have been used as a cheater bar. Id.

at 40. Sprankle stated looking back, he did not think it was safe to use the fence post

driver as a cheater bar, but at the time, did not think twice about it. Sprankle depo. at 30-

31.

         {¶ 21} Appellees presented the affidavits of two experts, Robert Reed and David

Beros.     Each had over thirty-five years of experience in the heavy equipment and

transportation industry including training in truck safety and load securement. Mr. Reed
Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2019 AP 09 0038                                             11

also taught classes in those areas. Both experts conducted a site inspection at Buckeye

Career Center the day after the incident. Mr. Reed averred the following at ¶ 39:

             Defendant Irwin's decision to use lever [snap] binders with post

      drivers as cheater bars, while allowing the students to push down on the

      post driver created an unnecessary and unreasonable risk of harm that

      could have been easily prevented by 1) simply not instructing the students

      on level binders; 2) not instructing the students that it was permissible to

      turn and push on the level binder, and instead instruct the students that they

      should always be pulling and never pushing on a level binder; 3) not using

      a cheater bar at all; 4) if a cheater bar was to be used, using a cheater bar

      that fit snugly and tightly over the binder handle to ensure that the cheater

      bar would not slide, shift position, or slip off of the binder handle.

      {¶ 22} Mr. Reed further stated at ¶ 41 that Irwin, as an experienced heavy

equipment operator and energy operations instructor,

             had reason to know that using a wide open ended post driver as a

      cheater bar over a narrow tipped level binder handle would create an

      unreasonably and unnecessary unsafe condition where the post driver

      could easily slide, shift position, or slip off of the binder handle, and cause

      the binder handle to violently snap backwards while Mr. Seese was pushing
Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2019 AP 09 0038                                                 12

       down on the cheater bar, which in all probability would likely result in serious

       injury to his students.

       {¶ 23} Mr. Reed explained a fence post driver "is not intended to be used as a

cheater bar/pipe with a lever binder handle" and a level binder handle "is not intended to

be used with a wide diameter open ended post driver as a cheater bar/pipe" because the

"width of the tip of a level binder handle is significantly smaller than the width and diameter

of the open end of a post driver." Reed aff. at ¶ 44-46. In examining the items used at

the time of the incident, Mr. Reed concluded the fence post driver "could not operate

safely as a cheater bar/pipe over the level binder handle because it could not fit snug and

tight over the binder handle to prevent the post driver from slipping or shifting position.

Id. at ¶ 52. He opined at ¶ 53:

              This disparity in the width of the tip of the level binder handle when

       used with the wide open ended post driver created an unnecessarily

       dangerous condition and perceivable imperfection and condition in both the

       post driver and the binder handle. Namely, the post driver did not fit snugly

       or tightly over the binder handle, creating a dangerous situation where the

       post driver could easily shift position and slip/slide off of the binder handle,

       causing the binder handle to suddenly and violently snap backwards, which

       is exactly what happened to Mr. Seese here.
Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2019 AP 09 0038                                              13

       {¶ 24} "Both the post driver and the level binder handle were not operated as

intended, neither were operated safely, and the utility and worth of both the post driver

and binder handle were diminished" as both items "lost their ability to function and operate

as intended in a safe manner." Reed aff. at ¶ 55.

       {¶ 25} Mr. Beros corroborated Mr. Reed's averments. Beros aff. at ¶ 16-17, 21-

24, 33-34, 37-38, 42. Mr. Beros stated in his thirty-seven years of field experience, he

has never witnessed, read about, or heard of the use of a fence post driver as a cheater

bar. Beros aff. at ¶ 25-28.

       {¶ 26} Appellants did not present an expert affidavit or deposition.

       {¶ 27} As argued by appellees in their appellate brief at 14-16, we agree questions

exist as to whether the fence post driver and the snap binder together constituted a

physical defect because they did not operate as intended (i.e. safely) due to a perceivable

condition (i.e. the fence post driver could shift or slip off causing the snap binder handle

to snap backwards) and thus the use of the two items in concert could have diminished

the worth or utility of the items and their ability to function in a safe manner.

       {¶ 28} Questions also exist as to whether the decision to use a fence post driver

as a cheater bar was exercised in a wanton or reckless manner, as well as whether Irwin

acted in a wanton or reckless manner. There is conflicting testimony on whether Irwin

instructed the students to pull down and then push on the cheater bar, whether he

conducted an outdoor demonstration using the fence post driver, and whether he knew
Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2019 AP 09 0038                                              14

of Seese's location relative to the snap binder handle as Seese attempted to secure the

snap binder.1

      {¶ 29} Upon review, we find the trial court did not err in finding appellants were not

covered under the immunity statute and in overruling their motions for summary judgment.

      {¶ 30} Assignments of Error I and II are denied.

      {¶ 31} The judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Tuscarawas County, Ohio

is hereby affirmed.

By Wise, Earle, J.

Hoffman, P.J. and

Gwin, J. concur.

EEW/db

1Inlisting these issues, we are in no way limiting any other arguments advanced by
appellees.