Court Opinion

ID: 4351699
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-12-18 21:32:26.453844+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:18:17.446542
License: Public Domain

[Cite as Bur. of Motor Vehicle Repair v. Griffin, 2018-Ohio-5101.]

                              IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO

                                   TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicle Repair,                 :
                                                                        No. 17AP-773
                 Plaintiff-Appellee,                 :                      and
                                                                        No. 17AP-810
v.                                                   :               (C.P.C. No. 15CV-9470)

Michael Lance Griffin et al.,                        :           (REGULAR CALENDAR)

                 Defendants-Appellants.              :

                                          D E C I S I O N

                                   Rendered on December 18, 2018

                 On brief: Michael DeWine, Attorney General, Peter L.
                 Jamison, Tyler J. Herrmann, and Giles Allen for appellee.
                 Argued: Giles Allen.

                 On brief: Michael Lance Griffin, pro se. Argued: Michael
                 Lance Griffin.

                  APPEALS from the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas

BROWN, P.J.
        {¶ 1} Michael Lance Griffin; the Michael Lance Griffin Trust dba Tintmasters
("trust"); Tintmasters, LLC ("Tintmasters"); Mid City Collision; Cincinnati Custom &
Collision Professionals, the Cincinnati Collision Center, and the Mike Griffin Tire & Body
Shop, defendants-appellants, appeal from two judgments of the Franklin County Court of
Common Pleas. In an October 2, 2017 judgment, the court: (1) enjoined appellants from
conducting collision repair or window tint operations at any location unless and until they
register with plaintiff-appellee, Ohio Board of Motor Vehicle Repair ("board"), (2) ordered
appellants to pay $4,125 in back registration fees, and (3) ordered appellants to pay a
$4,000 statutory fine. In a November 2, 2017 judgment, the court found it lacked
Nos. 17AP-773 and 17AP-810                                                               2

jurisdiction to address several of appellants' motions due to appellants' pending appeal of
the October 2, 2017 judgment.
         {¶ 2} Appellants are engaged in automobile collision repair and window tinting.
R.C. Chapter 4775 mandates motor vehicle collision repair operators and motor vehicle
window tint operators register with the board. None of the appellants have ever registered
with the board. On October 23, 2015, the board filed a complaint against Tintmasters and
Griffin. The board later amended its complaint to include the trust as a defendant. In its
amended complaint, the board asserted appellants' failure to register violates R.C.
4775.02(A) because each defendant is a motor vehicle collision repair operator or motor
vehicle window tint operator. The board, therefore, requested the trial court issue: (1) a
declaratory judgment stating all appellants act as motor vehicle collision repair operators
or motor vehicle window tint operators and must register with the board, (2) an
injunction enjoining all appellants from committing any acts or practices that violate R.C.
Chapter 4775, (3) an order requiring appellants pay fees for the years in which they
operated while unregistered, totaling $4,125, and (4) an order requiring appellants pay a
fine of $4,000.
         {¶ 3} On December 7, 2015, Griffin, pro se, filed a motion to dismiss, which the
trial court denied on January 15, 2016. On February 10, 2016, appellants filed another
motion to dismiss, which the trial court struck as being redundant on May 2, 2016.
         {¶ 4} On July 29, 2016, the board filed a motion for summary judgment, in which
it argued there were no genuine issues of material fact remaining as to whether appellants
were acting as motor vehicle repair operators and motor vehicle tint operators and were
not registered with the board. Thereafter, appellants filed several requests for discovery.
On September 2, 2016, the board filed a motion for stay of discovery pending the outcome
of the motion for summary judgment.
         {¶ 5} On September 30, 2016, the trial court granted the board's motion for
summary judgment.
         {¶ 6} On October 29, 2016, appellants filed a motion to set aside or vacate void
order.
         {¶ 7} On October 30, 2016, appellants filed a notice of appeal.
Nos. 17AP-773 and 17AP-810                                                                3

