Court Opinion

ID: 9913066
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-12-26 20:06:33.910567+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:06:57.793262
License: Public Domain

[Cite as Jeffco Resources, Inc. v. Abrecht, 2023-Ohio-4712.]

             IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                             SEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                 HARRISON COUNTY

                                 JEFFCO RESOURCES, INC.,

                                          Plaintiff-Appellant,

                                                      v.

                                   CAROL A. ABRECHT, et al,

                                       Defendants-Appellees.

                        OPINION AND JUDGMENT ENTRY
                       Case Nos. 22 HA 0007, 22 HA 0008, 22 HA 0009

                                     Civil Appeal from the
                        Court of Common Pleas of Harrison County, Ohio
                                   Case No. CVH 2018-0014

                                        BEFORE:
                Carol Ann Robb, Cheryl L. Waite, David A. D’Apolito, Judges.

                                               JUDGMENT:
                                                 Affirmed.

Atty. Stephen W. Funk, Atty Emily Anglewicz, Atty. J. Benjamin Fraifogl, Atty. Jeremy D.
Martin, Roetzel & Andress, LPA, for Appellant-Jeffco and Atty. Kevin Colosimo, Atty.
Christopher W. Rogers, Atty. Daniel P. Craig, Frost Brown Todd and Atty. Matthew C.
Blickensderfer, Frost Brown Todd, LLC for Appellant-Ascent and Atty. Justin H. Werner,
Atty. Lucan Liben, Reed Smith, LLP, for Appellant-Hess, and

Atty. Thomas D. White, Atty. Katherine M. K. Kimble, Eques, Inc, for Appellees-Hines
heirs.

                                      Dated: December 22, 2023
                                                                                        –2–

Robb, J.

       {¶1}     Appellants Jeffco Resources Inc., Hess Ohio Developments, LLC, and
Ascent Resources-Utica, LLC appeal the decision of the Harrison County Common Pleas
Court granting declaratory judgment to Defendants-Appellees Carol A. Albrecht et al. (the
Hines heirs). Appellants contend the trial court erred in finding Jeffco failed to conduct a
reasonably diligent search for the mineral interest holders before serving notice of
abandonment by publication under the Dormant Mineral Act (DMA). For the following
reasons, the trial court’s decision is affirmed.
                                   STATEMENT OF THE CASE
       {¶2}     In a deed recorded February 4, 1969, May Etta Parrish Hines conveyed
property in Cadiz Township to Consolidation Coal Company but excepted and reserved
for her heirs and assigns all oil and gas (with the right to extract but without the right to
enter the surface). (Vol. 162, P. 866). In a deed recorded May 3, 1988, the coal company
transferred to Jeffco 61.86 acres of the property subject to the Hines reservation. (Vol.
225, P. 201).
       {¶3}     On July 21, 2012, Jeffco published in a local newspaper a notice of
abandonment directed to May Etta Parish Hines and Birney W. Hines (wife and husband)
and their heirs, next of kin, successors, and assigns.       On August 22, 2012, Jeffco
recorded an affidavit of abandonment. See R.C. 5301.56(E) (to be filed 30 to 60 days
after a proper notice).
       {¶4}     Jeffco waited until November 23, 2016 to record a “memorialization of
record” at Vol. 243, P. 2757. See R.C. 5301.56(H) (the memorialization can be recorded
after 60 days pass without a valid response to the notice of abandonment). Then, Jeffco
initiated additional DMA processes for the same property. (Jeffco says they reutilized the
DMA because until 2018 this district’s law was unclear on whether service of the notice
of abandonment must be attempted by certified mail to a decedent’s last known address
before serving notice by publication.)
       {¶5}     In May 2017, Jeffco sent a notice of abandonment by certified mail to the
last known address of Birney Hines. After the attempted mailing to the known-to-be

