Court Opinion

ID: 2699061
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 17:59:23.259208+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:53:06.490191
License: Public Domain

[Cite as Maynard v. Winters, 2012-Ohio-6286.]

                                      COURT OF APPEALS
                                 TUSCARAWAS COUNTY, OHIO
                                  FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

MICHAEL MAYNARD, ET AL.                         :     JUDGES:
                                                :
Plaintiffs-Appellants/Cross-Appellees           :     Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, P.J.
                                                :     Hon. Sheila G. Farmer, J.
AULTCARE CORPORATION                            :     Hon. John W. Wise, J.
                                                :
Intervenor/Cross-Appellant                      :     Case No. 2012 AP 05 0035
                                                :
-vs-                                            :
                                                :
THOMAS K. WINTERS, ET AL.                       :
                                                :
 Defendants-Appellees/Cross-                    :
 Appellees                                      :     OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                            Appeal from the Tuscarawas County Court
                                                    of Common Pleas, Case No. 2011 CT 07
                                                    0736

JUDGMENT:                                           AFFIRMED

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY:                             December 26, 2012

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiffs-Appellants/Cross-                      For Defendants-Appellees/Cross-
Appellees:                                            Appellees:

SUBODH CHANDRA                                        MARK F. FISCHER
DONALD P. SCREEN                                      MATTHEW J. WALKER
1265 W. 6th St., Suite 400                            4505 Stephen Circle NW
Cleveland, OH 44114                                   Suite 100
                                                      Canton, OH 44718
For Intervenor/Cross-Appellant:

SHAUN D. BYROADS
P.O. Box 6599
Cleveland, OH 44101
Delaney, P.J.
        {¶1} Plaintiff-Appellant/Cross-Appellee Michael Maynard and Intervenor/

Cross-Appellant AultCare Corporation appeal the April 19, 2012 judgment entry of the

Tuscarawas County Court of Common Pleas.

                        FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

        {¶2} Defendants-Appellees/Cross-Appellees Thomas K. and Cathy Winters

own approximately 20 rental properties. Thomas Winters completes a majority of the

repairs on the rental properties because he was a union carpenter for almost 30 years,

working on varied construction and remodeling projects.

        {¶3} The Winters own residential rental property located at 220 Third Street,

New Philadelphia, Ohio.        The Winters purchased the three-apartment unit in

December 2005. The building was built in the 1920s.

        {¶4} The apartment building has a set of interior stairs leading down to the

back entrance of the building. The back entrance has a wooden door and a storm

door.   The storm door is dated from the 1950s or 1960s.         It has three panels

separated by metal frames. The upper panel was glass; the middle panel was plate

glass; and the bottom panel was metal.

        {¶5} Plaintiff-Appellant/Cross-Appellee Michael Maynard rented an apartment

at 220 Third Street from October 2006 to May 2008. On July 13, 2007, Maynard made

contact with the storm door’s middle panel with his dominant hand and forearm. The

middle panel contained plate glass and shattered on contact, causing lacerations to

Maynard’s hand and arm. Maynard cannot recall if he fell into the storm door, and if

he fell, or how he fell into the storm door.
      {¶6} On July 13, 2009, Maynard filed a complaint against the Winters in the

Tuscarawas County Court of Common Pleas. In the complaint, Maynard alleged the

Winters negligently maintained the rental property by failing to maintain the interior

steps causing Maynard’s fall into the storm door and the Winters negligently

maintained the storm door because it contained plate glass instead of safety glass.

Maynard claimed the Winters were liable under a theory of common law negligence

and negligence per se under R.C. 5321.04.

      {¶7} Maynard voluntarily dismissed his complaint on July 9, 2010. Maynard

refiled his complaint on July 8, 2011 raising the same allegations.             AultCare

Corporation was joined as a party-plaintiff on October 11, 2011. AultCare filed an

involuntary complaint asserting its claim in subrogation for medical bills paid on behalf

of Maynard.

