Court Opinion

ID: 2693689
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-01 22:05:11.362944+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:14:16.630218
License: Public Domain

[Cite as Gaitawe v. Mays, 2012-Ohio-4749.]

         IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, OHIO

JOHN GAITAWE, ET AL.

        Plaintiffs-Appellees                     :   C.A. CASE NO. 25083

vs.                                              :   T.C. CASE NO. 2010-CVG-891

LAKIESHA MAYS                                    :   (Civil Appeal from Municipal
                                                      Court of Dayton, Ohio)
        Defendant-Appellant                      :

                                             .........

                                             OPINION

                           Rendered on the 12th day of October, 2012.

                                             .........

John Gaitawe and Gloria Gaitawe, 780 Broad Oak Drive, Trotwood, Ohio 45426
      Pro Se Plaintiffs-Appellees

Debra A. Lavey, Atty. Reg. No. 0073259, 333 West First Street, Suite 500, Dayton, Ohio
45402
      Attorney for Defendant-Appellant

                                             .........

GRADY, P.J.:

        {¶ 1} Defendant Lakiesha Mays appeals from a final judgment denying her request

for attorney fees with regard to her counterclaim against Plaintiffs John and Gloria Gaitawe

for illegal eviction.

        {¶ 2} On November 15, 2010, Mays entered into a month-to-month lease agreement

to rent a house owned by the Gaitawes. The parties agreed to a monthly rent of $500.00 with
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a security deposit of $500.00. On January 15, 2011, Mays moved out with some of her

belongings, claiming that the residence was infested with bedbugs. She did not pay rent for

the period of January 15 through February 15, 2011. When Mays returned for the rest of her

property on February 2, 2011, she found some of her household goods outside on the porch,

but many items were missing. The lock on the front door of the residence had been changed.

       {¶ 3} On the same day, the Gaitawes filed a forcible entry and detainer action against

Mays for non-payment of rent. The following month, Mays filed several counterclaims,

including one for illegal eviction, alleging that the Gaitawes did not have the authority to

remove her belongings or to change the locks.

       {¶ 4} A trial was held on August 8, 2011. The following week, the magistrate filed a

decision finding that despite the questionable credibility of all of the parties, the Gaitawes had

proven their case for back rent. After offsetting the security deposit which the Gaitawes

properly withheld, the magistrate awarded no damages.

       {¶ 5} The magistrate also found that Mays had proven her counterclaim for illegal

eviction and awarded her damages in the amount of $1,020.00. The magistrate concluded

that “[d]ue to Defendant’s credibility issues, the court will not award damages for food or

other items, mental suffering and emotional distress, punitive damages, attorney fees, or any

other items listed in the counterclaim.”

       {¶ 6} Mays filed timely objections to the magistrate’s decision. The trial court

overruled her objections and adopted the magistrate’s decision, noting that “Defendant failed

to provide any documenting proof of attorney fees.” [Dkt. 30]. Mays appeals raising two
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assignments of error, both arguing that the trial court erred in failing to award her attorney

fees. The Gaitawes have not filed an appellate brief.

       {¶ 7} Mays’s first assignment of error:

“THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AS A MATTER OF LAW WHEN IT FAILED TO AWARD

DEFENDANT-APPELLANT ATTORNEY FEES WHEN THE TRIAL COURT FOUND

THAT THE PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE PROCEEDED WITH AN ILLEGAL EVICTION

AGAINST DEFENDANT-APPELLANT IN VIOLATION OF R.C. 5321.15.”

       {¶ 8} R.C. 5321.15 provides:

       (A) No landlord of residential premises shall initiate any act, including

       termination of utilities or services, exclusion from the premises, or threat of any

       unlawful act, against a tenant, or a tenant whose right to possession has

       terminated, for the purpose of recovering possession of residential premises,

       other than as provided in Chapters 1923., 5303., and 5321. Of the Revised

       Code.

       (B) No landlord of residential premises shall seize the furnishings or

       possessions of a tenant, or of a tenant whose right to possession has terminated,

       for the purpose of recovering rent payments, other than in accordance with an

       order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction.

       (C) A landlord who violates this section is liable in a civil action for all

       damages caused to a tenant, or to a tenant whose right to possession has

       terminated, together with reasonable attorney fees.
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       {¶ 9} The magistrate ruled in favor of Mays with regard to her counterclaim that the

Gaitawes violated R.C. 5321.15 on a finding that they “did not have legal authority to remove

Defendant’s belongings or change the locks” to the house, and therefore the Gaitawes

“proceeded with an illegal eviction and owes (sic) damages to Defendant for the personal

items that were taken.” [Dkt. 24, p. 21]. The court adopted that finding and conclusion. Mays

argues on appeal that due to the Gaitawes’ violation of R.C. 5321.15, she is entitled to

reasonable attorney fees pursuant to R.C. 5321.15(C). For the following reasons, we agree.