Case Nos. 22 HA 0007, 22 HA 0008, 22 HA 0009
                                                                                         –3–

deceased individual was returned, Jeffco published another notice of abandonment on
July 8, 2017 and recorded an affidavit of abandonment on August 14, 2017.
       {¶6}    However, within the 60-day deadline to respond to notice of abandonment,
George K. Harrah Jr. filed a claim to preserve on behalf of himself and others he identified
as heirs. Despite this claim to preserve, Jeffco recorded an “affidavit of failure to file” in
September 2017. See R.C. 5301.56(H)(2) (2014 change naming the memorialization of
record a “notice of failure to file”). On November 8, 2017, Jeffco recorded a corrected
affidavit of failure to file to correct a scrivener’s error (in citing the page number showing
where the affidavit of abandonment was recorded). Various other heirs then filed claims
to preserve.
       {¶7}    On March 2, 2018, Jeffco filed a complaint seeking quiet title to the minerals
and a declaratory judgment of abandonment under the DMA proceedings initiated in 2012
and/or those initiated in 2017. They named over 50 defendants, and 37 remain in the suit
(the Hines heirs).
       {¶8}    The Hines heirs filed a counterclaim against Jeffco, naming Hess and
Ascent as additional counterclaim defendants because Jeffco leased the minerals to Hess
in 2012 with a later assignment to Ascent. The Hines heirs sought declaratory judgment
as to their ownership (seeking to invalidate the two DMA proceedings) and filed claims
for slander of title, trespass, conversion, and unjust enrichment.
       {¶9}    In May 2021, Jeffco moved for summary judgment on the claims and
counterclaims; Ascent and Hess joined in the motion. They framed the issue as whether
Jeffco made a reasonably diligent search for potential heirs prior to serving the 2012
notice of abandonment by publication. They argued the public records search did not
identify heirs and there was thus no obligation to search outside those records, especially
where the probate records of Birney Hines specifically said heirs were unknown.
       {¶10} An affidavit was provided by Jeffco’s former attorney, who published the
2012 notice of abandonment. In ascertaining how to serve the notice, he completed a
title search and generated an abstract of public records in the county, including the
probate records for the estates of Mary Etta Parrish Hines and Birney W. Hines. The
probate records for Mary Etta Parrish Hines showed the following: she died testate in
1969 (a few months after the severance deed); her estate was not probated until 1971;

Case Nos. 22 HA 0007, 22 HA 0008, 22 HA 0009
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she left all property to her husband, Birney Hines; and the estate made no mention of the
mineral interest when describing her real estate.
       {¶11} Birney Hines died intestate without issue on October 5, 1974. There was
no mention of the mineral interest in the estate documents. The appointed commissioner
of his estate was Richard Kirkland. The estate owed $1,435.90 to Clark-Kirkland Funeral
Home and transferred the sole probate asset $1,218.89 in a checking account to this
entity. In a box for listing those entitled to inherit, the commissioner’s application for
release from administration (signed October 25, 1974) said the heirs were unknown.
       {¶12} On October 31, 1974, the estate commissioner signed and filed an “affidavit
for service by publication” stating the residences of the heirs were unknown and could not
be ascertained with reasonable diligence.      The probate court granted release from
administration in a November 25, 1974 judgment, reiterating that notice was provided by
publication. Jeffco’s former attorney said he relied on this information to conclude there
were no discernable heirs.
       {¶13} The summary judgment motion also cited to the deposition testimony of an
expert disclosed in discovery by the Hines heirs. In 2016, this expert was hired to find
the Hines heirs by a company researching a different portion of the original Hines property
for Hess. A title company provided the expert with the county records and the name of a
living heir (George Harrah Jr.). The expert conducted interviews and used a subscription
version of ancestry.com to build a chart of heirs.      The summary judgment motion
emphasized this expert acknowledged the heirs could not be ascertained from the county
records; he also noted ancestry.com adds information continually.
       {¶14} In response to the summary judgment motion, the Hines heirs pointed to
the remainder of the 1974 probate records from the estate of Birney Hines, which were
already incorporated as exhibits by the affidavit of Jeffco’s former attorney. The Hines
heirs argued reasonable diligence was not exercised in 2012, as these estate documents
contained names of individuals who were actual heirs and who should have been viewed
as potential heirs and investigated prior to serving notice of abandonment by publication.
Specifically, the probate case contained Ohio Department of Taxation estate tax forms,
including the inventories of safe deposit boxes at two banks and an estate tax return.