      {¶8} The Winters filed a motion for summary judgment as to all claims

asserted by Maynard. The Winters supported their motion for summary judgment with

the affidavit of Thomas Winters. Thomas Winters averred he was never notified of a

defect in regards to the storm door. Prior to the accident, Thomas Winters had never

replaced that storm door or repaired the storm door. Thomas Winters testified he did

not know prior to the accident the middle panel of the storm door contained non-safety

glass. The Winters also relied upon the expert report of an architect, Richard P. Kraly,

who stated that applicable building codes did not apply to the apartment building.

      {¶9} Maynard filed a response and leave to introduce his expert report.

Maynard relied upon the deposition of Thomas Winters to support his contention there

was a genuine issue of material fact precluding judgment as a matter of law. Thomas
Winters testified during the deposition he had over 30 years of experience as a

carpenter.   He had worked numerous construction and remodeling jobs, which

involved the installation of storm doors and storm windows. He was aware in the

1970s that the use of safety glass became mandatory or commonplace.              When

Thomas Winters repaired the storm door after Maynard’s accident, he could only

purchase safety glass to replace the plate glass. Thomas Winters, however, could not

visually tell the difference between glass and safety glass.

      {¶10} The Winters filed their reply and objected to the introduction of

Maynard’s expert report as being untimely.

      {¶11} On April 19, 2012, the trial court issued its judgment entry on the motion

for summary judgment and motion for leave to introduce Maynard’s expert report. The

trial court first denied Maynard’s request for leave to introduce the expert report as

being untimely under the pretrial and scheduling order. (Maynard does not appeal this

decision.) The trial court next found the Winters were entitled to judgment as a matter

of law on Maynard’s claims for common law and statutory negligence.

      {¶12} It is from this decision Maynard now appeals.

                             ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR

      {¶13} Maynard raises two Assignments of Error:

      {¶14} “I. THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE ERROR IN

GRANTING APPELLEES’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT WHEN IT

OVERLOOKED GENUINE ISSUES OF MATERIAL FACT REGARDING APPELLEES’

ACTUAL AND/OR CONSTRUCTIVE KNOWLEDGE OF A DANGEROUS CONDITION

ON APPELLEES’ PROPERTY. (JUDGMENT ENTRY, PASSIM)”
      {¶15} “II. THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE ERROR TO THE

EXTENT IT APPLIED A PRINCIPLE ENUNCIATED IN ‘SLIP-AND-FALL’ CASES –

NAMELY THAT A PLAINTIFF’S INABILITY TO EXPLAIN THE REASON FOR HIS

FALL PRECLUDES RECOVERY – TO MR. MAYNARD’S CLAIM THAT APPELLEES

WERE NEGLIGENT IN MAINTAINING A DANGEROUS CONDITION – A PLATE-

GLASS STORM DOOR – ON THEIR PROPERTY. (JUDGMENT ENTRY AT 12)”

                                      ANALYSIS

                               STANDARD OF REVIEW

      {¶16} This matter is before the Court upon a ruling on a motion for summary

judgment.   Summary judgment proceedings present the appellate court with the

unique opportunity of reviewing the evidence in the same manner as the trial court.

Smiddy v. The Wedding Party, Inc., 30 Ohio St.3d 35, 36, 506 N.E.2d 212 (1987). As

such, we must refer to Civ.R. 56(C) which provides, in pertinent part:

             Summary judgment shall be rendered forthwith if the pleading,

      depositions, 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. * * * A summary judgment shall not be rendered

      unless it appears from such 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, such party being entitled to have

        the evidence or stipulation construed most strongly in the party's favor.