       {¶ 8} On November 16, 2016, appellants filed a motion for summary judgment.
On November 22, 2016, the trial court issued a decision and entry. The trial court denied
appellants' motion to vacate judgment and struck his motion for summary judgment.
       {¶ 9} On November 29, 2016, appellants filed a request for findings of fact and
conclusions of law, as well as a request for mandatory judicial notice. On December 8,
2016, the court struck the request for judicial notice and found the request for findings of
fact and conclusions of law moot.
       {¶ 10} On December 15, 2016, appellants filed two notices of appeal with respect to
the November 22 and December 8, 2016 judgments, and this court consolidated the three
pending appeals. In Ohio Bd. of Motor Vehicle Repair v. Tintmasters Internatl., LLC,
10th Dist. No. 16AP-749, 2017-Ohio-8002, we found that none of the appealed judgments
constituted a final appealable order; thus, this court lacked jurisdiction, and we dismissed
the appeals.
       {¶ 11} On January 16, 2017, appellants filed another motion to vacate the
September 30, 2016 judgment that granted the board's motion for summary judgment.
On January 17, 2017, the trial court struck the motion, finding it lacked jurisdiction
because it was divested of jurisdiction upon appellants' filing their notice of appeal.
Appellants appealed the January 17, 2017 judgment of the trial court, but this court
dismissed the appeal in Ohio Bd. of Motor Vehicle Repair v. Griffin, 10th Dist. No. 17AP-
58, 2017-Ohio-9129, due to the lack of a final appealable order.
       {¶ 12} On October 2, 2017, the trial court issued a judgment, in which the court
amended its September 30, 2016 entry to: (1) enjoin appellants from conducting collision
repair or window tint operations at any location unless and until they register with the
board, (2) order appellants pay $4,125 in back registration fees, and (3) order appellants
pay a $4,000 statutory fine. In a November 2, 2017 judgment, the court found it lacked
jurisdiction to address several of appellants' motions filed after the October 2, 2017
judgment, due to appellants' pending appeals.
       {¶ 13} Appellants appeal the judgments of the trial court, asserting the following
assignments of error, which contain identical language but present different underlying
arguments:
               [I.] The Trial Court erred in granting summary judgment for
               plaintiff-appellee, Ohio Board of Motor Vehicle Repair.
Nos. 17AP-773 and 17AP-810                                                                   4

                 [II.] The Trial Court erred in granting summary judgment for
                 plaintiff-appellee, Ohio Board of Motor Vehicle Repair.

          {¶ 14} Appellants argue in their first assignment of error the trial court erred when
it granted the board's motion for summary judgment. Summary judgment is appropriate
when the moving party demonstrates that: (1) there is no genuine issue of material fact,
(2) the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law, and (3) reasonable minds
can come to but one conclusion when viewing the evidence most strongly in favor of the
non-moving party, and that conclusion is adverse to the non-moving party. Hudson v.
Petrosurance, Inc., 127 Ohio St.3d 54, 2010-Ohio-4505, ¶ 29; Sinnott v. Aqua-Chem, Inc.,
116 Ohio St.3d 158, 2007-Ohio-5584, ¶ 29. Appellate review of a trial court's ruling on a
motion for summary judgment is de novo. Hudson at ¶ 29. This means that an appellate
court conducts an independent review, without deference to the trial court's
determination. Zurz v. 770 W. Broad AGA, LLC, 192 Ohio App.3d 521, 2011-Ohio-832,
¶ 5 (10th Dist.); White v. Westfall, 183 Ohio App.3d 807, 2009-Ohio-4490, ¶ 6 (10th
Dist.).
          {¶ 15} When seeking summary judgment on grounds the non-moving party cannot
prove its case, the moving party bears the initial burden of informing the trial court of the
basis for the motion and identifying those portions of the record that demonstrate the
absence of a genuine issue of material fact on an essential element of the non-moving
party's claims. Dresher v. Burt, 75 Ohio St.3d 280, 293 (1996). The moving party does not
discharge this initial burden under Civ.R. 56 by simply making a conclusory allegation
that the non-moving party has no evidence to prove its case. Id. Rather, the moving party
must affirmatively demonstrate by affidavit or other evidence allowed by Civ.R. 56(C) that
the non-moving party has no evidence to support its claims. Id. If the moving party meets
its burden, then the non-moving party has a reciprocal burden to set forth specific facts
showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. Civ.R. 56(E); Dresher at 293. If the non-
moving party does not so respond, summary judgment, if appropriate, shall be entered
against the non-moving party. Id.
          {¶ 16} In their brief, appellants present the following "Issue Presented for Review
and Argument," which contains the entirety of appellants' argument under the first
assignment of error:
Nos. 17AP-773 and 17AP-810                                                          5