Case Nos. 22 HA 0007, 22 HA 0008, 22 HA 0009
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These documents showed Birney Hines owned joint and survivor assets with seven
individuals (one of whom signed the tax documents).
        {¶15} The inventory for the safe deposit box at the first bank listed Birney Hines
and William Sinfield as the box depositors. William Sinfield was the last person to enter
the box (in July 1974, three months before the death of Birney Hines). This inventory
listed the contents as including two certificates of deposit owned by the decedent joint
and survivor, one with William Sinfield ($8,000) and one with Berle Sinfield ($8,000).
        {¶16} The inventory for the box at the second bank also listed Birney Hines and
William Sinfield as the box depositors and said William Sinfield was the last person to
enter the box (in August 1974). This inventory listed the contents as including six
certificates of deposit, each owned by Birney Hines and one of the following individuals:
Clarence Hines ($1,000), Russell Parrish ($8,000), Dorothy Stover ($1,000), Mildred
Edgar ($1,000), Ruth Davis ($1,000), and Berle Sinfield ($1,500). All certificates of
deposit were issued the prior year.
        {¶17} William Sinfield signed each inventory form on the line for “representative
of the estate” (on October 9 and 10, 1974). He also signed a declaration on the estate
tax return swearing the information was correct (dated December 3, 1974). On the blank
for his address, he wrote Jewett, Ohio (which is a village in Harrison County). Schedule
E of the tax return (applicable to joint and survivor accounts) confirmed the names and
amounts on the certificates of deposit. It further showed William Sinfield was a joint owner
of a savings account with Birney Hines at each bank ($1,071.91 and $2,385.78). Although
the incorporated instructions for this schedule required the “name of survivors and
relationships” to be listed, the relationships were not stated.
        {¶18} Of the seven joint owners named in the estate documents, five were later
found to be heirs of Birney Hines during the heirship search conducted by the expert (prior
to being retained by the Hines heirs). (Depo. 263-265, 300-303).1 As to those later found
to be heirs, the reply in support of summary judgment argued Jeffco was entitled to rely
on the 1974 probate records representing that heirs were unknown. The companies

1 The two joint account owners found not to be heirs of Birney Hines were Ruth Davis and Russell Parrish.

We note the last name Parrish corresponds to a name listed for the original surface grantor Mary Etta
Parrish Hines, who left all property to her husband Birney Hines when she died.

Case Nos. 22 HA 0007, 22 HA 0008, 22 HA 0009
                                                                                       –6–

pointed out a joint and survivor account is a mere contractual relationship, claiming the
fact that some joint owners turned out to be heirs was irrelevant to whether search efforts
were reasonable. They also claimed the Hines heirs failed to meet their reciprocal
summary judgment burden due to the lack of an affidavit explaining what method of
search in 2012 would have identified the individuals on those accounts as heirs and would
have revealed their addresses.
       {¶19} The response to summary judgment filed by the Hines heirs alternatively
raised issues with the memorialization of record filed in 2016. The reply in support of
summary judgment countered: there was no statutory deadline for the memorialization,
a description of the property was provided, and the memorialization reflected the statutory
language.
       {¶20} The Hines heirs also alternatively responded to the summary judgment
motion by arguing Jeffco’s voluntary reopening of the DMA proceedings in 2017 by
serving new notice of abandonment estopped Jeffco from relying on the DMA
proceedings initiated in 2012 (and memorialized in 2016). On this topic, the reply in
support of summary judgment argued Jeffco’s later efforts were performed out of an
abundance of caution and would not erase a prior successful abandonment. After oral
arguments in August 2021, the trial court allowed supplemental briefing, which was
completed in September 2021.
       {¶21} In June 2022, the trial court declared the Hines heirs owned the mineral
interest. The court said it was undisputed they filed a timely claim to preserve in response
to the 2017 notice of abandonment. Noting Jeffco was relying on the 2012 notice of
abandonment, the court then found service of that notice by publication was invalid
because easily identifiable heirs were listed in the estate records of Birney Hines but no
attempt to serve them was made. The court found the alternative arguments presented
by the Hines heirs on the 2012 DMA proceedings or on the estoppel effect of the 2017
DMA proceedings were therefore moot. The entry said the trial would be set on the
remaining grounds in the counterclaim seeking damages. (7/11/22 J.E. nunc pro tunc,
amending 6/14/22 J.E.).
       {¶22} Upon subsequent motion, the trial court concluded there was no just reason
to delay an appeal pursuant to Civ.R. 54(B). (8/9/22 J.E.). Jeffco, Ascent, and Hess