        {¶17} The moving party bears the initial responsibility of informing the trial

court of the basis for the motion, and identifying those portions of the record before the

trial court, which demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of fact on a material

element of the nonmoving party's claim. Dresher v. Burt, 75 Ohio St.3d 280, 292, 662

N.E.2d 264 (1996). The nonmoving party then has a reciprocal burden of specificity

and cannot rest on the allegations or denials in the pleadings, but must set forth

“specific facts” by the means listed in Civ.R. 56(C) showing that a “triable issue of fact”

exists. Mitseff v. Wheeler, 38 Ohio St.3d 112, 115, 526 N.E.2d 798, 801 (1988).

        {¶18} Pursuant to the above rule, a trial court may not enter summary

judgment if it appears a material fact is genuinely disputed. Vahila v. Hall, 77 Ohio

St.3d 421, 429, 674 N.E.2d 1164 (1997), citing Dresher v. Burt, 75 Ohio St.3d 280,

662 N.E.2d 264 (1996).

                                             I.

        {¶19} Maynard argues in his first Assignment of Error the trial court erred in

granting summary judgment in favor of the Winters on the issue of negligence as to

the plate glass window in the storm door. Maynard states in his appellate brief that he

is not pursuing his cause of action of negligence as to his alleged fall on the stairs. He

is only pursuing a claim as to his injuries from breaking the glass in the storm door.

Upon our de novo review of the motion for summary judgment, we disagree with

Maynard’s propositions of law as to negligence for his injuries received from the storm

door.
       {¶20} Maynard sought to establish negligence claims against the Winters

under (1) R.C. 5321 et seq., commonly referred to as the Landlord-Tenant Act or (2)

common law negligence.

                      Negligence Pursuant to the Landlord-Tenant Act

       {¶21} A landlord who is party to a rental agreement must comply with the

requirements of R.C. 5321.04(A):

       (A) A landlord who is a party to a rental agreement shall do all of the

       following:

              (1) Comply with the requirements of all applicable building, housing,

       health, and safety codes that materially affect health and safety;

              (2) Make all repairs and do whatever is reasonably necessary to

       put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition;

              (3) Keep all common areas of the premises in a safe and sanitary

       condition[.]

       {¶22} A landlord’s violation of the duties imposed by this statute constitutes

negligence per se. Robinson v. Bates, 112 Ohio St.3d 17, 2006–Ohio–6362, 857

N.E.2d 1195, ¶ 23, citing Sikora v. Wenzel, 88 Ohio St.3d 493, 2000–Ohio–406, 727

N.E.2d 1277. A landlord, however, “will be excused from liability under either section

if he neither knew nor should have known of the factual circumstances that caused the

violation.” Sikora, supra at syllabus.

                                Common Law Negligence

       {¶23} “A common-law negligence claim requires a showing of (1) a duty owed;

(2) a breach of that duty; and (3) an injury proximately caused by the breach.” Au v.
Waldman, 5th Dist. No. 2010 CA 112, 2011-Ohio-2233, ¶ 45 citing Wallace v. Ohio

Dept. of Commerce, 96 Ohio St.3d 266, 2002–Ohio–4210, 773 N.E.2d 1018, ¶ 22.

“The existence of a duty is fundamental to establishing actionable negligence, without

which there is no legal liability.” Adelman v. Timman, 117 Ohio App.3d 544, 549, 690

N.E.2d 1332 (8th Dist.1997). Determination of whether a duty exists is a question of

law for the court to decide, and therefore, is a suitable basis for summary judgment.

Mussivand v. David, 45 Ohio St.3d 314, 318, 544 N.E.2d 265 (1989); Galinari v. Koop,

Clermont App. No. CA2006–10–086, 2007–Ohio–4540, ¶ 10, 13.

