Court Opinion

ID: 9893886
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-10-30 19:10:37.169099+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:06:54.428312
License: Public Domain

[Cite as Beavers v. Lors, 2023-Ohio-3940.]

                   IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                           ELEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                  LAKE COUNTY

LORNA BEAVERS,                                    CASE NO. 2022-L-122

                   Plaintiff-Appellee,
                                                  Civil Appeal from the
          - vs -                                  Court of Common Pleas

ROBERT LORS,
                                                  Trial Court No. 2021 CV 00928
                   Defendant-Appellant.

                                             OPINION

                                     Decided: October 30, 2023
                                        Judgment: Affirmed

Jeffrey H. Black, Murray & Black LTD LPA, 38109 Euclid Avenue, Willoughby, OH 44094
(For Plaintiff-Appellee).

Matthew A. Craig, 4202 Portside Drive, Vermilion, OH 44089 (For Defendant-Appellant).

EUGENE A. LUCCI, J.

          {¶1}     Appellant, Robert Lors, appeals the judgment finding him in contempt. We

affirm.

          {¶2}     The parties are neighbors with adjoining properties. In 2021, appellee,

Lorna Beavers, filed a complaint in the trial court seeking a declaratory judgment to quiet

title, alleging that she had acquired ownership of a portion of Lors’ land through adverse

possession.        Ultimately, the parties agreed to certain terms to resolve the dispute,

including entering into a mutual no-contact order. These agreements were memorialized
in two agreed entries filed on April 8, 2022, entitled “Agreed Order” and “Agreed Judgment

Entry Mutual No Contact Order.”

       {¶3}   On July 27, 2022, Beavers filed a motion requesting that Lors be required

to appear and show cause as to why he should not be held in contempt for failure to abide

by the terms of the “orders dated April 8, 2022, to wit an Agreed Judgment Entry and a

Mutual No Contact Order.”       (Underlining sic.)   In her affidavit in support, Beavers

maintained that Lors had failed to comply with “both of these Court Orders.” (Underlining

sic.) Beavers maintained that, pursuant to the “Agreed Judgment Entry,” it was ordered

that “both parties shall, within 30 days of this Entry, remove any of his/her personal (sic.)

which may be encroaching upon the other’s property.” However, Beavers maintained

that Lors’ “person property (sic.)” remained on her property despite her having allowed

Lors additional time for its removal. Beavers further maintained that Lors failed to repair

his fence in accordance with the “Agreed Judgment Entry.” In addition, Beavers alleged

violations of the “Mutual No Contact Order,” as the “same terms regarding property

removal and fence repair, are included in the Mutual No Contact Order,” and further Lors

had thrown items on to Beavers’ yard on May 10, 2022, in violation of the “Mutual No

Contact Order.”

       {¶4}   Along with her motion, Beavers filed instructions to the clerk to serve Lors

directly by certified mail. The next day, a service notification was docketed indicating that

counsel for the parties were notified of the filing of the motion to show cause through the

court’s electronic filing system. The trial court scheduled the motion for a hearing on

September 29, 2022. Again, service notifications of the hearing notice were sent through

the court’s electronic filing system to the parties’ attorneys. Thereafter, a summons for

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contempt was issued, instructing Lors to appear at the court on September 29, 2022. A

notation on the docket reflects that the summons was issued for service by certified mail

to Lors.   However, the certified mail was thereafter returned as “unclaimed.”          On

September 21, 2022, counsel for Beavers filed instructions to the clerk to serve Lors the

summons by regular mail. However, the docket does not affirmatively indicate that the

clerk proceeded to reissue service by regular mail on Lors.

       {¶5}   On September 22, 2022, counsel for Lors filed a motion to vacate the April

8, 2022 “Agreed Order” and requested that the motion to show cause set for September

29, 2022, “be continued as it is based on the above order.” In an attached brief in support,

Lors’ counsel stated that the April 8, 2022 “Agreed Order” failed to accurately reflect the

parties’ agreement regarding the boundary line. Beavers opposed Lors’ motion to vacate

and to continue the show cause hearing, maintaining that even were there a mistake in

the “Agreed Judgment Entry,” Lors still violated the agreement, and the “Mutual No

Contact Order” violations did not pertain to the property line.

       {¶6}   The trial court scheduled the matter for a telephone conference on

September 28, 2022. Subsequently, on October 3, 2022, the court rescheduled the

motion to show cause hearing to November 3, 2022. A service notification was entered

on the docket indicating service on the parties’ counsel of the hearing notification. In

addition, on October 4, 2022, the trial court issued an entry granting Lors’ motion to

continue and again noting in the entry that the hearing on the motion to show cause was

reset to November 3, 2022. A corresponding service notification reflecting notice to the

parties’ counsel was also docketed.

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        {¶7}    Subsequently, Beavers filed a supplement to her motion to show cause,

certifying service on counsel for Lors, alleging that Lors had committed additional

violations of the “Mutual No Contact Order.” In support, she maintained that Lors had

thrown additional items into her yard, including a dead animal.