       {¶ 10} Several Ohio appellate courts have found that when a landlord violates R.C.

5321.15(A) or (B), R.C. 5321.15(C) mandates the award of reasonable attorney fees.

“‘Pursuant to R.C. 5321.15(C), a landlord is liable for the necessary legal fees incurred by a

tenant who seeks legal redress for a landlord’s violation of R.C. Chapter 5321.’” Crenshaw

v. Rowland, 196 Ohio App.3d 717, 2011-Ohio-5942, 965 N.E.2d 341, ¶ 13 (6th Dist.), quoting

Thomas v. Papadelis, 16 Ohio App.3d 359, 360, 476 N.E.2d 726 (9th Dist.1984). Accord,

Filyo v. Cannon, Fifth Dist. No. 95 CA 1, 1995 WL 776946 (Dec. 21, 1995); Ingram v.

Gasser, 2d Dist. No. CA 12235, 1991 WL 30227 (Mar. 6, 1991). When a tenant has actually

incurred no out-of-pocket attorney fees, the amount of fees determined to be proper should be

awarded directly to the attorney or organization that provided the legal services. Lewis v.

Romans, 70 Ohio App.2d 7, 433 N.E.2d 622 (1980).

       {¶ 11} Based upon its finding that Mays was not a particularly credible witness, the

trial court refused to grant her request for attorney fees. However, “while the amount of

attorney fees due a successful tenant in an R.C. 5321.15 action is a matter left to the trial
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court’s discretion, an award of reasonable fees is mandated by R.C. 5321.15(C).” Crenshaw,

at ¶ 15. The trial court erred when it denied Mays’ request for attorneys fees.

       {¶ 12} Mays’s first assignment of error is sustained.

       {¶ 13} Mays’s second assignment of error:

“THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AS A MATTER OF LAW WHEN IT FAILED TO AWARD

DEFENDANT-APPELLANT                   ATTORNEY              FEES         BECAUSE            THE

DEFENDANT-APPELLANT FAILED TO PRESENT ANY EVIDENCE OF HER FEES

DURING THE HEARING ON DAMAGES.”

       {¶ 14} The Ohio Supreme Court has held that “[a]ttorney fees awards made pursuant

to R.C. 5321.16(C) are to be assessed as costs.” Christie v. GMS Management Co., Inc., 88

Ohio St.3d 376, 726 N.E.2d 497 (2000), syllabus. Although the certified question accepted

by the Court encompassed several attorney fee provisions appearing throughout Chapter 5321

actions, the Court opted to confine its holding to actions pursuant to R.C. 5321.16. Id. at 377.

       {¶ 15} The Supreme Court reasoned that under common law attorney fees were in the

nature of costs rather than damages. Id. at 378, citing Beacon Journal Publishing Co. v. Ohio

Dept. Of Health, 51 Ohio St.3d 1, 3, 553 N.E.2d 1345 (1990). Furthermore when a statute

authorizes the award of attorney fees, it does so by allowing the fees to be taxed as costs rather

than awarding the fees as damages. Id., citing Beacon, at 51; Sorin v. Warrensville Hts.

School Dist. Bd. of Edn., 46 Ohio St.2d 177, 179, 347 N.E.2d 527 (1976); State ex rel.

Michaels v. Morse, 165 Ohio St. 599, 607, 138 N.E.2d 660 (1956). Finally, the Court noted

that the legislature could have expressly stated that attorney fees are recoverable as damages,

and absent express language to that effect, “we are unwilling to depart from our long-standing
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practice of treating statutorily authorized attorney fees as costs.” Id. We see no logical

reason for attorney fees awarded in actions under R.C. 5321.15 to be handled differently than

those awarded under R.C. 5321.16.

        {¶ 16} Because attorney fees are assessed as costs rather than as damages, a tenant is

not required to offer evidence of the amount of those attorney fees at trial. Berlinger v.

Suburban Apartment Management Co., 7 Ohio App.3d 122, 126, 454 N.E.2d 1367 (8th

Dist.1982). An evidentiary hearing may be held to determine the reasonable amount of

attorney fees to be awarded following a judgment finding that the tenant is entitled to attorney

fees.

        {¶ 17} Mays’s second assignment of error is sustained.

        {¶ 18} Both of Mays’s assignments of error having been sustained, the judgment of

the trial court will be reversed.    This case will be remanded to the trial court for a

determination of reasonable attorney fees due to Mays.

Fain, J., And Donovan, J., concur.

Copies mailed to:

John and Gloria Gaitawe
Debra A. Lavey, Esq.
Hon. Carl S. Henderson