       {¶24} Under common law, a landlord may be liable to his tenant for “a

concealment or failure to disclose known, non-obvious defects * * * failure to perform a

covenant of repair; breach of statutory duty; and negligent performance of a

contractual or statutory duty to repair.” Odom v. Davis, 4th Dist. No. 02CA43, 2003-

Ohio-3316, ¶ 17 citing Shump v. First Continental-Robinwood Assoc., Ltd., 71 Ohio

St.3d 414, 418, 644 N.E.2d 291 (1994). “[U]nder common law[,] a landlord cannot be

held liable for negligence unless he has knowledge both of the source of the danger

and of the fact that the defect was dangerous.” Id. “[C]ommon law provides that a

landlord does not have a duty to remedy a condition unless he has knowledge of the

source of the danger and the fact that the defect was dangerous.” Id.

                                       Knowledge

       {¶25} The factor to analyze under both R.C. 5321.04 and common law

negligence is the landlord’s knowledge of the source of the danger and the defect.

The source of the danger and defect in this case are not plate glass or storm doors,

but the particular storm door with plate glass installed at the apartment building. It is a
factual determination of whether the Winters had knowledge the storm door contained

plate glass.

       {¶26} The Winters first argue they complied with R.C. 5321.04(A)(1) in that the

storm door complied with all applicable building, housing, health, and safety codes.

They state the Civ.R. 56 evidence provided in their expert report demonstrates the

storm door was in compliance with all applicable building codes. The expert report

provided by architect Richard Kraly states that the apartment building is exempt from

State of Ohio building codes because of the size of the building. The building and

storm door are also exempt because of the age of the building and storm door. A

grandfather clause applies to the building and storm door to exempt them from

consideration. Maynard concedes the expert report’s conclusion as to applicability is

accurate.

       {¶27} Maynard argues that the Winters should not be excused from liability

under R.C. 5321.04 or common law negligence because the Winters knew or should

have known of the plate glass in the storm door and the danger it posed. Maynard

argues while the Civ.R. 56 evidence in the form of Thomas Winters’ affidavit and

deposition shows that Winters did not have actual notice that the storm door contained

plate glass instead of safety glass, there is a genuine issue of material fact as to

whether the Winters had constructive knowledge that the storm door contained plate

glass and was dangerous. Because the Winters denied knowledge of the plate glass,

the burden then shifts to Maynard to point to evidence in the record that shows a

genuine issue of material fact that the Winters had knowledge. Odom v. Davis, 4th

Dist. No. 02CA43, 2003-Ohio-3316, ¶ 20. Maynard argues that the evidence shows
the Winters had information, other than a visual inspection of the storm door, to give

the Winters notice that the storm door contained plate glass. He states that Thomas

Winters’s work as a carpenter, which gave him familiarity with storm doors and the

knowledge that safety glass became commonplace in the 1970s, provided the Winters

with constructive knowledge that the storm door dated from the 1950s or 1960s

contained plate glass.

         {¶28} In support of his argument that the Winters had constructive knowledge

of the danger of the plate glass in the storm door resulting in liability, Maynard relies

upon Dawson v. Williamsburg of Cincinnati Mgmt. Co., 1st Dist. No. C-981022, 2000

WL 125891 (Feb. 4, 2000). In that case, the First District Court of Appeals reversed

the trial court’s decision to grant summary judgment where a tenant sued for injuries

sustained after the plate glass in a sliding glass door shattered, causing injuries to a

child.

         {¶29} The evidence in that case showed that building codes did not require the

landlord to install safety glass in the sliding glass door. There was Civ.R. 56 evidence

presented by expert report and deposition testimony to show there was a genuine

issue of material fact as to whether the landlord had knowledge of the dangerous

defect of utilizing plate glass in a sliding glass door:

         Gary Hussell, Williamsburg's maintenance manager, testified in his

         deposition that he had witnessed glass being removed from sliding doors

         that had been broken, and that the removed glass was not safety glass,

         but plate glass that had shattered when broken. Dawson's expert stated

         in his affidavit that the dangers of plate glass in sliding doors were well
      publicized in the residential rental industry. Construing this evidence in

      the light most favorable to Dawson, we conclude that a genuine issue of

      fact exists regarding whether Williamsburg breached a duty to Nikisha

      Dawson by not replacing the old plate glass with safety glass.