Case Nos. 22 HA 0007, 22 HA 0008, 22 HA 0009
                                                                                       –7–

(Appellants) filed timely notices of appeal. The three cases were consolidated and
Appellants joined in filing a single brief.
       {¶23} Prior to briefing, the Hines Heirs moved to dismiss the appeal, pointing out
they had pending counterclaims. It was emphasized the trial court denied Appellants’
summary judgment motion and the Hines heirs did not file a competing summary
judgment motion.      This court denied the motion to dismiss, holding a final, appealable
order resulted after the trial court issued a declaratory judgment on ownership as
requested by both sides and made the no just reason for delay finding under Civ.R. 54(B).
As our judgment pointed out, “in declaratory actions, we treat a denial of summary
judgment as a resolution of the action if the trial court sets forth the rights and
responsibilities of the parties in its denial of summary judgment.” Griewahn v. United
States Fid. & Guar. Co., 160 Ohio App.3d 311, 2005-Ohio-1660, 827 N.E.2d 341, ¶ 8 (7th
Dist.). And, as we explained: “Like Crum, it would have been preferable for the trial court
here to state it was granting judgment for the non-movant (the Hines heirs) or that it was
issuing a declaratory judgment in accordance with its legal holdings, we can draw a
‘reasonable and logical inference’ that the trial court was entering a declaratory judgment
that the 2012 notice of abandonment was insufficiently service * * *.” (11/18/22 J.E.).
       {¶24} In the cited Crum case, this court explained, “Under the appropriate
circumstances, a court that is denying a motion for summary judgment can grant
summary judgment to the opposing party even if that party did not file a cross-motion for
summary judgment.” Crum v. Yoder, 7th Dist. Monroe No. 20 MO 0005, 2020-Ohio-5046,
¶ 25, citing Salem Community Hosp. v. Sankovic, 7th Dist. Columbiana No. 96-CO-91
(Dec. 31, 1997). This procedure is available “where all relevant evidence is before the
court, no genuine issue as to any material fact exists, and the non-moving party is entitled
to judgment as a matter of law.” State ex rel. Cuyahoga Cty. Hosp. v. Ohio BWC, 27 Ohio
St.3d 25, 28, 500 N.E.2d 1370 (1986) (granting summary judgment for the non-movant in
an original action). See also Todd Dev. Co. v. Morgan, 116 Ohio St.3d 461, 2008-Ohio-
87, 880 N.E.2d 88, ¶ 17-18; Houk v. Ross, 34 Ohio St.2d 77, 296 N.E.2d 266 (1973),
paragraph one of syllabus. In accordance, we proceed to address the substance of the
trial court’s declaration in this case.
                                          Dormant Mineral Act

Case Nos. 22 HA 0007, 22 HA 0008, 22 HA 0009
                                                                                          –8–

       {¶25} Under the 2006 DMA, a mineral interest “shall be deemed abandoned and
vested” in the surface owner if the requirements in division (E) were satisfied and there
were no timely division (B)(3) savings events. R.C. 5301.56(B). Division (E) requires the
surface owner to serve notice of abandonment (by certified mail or publication as
applicable) and then file an affidavit of abandonment with the county recorder between
30 and 60 days after the notice was served or published. R.C. 5301.56(E)(1)-(2). If no
claim to preserve or affidavit identifying a savings event is filed within 60 days of service
of the notice, then the surface owner shall cause the county recorder to memorialize the
abandonment on the record, properly citing to the affidavit of abandonment. Former R.C.
5301.56(H)(2) (changes effective 1/13/14 included renaming the memorialization a
“notice of failure to file”). The mineral interest shall vest in the surface owner immediately
after the recorder memorializes the record. Id.
       {¶26} The issue in this appeal revolves around service of the 2012 notice of
abandonment under division (E)(1), which says the surface owner shall:
       Serve notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, to each holder or
       each holder's successors or assignees, at the last known address of each,
       of the owner's intent to declare the mineral interest abandoned. If service of
       notice cannot be completed to any holder, the owner shall publish notice of
       the owner's intent to declare the mineral interest abandoned at least once
       in a newspaper of general circulation in each county in which the land that
       is subject to the interest is located. The notice shall contain all of the
       information specified in division (F) of this section.
R.C. 5301.56(E)(1).
       {¶27} Among other items, the notice must contain the “name of each holder and
the holder's successors and assignees, as applicable * * *.” R.C. 5301.56(F)(1). A holder
is defined as “the record holder of a mineral interest, and any person who derives the
person's rights from, or has a common source with, the record holder and whose claim
does not indicate, expressly or by clear implication, that it is adverse to the interest of the
record holder.” R.C. 5301.56(A)(1).
       {¶28} To satisfy the required notice under R.C. 5301.56(E), surface owners “must
exercise reasonable diligence in attempting to identify and locate the holders of the