        {¶8}    Thereafter, Lors’ attorney moved to withdraw as counsel, stating that he had

been unable to reach Lors after several attempts. On October 31, 2022, the court granted

the motion, and specifically noted that the hearing on the motion to show cause “remains

as previously set for November 3, 2022 at 2:30 P.M.” A notation at the bottom of the entry

indicates that a copy of the entry would be sent to Lors at his address.

        {¶9}    Beavers’ contempt motion proceeded to hearing on November 3, 2022.

Beavers’ counsel appeared in person. Beavers appeared at the hearing through remote

contemporaneous video; although she was unable to view the courtroom and, instead,

participated in the hearing by audio. Lors did not appear.1 Thereafter, the trial court

issued a judgment entry sanctioning Lors to 30 days of confinement and a $1,000.00 fine

to be paid within ten days of service of the order, which could be purged upon satisfaction

of certain conditions. Separate from the purge conditions, the court ordered Lors to pay

Beavers’ attorney fees in the amount of $4,379.87, pursuant to the terms of the agreed

entry. The court ordered that Lors be served a copy of the contempt entry by sheriff’s

service.

        {¶10} Subsequently, Lors, through new counsel, filed a motion to vacate the

contempt judgment pursuant to Civ.R. 60(B), and Lors also appealed the judgment. On

1. Lors does not make an argument specific to the authority of the court to proceed with a contempt hearing
in the absence of an alleged contemnor, and, therefore, our judgment should not be read to express any
opinion on this issue.
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Lors’ motion, we issued a limited remand of 30 days to permit the trial court to rule on the

Civ.R. 60(B) motion. The trial court denied the motion. Lors did not appeal the denial of

his motion.

       {¶11} This matter is now before us on Lors’ appeal of the contempt judgment.

Beavers has not filed an answer brief.

       {¶12} At the outset, it is prudent to delineate the nature of the contempt at issue

in this case. “Contempt of court has been variously defined as ‘disobedience of an order

of a court’ and ‘conduct which brings the administration of justice into disrespect, or which

tends to embarrass, impede or obstruct a court in the performance of its functions.’” Allen

v. Allen, 2022-Ohio-3198, 196 N.E.3d 368, ¶ 61 (11th Dist.), quoting Denovchek v. Bd. of

Trumbull Cty. Commrs., 36 Ohio St.3d 14, 15, 520 N.E.2d 1362 (1988). “‘A court may

punish disobedience of its order, pursuant to R.C. 2705.02(A) or the court’s inherent

power to enforce its authority.’” Allen at ¶ 61, quoting State ex rel. Adkins v. Sobb, 39

Ohio St.3d 34, 35, 528 N.E.2d 1247 (1988).

       {¶13} Contempt is characterized as direct or indirect and civil or criminal for

certain purposes. Here, Lors’ arguments on appeal reflect a position that the trial court

found him in indirect, civil contempt, and we agree. See In re: D.S.S., 2020-Ohio-5387,

163 N.E.3d 59, ¶ 12 (11th Dist.) (Indirect contempt is generally contemptuous behavior

occurring outside the presence of the court.); Denovchek at 16 (“If sanctions are primarily

designed to benefit the complainant through remedial or coercive means, then the

contempt proceeding is civil.” (Citation omitted.)).

       {¶14} Mindful of the foregoing, we proceed to address Lors’ assigned errors with

respect to the contempt proceedings.

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Case No. 2022-L-122
       {¶15} In his first assigned error, Lors argues:

       {¶16} “The trial court committed prejudicial error in holding Defendant/Appellant

in indirect contempt where Defendant/Appellant received insufficient notice of contempt

proceedings[.]”

       {¶17} Lors’ first assigned error implicates issues regarding the method of service

in civil proceedings and notice of the proceedings. We address each in turn.

       {¶18} With respect to the method of service, Civ.R. 4 through 4.6 govern service

of the original complaint in a matter, which is served directly on a defendant. Civ.R. 5

provides that, subsequent to the initial complaint, service of filings may generally be made

upon a represented party’s attorney. In his brief, Lors cites Civ.R. 4.6, which pertains to

reissuing of service by regular mail where certified mail has been returned as “unclaimed.”

Accordingly, Lors implicitly maintains that service of the motion and summons was

required to be made directly upon him.

       {¶19} There is conflicting case law as to whether contempt motions and

summonses must be served directly on an alleged contemnor in accordance with Civ.R.

4 through 4.6 or whether service on an alleged contemnor’s attorney in accordance with

Civ.R. 5 is proper. See, e.g., Quisenberry v. Quisenberry, 91 Ohio App. 3d 341, 346, 632

N.E.2d 916 (2d Dist.1993) (“Inasmuch as there is no specified manner of process required

for the filing of a motion for civil contempt, a person serving such a motion may do so in

any manner authorized by the Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure. Specifically, because a

motion for contempt is a written motion as contemplated by Civ.R. 5, process may be

served in accordance with the methods permitted by that rule, i.e., by delivery, facsimile

transmission, or ordinary mail service to the party or attorney representing that party.”);

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Case No. 2022-L-122
but see Hansen v. Hansen, 132 Ohio App. 3d 795, 799-800, 726 N.E.2d 557 (1st

Dist.1999) (“Considering the unique nature of contempt proceedings—as well as the fact

that the alleged contemnor is the person who faces punishment, not the attorney—we do

not believe that service of the contempt motion on [the alleged contemnor’s] attorney was

enough. We agree with cases that have held that contempt motions do not fall under

Civ.R. 5(B) and that there generally must be an attempt to serve such motions on the

alleged contemnors directly.”).