Dawson, supra at *3.

      {¶30} The First District Court of Appeals found this evidence showed, “a

genuine issue of material fact would still exist as to whether Williamsburg was

negligent in maintaining the plate-glass door by virtue of its knowledge that some of

the sliding glass doors were made of plate glass and that plate glass, unlike safety

glass, would shatter upon impact. Under R.C. 5321.04(A)(2), a landlord has a duty to

‘[m]ake all repairs and do whatever is reasonably necessary to put and keep the

premises in a fit and habitable condition.’ The purpose of the statute is to protect

persons using rented residential premises from injuries. As we have already stated,

the failure of a landlord to comply with any of the duties described in R.C. 5321.04(A)

renders the landlord liable for injuries proximately caused by the noncompliance.” Id.

      {¶31} The Fourth District Court of Appeals distinguished Dawson from the

record in its case, Odom v. Davis, 4th Dist. No. 02CA43, 2033-Ohio-3316. In Odom,

the Fourth District affirmed the trial court’s decision to grant summary judgment in

favor of the landlord whose tenant was injured when the sliding plate glass door to the

bathtub shattered. The tenant sued the landlord, arguing the landlord was negligent in

maintaining a sliding bathtub door made of plate glass. The Fourth District found the

tenant failed to demonstrate there was a genuine issue of material fact that the

landlord had knowledge the bathtub door was made of plate glass. The court noted
the evidence in Dawson demonstrated there was a genuine issue of material fact

whether the landlord had knowledge of the defect. In Odom, however, the court found

the tenants failed to offer similar evidence:

               In contrast, the Odoms did not offer any evidence that Davis had

       notice based upon observations of similar doors. Rather, the Odoms

       assert that Davis must have known that the glass in the shower was not

       safety glass because of the absence of a safety glass marking on the

       door.   Contrary to the Odoms' assertion, evidence that Davis lacked

       affirmative knowledge about the glass is not equivalent to evidence that

       Davis actually knew or should have known that the glass was plate

       glass. Additionally, the Odoms assert that the danger of plate glass is

       common knowledge. However, even if the danger posed by plate glass

       is common knowledge that Davis knew or should have known, the

       Odoms failed to offer any evidence that Davis knew that the shower door

       was made of plate glass.

Odom, supra at ¶ 28.

       {¶32} The issue in both cases was whether there was evidence in the record

to create a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the landlord knew or should

have known the door was not safety glass. We analyze the Civ.R. 56 evidence in the

present case in a light most favorable to Maynard to determine if there is a genuine

issue of material fact as to whether the Winters knew or should have known that

particular storm door contained plate glass. Upon our de novo review, we find the

record in this case is more similar to that in Odom, rather than Dawson. The three
pieces of evidence presented in this case upon summary judgment were the affidavit

of Thomas Winters, the deposition of Thomas Winters, and the Winters’s expert

report.

          {¶33} The affidavit of Thomas Winters averred he was responsible for all

repairs and maintenance at the apartment building but he had never repaired or

replaced the storm door at the apartment building.          Prior to Maynard’s injuries,

Thomas Winters stated he did not know the storm door contained a section of non-

safety glass. Thomas Winters was never notified of a defect in the storm door by a

tenant or through a building code violation.

          {¶34} The deposition of Thomas Winters provided similar information.        He

testified he had over 30 years experience in the construction industry as a union

carpenter. He had previously hung storm doors and storm windows as a carpenter.

He knew that storm doors began to use safety glass in the 1970s. After the accident,

he replaced the broken panel in the storm door with safety glass because he could not

purchase any other type of glass for the storm door. Thomas Winters testified he

could not visually tell the difference between plate glass and safety glass.