Case Nos. 22 HA 0007, 22 HA 0008, 22 HA 0009
                                                                                          –9–

mineral interest.” Fonzi v. Brown, 169 Ohio St.3d 70, 2022-Ohio-901, 202 N.E.3d 604, ¶
2; Gerrity v. Chervenak, 162 Ohio St.3d 694, 2020-Ohio-6705, 166 N.E.3d 1230, ¶ 41.
The reasonable diligence standard does not necessarily require the surface owner to
search records outside of the county where the mineral interest is located, such as when
the mineral holder resided in that county and there was no indication she died, moved, or
conveyed the interest. Gerrity, 162 Ohio St.3d 694 at ¶ 32, 36. “[T]he issue is not whether
the surface owner could have located all mineral-rights holders by exercising reasonable
diligence. Instead, the question is whether the surface owner did exercise reasonable
diligence.” Fonzi, 169 Ohio St.3d 70 at ¶ 22. Still, the surface owner has the burden of
proving reasonable diligence was used in attempting to identify and locate the holders of
the mineral interest before engaging in the last resort of serving notice of abandonment
by publication. Id. at ¶ 23.
       {¶29} In general, a review of public property records and court records in the
county where the mineral interest is located will “establish a baseline of reasonable
diligence.” Fonzi, 169 Ohio St.3d 70 at ¶ 27, quoting Gerrity, 162 Ohio St.3d 694 at ¶ 36
(while declining to draw a bright-line for the test). “Depending on the facts of each case,
however, additional searching may be required to satisfy the standard of reasonable
diligence.” Id.
       {¶30} In Gerrity, a 1965 certificate of transfer showed the holder of the mineral
interest was the daughter of the person who originally severed the minerals, and the
certificate listed the daughter’s address in a different county than where the property was
located. In looking for this mineral holder, the surface owner searched the records of the
recorder and the probate court in both counties. Certified mail to the mineral holder’s last
known address was unsuccessful, and the surface owner served notice by publication in
the county where the property was located. The Supreme Court concluded this was a
reasonably diligent search as the baseline search was conducted, while noting:
       There may, however, be circumstances in which the surface owner's
       independent knowledge or information revealed by the surface owner's
       review of the property and court records would require the surface owner,
       in the exercise of reasonable diligence, to continue looking elsewhere to
       identify or locate a holder. But whether that additional search is required will

Case Nos. 22 HA 0007, 22 HA 0008, 22 HA 0009
                                                                                    – 10 –