              Where a person fails to establish a justiciable cause the Ohio
              Common Pleas Courts cannot invoke its own jurisdiction of
              the subject matter, and Ohio Board of Motor Vehicle Repair is
              not entitled to summary judgment because it lacked standing
              to sue, did not have a personal stake in the outcome of the
              case, and failed to prove any injuries that entitled it to relief
              due to the fact that Griffin was protected with the Grandfather
              clause stated below that does not allow the R.C. 4775 to
              preempt any established rights that he had prior to December
              1997, which creates reasonable doubt and is a genuine issue
              that disqualified the Appellee-Plaintiff's right to a summary
              judgment.

        {¶ 17} R.C. 4775.02 provides:

              (A) No person shall act as a motor vehicle collision repair
              operator or motor vehicle window tint operator unless the
              person is registered in accordance with this chapter.

        {¶ 18} R.C. 4775.01(D) provides:

              "Motor vehicle collision repair operator" means any person,
              sole proprietorship, foreign or domestic partnership, limited
              liability corporation, or other legal entity that is not an
              employee or agent of a principal and performs five or more
              motor vehicle collision repairs in a calendar year

        {¶ 19} R.C. 4775.01(E) provides:

              "Motor vehicle window tint operator" means any person, sole
              proprietorship, foreign or domestic partnership, limited
              liability corporation, or other legal entity that is not an
              employee or agent of a principal and installs tinted glass, or
              transparent, nontransparent, translucent, and reflectorized
              material in or on five or more motor vehicle windshields, side
              windows, sidewings, and rear windows in a calendar year.

        {¶ 20} R.C. 4775.11 contains an exemption to R.C. 4775.02 with regard to local
laws:
              It is the intent of the general assembly to preempt any local
              ordinance, resolution, or other law adopted or enacted after
              December 18, 1997, that is limited to the registration of
              persons engaged in business as motor vehicle repair operators
              in a manner corresponding to the provisions of this chapter.
              This chapter does not preempt any local law adopted or
              enacted prior to December 18, 1997, for motor vehicle
Nos. 17AP-773 and 17AP-810                                                                 6

              collision repair operators or the effective date of this
              amendment for motor vehicle window tint operators, or that
              may require registration or licensure as a component of
              imposing additional requirements on persons engaged in
              business as motor vehicle repair operators or technicians. Nor
              does it preempt the enforcement of any local law regulating
              motor vehicle repair operators or technicians, including
              building, zoning, health, safety, or other similar codes or laws.

       {¶ 21} In the present case, appellants' vague argument seems to be that they were
exempt from compliance with R.C. Chapter 4775 based on 4775.11. However, appellants
fail to explain what "established rights" they had prior to December 18, 1997, and what
local law exempts them from the registration requirements of R.C. Chapter 4775. Given
appellants' complete failure to adequately argue their first assignment of error, we must
overrule it. See App.R. 16(A)(7) (appellant must present an argument with respect to each
assignment of error that includes the reasons in support of the contentions, with citations
to authorities, statutes, and parts of the record).
       {¶ 22} Appellants argue in their second assignment of error the trial court erred
when it granted the board's motion for summary judgment. The entirety of appellant's
argument is as follows:
              Where a person fails to answer admissions it creates an
              automatic sanction and default, and Ohio Board of Motor
              Vehicle Repair is not entitled to summary judgment because it
              had a deadline of September 22, 2016 to answer admissions
              and failed to follow the Ohio Civil Rule 36 as required by law.