          {¶35} The expert report filed by the Winters opines the storm door was from

the 1950s or 1960s. The expert report states the building codes are not applicable to

the apartment building and storm door due to the age of those items.

          {¶36} The Winters state they had no knowledge, actual or constructive, that the

storm door contained plate glass. It is the burden of Maynard to show there is a

genuine issue of material fact as to whether the Winters had knowledge of the source

of the danger and the defect. The alleged source of the danger in this case was the
plate glass in the storm door located at the apartment building. Reviewing the Civ.R.

56 evidence in a light most favorable to Maynard, we find no genuine issue of material

fact that the Winters knew or should have known that the storm door contained plate

glass or that the storm door posed a danger. Maynard provided no evidence, other

than the general experience of Thomas Winters as a union carpenter, to overcome the

Winters’s evidence that they had no knowledge of the plate glass in that storm door.

We find the Winters have established there is no genuine issue of material fact and

are entitled to judgment as a matter of law on the issue of negligence per se under the

R.C. 5321.04 or common law negligence.

       {¶37} Maynard’s first Assignment of Error is overruled.

                                            II.

       {¶38} Maynard argues in his second Assignment of Error the trial court erred in

granting summary judgment in favor of the Winters on the basis of the law applicable

to slip and fall cases when Maynard’s cause of action was based on the dangerous

condition of the plate glass in the storm door.

       {¶39} Maynard’s complaint alleged the Winters’s negligence caused Maynard

to fall on the interior steps of the building and the defective condition of the plate glass

caused Maynard’s injuries.      Maynard did not dismiss his negligence theory that

negligence caused his fall from his claim. As it was part of the action, the Winters

argued the matter in their motion for summary judgment. Maynard, however, argues

that he is only pursuing his claim for damages as a result of his injuries from the

shattering of the plate glass window in the storm door as a result of the negligence of

the Winters in maintaining the storm door with plate glass.
      {¶40} An appeal of a summary judgment decision gives the appellate court the

unique opportunity to review the motions for summary judgment under a de novo

standard of review. As such, we reviewed the motion for summary judgment and

responding motions in the same manner at the trial court. On appeal, Maynard argued

only the Winters’s negligence as to the storm door. Upon our de novo review, we

found that Maynard was unable to demonstrate a genuine issue of material fact that

the Winters were negligent under a theory of statutory negligence or common law

negligence.

      {¶41} As such, we find our resolution of the first Assignment of Error to be

dispositive of this appeal and it is unnecessary to address Maynard’s second

Assignment of Error.

      {¶42} Maynard’s second Assignment of Error is overruled.
                                   CONCLUSION

      {¶43} Upon our de novo review, we overrule Plaintiff-Appellant/Cross-Appellant

Michael Maynard and Intervenor/Cross-Appellant AultCare Corporation’s first and

second Assignments of Error.

      {¶44} The judgment of the Tuscarawas County Court of Common Pleas is

affirmed.

By: Delaney, P.J.

Farmer, J. and

Wise, J. concur.

                                        HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY

                                        HON. SHEILA G. FARMER

                                        HON. JOHN W. WISE

PAD:kgb
                 IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR TUSCARAWAS COUNTY, OHIO
                           FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

MICHAEL MAYNARD, ET AL.                 :
                                        :
Plaintiffs-Appellants/Cross-Appellees   :
                                        :
AULTCARE CORPORATION                    :
                                        :
Intervenor/Cross-Appellant              :          JUDGMENT ENTRY
                                        :
-vs-                                    :       CASE NO. 2012 AP 05 0035
                                        :
THOMAS K. WINTERS, ET AL.               :
                                        :
 Defendants-Appellees/Cross-            :
 Appellees                              :

       For the reasons stated in our accompanying Opinion on file, the judgment of the

Tuscarawas County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed. Costs to be split between

Appellant and Cross-Appellant.

                                        HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY

                                        HON. SHEILA G. FARMER

                                        HON. JOHN W. WISE