       depend on the circumstance of each case, and it was not required in this
       case [because the public records search] revealed no indication that the
       sole record holder was deceased and offered no clue as to the identity of
       any potential successors or assigns.
Gerrity, 162 Ohio St.3d 694 at ¶ 36. Distinctly, the records here showed the original
mineral holder and her named heir were deceased.
       {¶31} In Fonzi, the 1952 deed transferring Monroe County property and reserving
a mineral interest showed the grantor lived in Washington County, Pennsylvania. Fonzi,
169 Ohio St.3d 70 at ¶ 2. Before serving notice of abandonment by publication, the
surface owners searched Monroe County public records and performed “limited Internet
research” without attempting to search the public records in Washington County,
Pennsylvania, even though that was the mineral holder’s last known residence. Id. at ¶
26.   The trial court granted summary judgment for the surface owners. We reversed,
finding this was not a reasonably diligent search. Fonzi v. Brown, 7th Dist. Monroe No.
19 MO 0012, 2020-Ohio-3631, ¶ 19 (where the surface owner argued the law did not
require a search beyond the public records in the county where the property is located,
we explained further search requirements depend on the circumstances), citing, e.g.,
Sharp v. Miller, 2018-Ohio-4740, 114 N.E.3d 1285 (7th Dist.) (where the mineral holders
argued an internet search was required for a reasonably diligent search, we rejected a
bright-line approach and held the public records search was sufficient because the
probate records for the holder’s estate gave the surface owners no reason to believe an
internet search would have located potential heirs).
       {¶32} The Supreme Court upheld our decision, finding a lack of reasonable
diligence because the surface owners failed to attempt personal service at the last known
address and “failed to search public records beyond the county where the mineral
interests were located, despite having knowledge that the mineral-interest holder did not
reside within that county when the reservation was made * * *.” Fonzi, 169 Ohio St.3d 70
at ¶ 28. In general, surface owners must not disregard information about the holder in
the public records in order to proceed directly to publication. See id. (on the subject of
last known address).

Case Nos. 22 HA 0007, 22 HA 0008, 22 HA 0009
                                                                                       – 11 –

       {¶33} Where the holders provided evidence on the subsequent ease of finding
heirs, we have pointed out the reasonableness test evaluates the process actually used
based on the information available to the surface owners. Beckett v. Rosza, 2021-Ohio-
4298, 181 N.E.3d 1216, ¶ 32-33 (7th Dist.). However, we then found the surface owners
failed to make a reasonably diligent search for holders before serving notice by
publication where their attorney reviewed probate records showing the holders may be
found in other states. Id.
                                  ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR ONE
       {¶34} Challenging the declaratory judgment entered in favor of the Hines heirs,
Appellants’ first assignment contends:
       “THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY FAILING TO GRANT APPELLANT’S MOTION
FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND BY FAILING TO ISSUE A DECLARATORY
JUDGMENT IN THE APPELLANTS’ FAVOR THAT JEFFCO RESOURCES, INC.
CONDUCTED A REASONABLY DILIGENT SEARCH FOR THE HOLDERS OF THE
MINERAL      INTEREST        AT   ISSUE    PRIOR     TO    SERVING      ITS   NOTICE      OF
ABANDONMENT BY PUBLICATION UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF OHIO’S
DORMANT ACT, R.C. 5301.56(E).”
       {¶35} The parties acknowledge the county records are the baseline for a
reasonable search for heirs and a further search is not automatically required but may be
required depending on the factual circumstances and knowledge gained by the searcher.
The parties dispute whether the probate records gave rise to the duty to search further.
       {¶36} Appellants argue the county records did not give rise to an obligation to
search for heirs by other methods because the estate tax documents in the probate
records for Birney Hines, who died intestate without issue, did not identify the joint account
holders as his heirs and the application for release from administration specifically says:
the heirs were unknown, the addresses of heirs could not be ascertained with reasonable
diligence, and notice was provided by publication.        Appellants emphasize the 1974
application was memorialized by a probate court judgment entry. They say they should
be entitled to rely on this entry (40 years later) when determining if Birney Hines had
reasonably identifiable heirs, claiming any inference that may have arisen from the
existence of the joint accounts was negated by the other probate filings.