       {¶ 23} As set forth above, on July 29, 2016, the board filed a motion for summary
judgment. On the discovery deadline of August 12, 2016, appellants filed several requests
for discovery, including interrogatories, requests for production of documents, and
requests for admissions. On September 2, 2016, the board filed a motion for stay of
discovery pending the outcome of the motion for summary judgment. On September 30,
2016, the trial court granted the board's motion for summary judgment and found the
motion to stay was moot. On October 30, 2016, appellants filed a notice of appeal.
       {¶ 24} Appellants argue the trial court should not have granted summary judgment
because appellants failed to respond to their discovery requests. Initially, we point out the
board filed a motion to stay discovery that remained pending until the court rendered
Nos. 17AP-773 and 17AP-810                                                                  7

summary judgment; thus, appellants' assertion that the matters contained in the
discovery requests should have been deemed admitted because the board failed to
respond by the due date is unpersuasive. If the board were required to provide discovery
during the pendency of their motion to stay discovery, their motion would have been
rendered impotent.
       {¶ 25} Notwithstanding, Civ.R. 56(F) provides the sole remedy for a party who
must respond to a motion for summary judgment before it has completed adequate
discovery. Mootispaw v. Mohr, 10th Dist. No. 15AP-885, 2016-Ohio-1246, ¶ 10;
Commons at Royal Landing, LLC v. Whitehall, 10th Dist. No. 15AP-240, 2016-Ohio-362,
¶ 8. Pursuant to Civ.R. 56(F), a party may request the trial court defer ruling on the
motion for summary judgment pending the completion of discovery. Mootispaw at ¶ 10;
Commons at Royal Landing at ¶ 9. When a party fails to move for a Civ.R. 56(F)
continuance, a trial court may grant summary judgment to the moving party even if
discovery remains incomplete. Mootispaw at ¶ 10; Commons at Royal Landing at ¶ 11;
see also Grenga v. Youngstown State Univ., 10th Dist. No. 11AP-165, 2011-Ohio-5621,
¶ 22, citing BMI Fed. Credit Union v. Burkitt, 10th Dist. No. 09AP-1024, 2010-Ohio-
3027, ¶ 17-18 (when a party does not file a Civ.R. 56(F) motion, it is not error for the trial
court to rule on a motion for summary judgment where discovery is pending).
Furthermore, the party that fails to move for a Civ.R. 56(F) continuance does not preserve
his right to challenge the adequacy of discovery on appeal. Mootispaw at ¶ 10; see also
BMI Fed. Credit Union at ¶ 17-18 (because appellant failed to file a Civ.R. 56(F) motion
asking the trial court to delay ruling on appellee's motion for summary judgment pending
completion of the outstanding discovery requests, appellant cannot argue on appeal that
the trial court erred by ruling on the motion for summary judgment).
       {¶ 26} In the present case, appellants did not move for a continuance to complete
discovery, pursuant to Civ.R. 56(F), any time prior to the trial court's entry granting
summary judgment. Even considering this court in Tintmasters found that the
September 30, 2016 judgment was not a final appealable order and remanded the matter,
appellants also failed to move for a continuance under Civ.R. 56(F) prior to the October 2,
2017 final judgment under review currently. Consequently, the trial court did not err in
Nos. 17AP-773 and 17AP-810                                                           8

granting the board summary judgment, even though appellants had not obtained the
discovery they sought. Appellants' second assignment of error is overruled.
      {¶ 27} Accordingly, appellants' two assignments of error are overruled, and the
judgments of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas are affirmed.
                                                                    Judgments affirmed.

                          SADLER and DORRIAN, JJ., concur.

                              ____________________