Court Opinion

ID: 4031500
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-06 18:03:34.105532+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:08:22.143753
License: Public Domain

[Cite as Capperes v. Fasline, 2016-Ohio-5674.]

                                   IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                               ELEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                    TRUMBULL COUNTY, OHIO

JAMES A. CAPPERES, et al.,                       :     MEMORANDUM OPINION

                 Plaintiffs,                     :
                                                       CASE NOS. 2016-T-0081
        - vs -                                   :           and 2016-T-0083

FRANCIS M. FASLINE, et al.,                      :

                 Defendants-Appellants,          :

AMERICAN FAMILY INSURANCE                        :
COMPANY,
                                                 :
                 Plaintiff-Appellee.

Civil Appeals from the Court of Common Pleas, Case Nos. 2014 CV 01799 and 2015
CV 00664.

Judgment: Appeals dismissed.

Angela J. Mikulka and Thomas L. Mikulka, The Mikulka Law Firm, L.L.C., 134
Westchester Drive, Youngstown, OH 44515 (For Defendants-Appellants).

David C. Engle, 1900 Polaris Parkway, Suite 200B, Columbus, OH 43240 (For Plaintiff-
Appellee).

THOMAS R. WRIGHT, J.

        {¶1}     Appellants, Francis M. Fasline, Michael Fasline, and Michelle Fasline,

appeal the trial court’s ruling and amended ruling granting partial summary judgment in

favor of appellee, American Family Insurance.        The appealed entries lack “no just
reason for delay” language and claims remain pending. Accordingly, the appeals are

dismissed.

      {¶2}   An appellate court may entertain appeals from final judgments or orders.

Noble v. Colwell, 44 Ohio St.3d 92, 96 (1989). A judgment of a trial court is immediately

reviewable only if it constitutes a “final order.” Section 3(B)(2), Article IV of the Ohio

Constitution, Germ v. Fuerst, 11th Dist. Lake No. 2003-L-116, 2003-Ohio-6241, ¶ 3. If a

lower court’s order is not final, an appellate court lacks jurisdiction to review, and

dismissal is required. Gen. Acc. Ins. Co. v. Ins. Co. of N. Am., 44 Ohio St.3d 17, 20

(1989). “For a judgment to be final and appealable, it must satisfy the requirements of

R.C. 2505.02 and if applicable, Civ.R. 54(B).” See Western Reserve Port Auth. v. B & K

Energy, 11th Dist. Trumbull No. 2015-T-0036, 2015-Ohio-2903, ¶ 6.

      {¶3}   Civ.R. 54(B) states as follow:

             When more than one claim for relief is presented in an action
             whether as a claim, counterclaim, cross-claim, or third-party claim,
             and whether arising out of the same or separate transactions, or
             when multiple parties are involved, the court may enter final
             judgment as to one or more but fewer than all of the claims or
             parties only upon an express determination that there is no just
             reason for delay. In the absence of a determination that there is no
             just reason for delay, any order or other form of decision, however
             designated, which adjudicates fewer than all the claims or the rights
             and liabilities of fewer than all the parties, shall not terminate the
             action as to any of the claims or parties, and the order or other form
             of decision is subject to revision at any time before the entry of
             judgment adjudicating all the claims and the rights and liabilities of
             all the parties.

      {¶4}   Where there are multiple claims, judgment as to one or more but fewer

than all of the claims is not a final, appealable order in the absence of language stating

that “there is no just reason for delay[.]” Meffe v. Griffin, 11th Dist. Trumbull No. 2012-

T-0032, 2012-Ohio-3642, ¶ 11; see also Western Reserve Port Auth., supra, at ¶ 8.

                                              2
      {¶5}   Here, the trial court granted partial summary judgment to American Family

Insurance, did not include “no just reason for delay” language, and other claims remain

pending. As such, the order is not final and this court lacks jurisdiction. The appeals

are hereby sua sponte dismissed due to lack of a final and appealable order.

      {¶6}   Appeals dismissed.

DIANE V. GRENDELL, J.,

TIMOTHY P. CANNON, J.,

concur.

                                           3