Case Nos. 22 HA 0007, 22 HA 0008, 22 HA 0009
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       {¶37} Appellants also say the expert’s 2016 search was not material because he
already possessed the name of a living heir to begin his interviews and because he
searched for heirs on a subscription service, which he acknowledged was continually
updated.   The Hines heirs say this is a “red herring” argument.          Focusing on the
information available to Jeffco in the public records, the Hines heirs urge the names of
the joint and survivor account holders listed in the estate records of Birney Hines triggered
a duty to investigate them as potential heirs. They say the efforts were not reasonable
because no investigation was even attempted to ascertain if the individuals listed were
heirs. The Hines heirs also suggest Jeffco should have realized the heirs had no incentive
to identify themselves in the estate proceedings because there was no money, the funeral
home was still owed $200, and an attorney was owed $400.
       {¶38} As to Appellant’s argument that the Hines heirs were required to submit
evidence to show what information could have been discovered in 2012 regarding the
joint account holders (as to heirship and addresses), we reiterate the burden is on the
surface owners to show the steps they took were reasonably diligent based on their
knowledge, including the knowledge gained from the baseline search of the public
records.   Fonzi, 169 Ohio St.3d 70 at ¶ 23, 27.         Distinguishably, a case cited by
Appellants, which was issued before Fonzi and Gerrity, reviewed an affidavit attesting to
what could or could not be found in the title search. Hutchins v. Baker, 2020-Ohio-1108,
153 N.E.3d 140, ¶ 35 (7th Dist.) (where the surface owners provided a title searcher’s
affidavit stating “no one searching the Monroe County records” at the relevant time period
could have found the item relied on by the holders “because of how it was indexed”).
       {¶39} Appellants urge the fact that a probate record shows a joint and survivor
account holder’s last name matches the mineral holder’s last name does not trigger a
duty to investigate for heirship. We reiterate each case depends on the totality of the
facts known to the surface owner or available during the search of the county records.
Fonzi, 169 Ohio St.3d 70 at ¶ 27, quoting Gerrity, 162 Ohio St.3d 694 at ¶ 36. Distinctly,
a case cited by Appellants involved an argument that the last name of surface grantees
(in the deed with original mineral reservation) should have caused later surface owners
to question whether the severing grantor transferred the surface to relatives (i.e., whether
a past predecessor in the surface owner’s own surface title was a child of the mineral

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holder). Crum v. Yoder, 7th Dist. Monroe No. 20 MO 0005, 2020-Ohio-5046, ¶ 58. The
case also predated the Supreme Court pronouncements in Gerrity and Fonzi.
       {¶40} Here, Jeffco’s baseline search revealed the record mineral holder died
testate and left all property to her husband, Birney Hines, whose 1974 estate showed he
was deceased as well. An appraiser for his estate found no probate assets except for
money in one checking account, which was distributed to the funeral home without quite
covering the amount owed. The estate also owed attorney fees. The probate court’s
judgment granting release from administration memorialized the service of notice by
publication.
       {¶41} Although the application for release of the estate of Birney Hines from
administration said heirs were unknown when the estate commissioner’s signature on the
application was notarized, the affidavit for service by publication the commissioner signed
one week later said: “the residence of the heirs of said estate are unknown and cannot
be with reasonable diligence ascertained.” (Emphasis added.) The next paragraph
reiterated “the heirs places of residence cannot be ascertained” and cited R.C. 2703.14(F)
(“In an action by an executor, administrator, guardian, or trustee seeking the direction of
the court respecting the trust or property to be administered and the rights of the parties
in interest, when the defendant is not a resident of this state or his place of residence
cannot be ascertained.”). The commissioner’s affidavit for publication did not mention the
statement in the application for release that the heirs themselves were unknown.
       {¶42} Most importantly, this was not all the information to be gleaned from the
probate court records, and the diligence required in 1974 for identifying or locating heirs
based on this information (for an estate valued in the negative) does not necessarily
translate to the diligence required in 2012 for identifying or locating heirs. The probate
court records revealed the existence of various non-probate assets held by Birney Hines
joint and survivor with seven named individuals.       These records were attached to
Appellants’ own summary judgment motion and their former attorney who reviewed the
public records for the 2012 DMA proceedings incorporated these records into his affidavit
regarding his search.
       {¶43} From these probate records, it can be observed that Birney Hines kept
various certificates of deposit, issued the year before his death, in safe deposit boxes.

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Birney Hines jointly owned one certificate of deposit with Clarence Hines, who had the
same last name. Birney Hines owned another certificate of deposit (for $8,000) and a
savings account with William Sinfield. This individual was listed on the registration for the
two safe deposit boxes where Birney Hines stored the certificates of deposit. He also
signed the estate’s tax return after the notice by publication was accomplished and
memorialized by the court. And, he lived in the same county as the records being
searched.
       {¶44} We cannot say this is one of those cases where the baseline search “offered
no clue as to the identity of any potential successors or assigns.” Gerrity, 162 Ohio St.3d
694 at ¶ 36 (where the public records search revealed no indication the sole record holder
was deceased). With the public records search revealing the above-recited information
involving the last known holder’s non-probate assets, this case falls within those
circumstances that “require the surface owner, in the exercise of reasonable diligence, to
continue looking elsewhere to identify or locate a holder.” Id. In other words, ignoring the
information in the probate records did not constitute “reasonable diligence in attempting
to identify and locate the holders of the mineral interest.” Fonzi, 169 Ohio St.3d 70 at ¶
2. Appellants did not meet their burden of showing their efforts were reasonably diligent
under the circumstances of this case. Accordingly, the trial court’s judgment is affirmed.
                            ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR TWO
       {¶45} Appellants’ second assignment of error claims:
       “THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FAILING TO GRANT SUMMARY JUDGMENT IN
APPELLANTS’ FAVOR ON DEFENDANTS COUNTERCLAIMS.”
       {¶46} Appellants present this assignment of error in case this court were to
reverse the trial court’s declaratory judgment under the first assignment of error. They
claim they would be entitled to summary judgment on the counterclaims seeking
ownership declarations and damages based on the title encumbrance and property entry.
Appellants reason if they used reasonable diligence, then the mineral interest was
abandoned under the 2012 DMA proceedings and an ownership declaration would be
entered in their favor disposing of the counterclaims.
       {¶47} However, as the Hines heirs point out, the trial court did not reach the heirs’
alternative arguments contesting Jeffco’s reliance on the 2012 DMA proceedings for

Case Nos. 22 HA 0007, 22 HA 0008, 22 HA 0009
                                                                                      – 15 –

reasons such as: insufficient language in the required filings; failure to file the
memorialization until 2016; or Jeffco was estopped from relying on the 2012 proceedings
due to the voluntary reopening of the DMA proceedings in 2017 by publishing a new
notice of abandonment. In fact, the trial court specifically said the other issues raised in
response to the motion for summary judgment, such as estoppel, were moot because of
the court’s holding. Accordingly, the issues would not have been ruled on by this court in
the first instance. See, e.g., Murphy v. Reynoldsburg, 65 Ohio St.3d 356, 360, 604
N.E.2d 138 (1992) (even a de novo summary judgment review does not mean the
appellate court should make the first ruling on issues the trial court never reached); West
v. Bode, 2019-Ohio-4092, 145 N.E.3d 1190, ¶ 61 (7th Dist.) (“We generally refrain from
ruling on arguments and claims not ruled upon by the trial court as the issues are not ripe
for our review where the trial court proceeded as if they were moot due to another ruling.”),
aff’d, 162 Ohio St.3d 293, 2020-Ohio-5473, 165 N.E.3d 298 (affirming our remand). See
also Taylor v. Crosby, 150 Ohio St.3d 344, 2016-Ohio-5820, 81 N.E.3d 1223, ¶ 1
(remanding to the trial court to address arguments on the 2006 Dormant Mineral Act which
were not addressed by the appellate court as the trial court did not rule on them).
       {¶48} However, as Appellants acknowledge, this assignment of error was
presented by Appellants alternatively, in the event their first assignment of error was
successful. Because we are affirming the trial court’s declaratory judgment for the Hines
heirs under the first assignment of error, the second assignment of error is moot and need
not be addressed. We have affirmed the trial court’s decision that the DMA abandonment
proceedings were ineffective and the Hines heirs are the mineral holders. The case can
proceed in the trial court on the remaining counterclaims on remand.
       {¶49} For the foregoing reasons, the trial court’s decision is affirmed.

Waite; J., concurs.

D’Apolito, P.J., dissents without dissenting opinion.

Case Nos. 22 HA 0007, 22 HA 0008, 22 HA 0009
[Cite as Jeffco Resources, Inc. v. Abrecht, 2023-Ohio-4712.]

        For the reasons stated in the Opinion rendered herein, the assignments of error
are overruled and it is the final judgment and order of this Court that the judgment of the
Court of Common Pleas of Harrison County, Ohio, is affirmed. Costs to be taxed against
the Appellant.
        A certified copy of this opinion and judgment entry shall constitute the mandate in
this case pursuant to Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure. It is ordered that a
certified copy be sent by the clerk to the trial court to carry this judgment into execution.

                                        NOTICE TO COUNSEL

        This document constitutes a final judgment entry.