       {¶20} Although Lors implicitly relies on the provisions of Civ.R. 4 through 4.6, he

does not advance any argument why these rules, as opposed to Civ.R. 5, should apply

to motions for contempt, and it is not this court’s duty to create arguments on behalf of

the appellant. See Village of S. Russell v. Upchurch, 11th Dist. Geauga Nos. 2001-G-

2395, 2001-G-2396, 2003-Ohio-2099, ¶ 10. Accordingly, we proceed to address the

issue of notice.

       {¶21} As set forth in our recitation of the facts and procedural history, it is clear

that counsel for Lors received notice of the proceedings, including notices of the hearing,

through the court’s electronic filing system prior to his withdrawal from representation of

Lors. Further, with respect to the notice of hearing, the Ohio Supreme Court has stated:

“Ohio courts have traditionally held that while some form of notice of a trial date is required

to satisfy due process, an entry of the date of trial on the court’s docket constitutes

reasonable, constructive notice of that fact.” Ohio Valley Radiology Assocs., Inc. v. Ohio

Valley Hosp. Assn., 28 Ohio St.3d 118, 124, 502 N.E.2d 599 (1986); see also Miller v.

Halstead, 11th Dist. Trumbull No. 2000-T-0088, 2001 WL 1149883, *1-2 (Sept. 28, 2001).

Here, notice of the November 3, 2022 hearing was sent to Lors’ original counsel, and

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Case No. 2022-L-122
after counsel’s withdrawal, directly to Lors. Further, the docket also contains entries

dating back to October 3, 2022, reflecting the November 3, 2022 hearing date.

       {¶22} Accordingly, Lors’ first assigned error lacks merit.

       {¶23} In his second assigned error, Lors maintains:

       {¶24} The trial court committed prejudicial error in holding Defendant/Appellant in

indirect contempt of the Agreed Order where the record contained no allegations that

Defendant/Appellant had violated the Agreed Order[.]”

       {¶25} Lors argues that the allegations contained in Beavers’ motion to show cause

and her supplemental motion only allege violations of the mutual no-contact order, and

the trial court erred in finding him in contempt of both April 8, 2022 orders.

       {¶26} R.C. 2705.02(A) provides that a person guilty of “[d]isobedience of, or

resistance to, a lawful writ, process, order, rule, judgment, or command of a court or

officer” may be punished for contempt. Pursuant to R.C. 2705.03, “In cases under section

2705.02 of the Revised Code, a charge in writing shall be filed with the clerk of the court,

an entry thereof made upon the journal, and an opportunity given to the accused to be

heard, by himself or counsel.”

       {¶27} Here, Lors maintains that the written contempt charge did not allege that he

violated the “Agreed Order.” Lors argument seems to be based entirely on Beavers’

failure to use the specifically captioned titles of the two agreed orders, each filed on April

8, 2022, entitled “Agreed Order” and “Agreed Judgment Entry Mutual No Contact Order.”

However, it is readily apparent from the motion, supplemental motion, and supporting

affidavits that Beavers referred to each order, respectively, as the “Agreed Judgment

Entry” and the “Mutual No Contact Order.” Beavers’ use of “Agreed Judgment Entry” to

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Case No. 2022-L-122
refer to the entry entitled “Agreed Order” did not deny Lors written notice of the particular

contempt charges of which he was accused.

       {¶28} Further, both August 8, 2022 orders require the parties to remove their

personal property that encroached on the other's property within 30 days. The only

allegations that would support violations of the “Agreed Order” pertained to Lors’ failure

to remove his personal property from Beavers’ property. As both entries required Lors to

so proceed, the violations also amounted to violations of the “Agreed Judgment Entry

Mutual No Contact Order.” Thus, Lors would have suffered no prejudice even were we

to conclude that Beavers did not sufficiently identify both orders in her motion.

       {¶29} Accordingly, Lors’ second assigned error lacks merit.

       {¶30} We address together Lors’ third and fourth assigned errors, in which he

contends:

              [3.] The trial court committed prejudicial error by holding
              Defendant/Appellant in contempt and ordering specific
              performance of Defendant/Appellant's obligations under the
              Agreed Judgment Entry where the Parties agreed to another
              specific remedy for any breach of obligations under the
              Agreed Judgment Entry and where the Parties did not reserve
              the right to pursue other remedies[.]

              [4.] The trial court committed prejudicial error in imposing a
              term of incarceration of thirty days and a fine of $1,000 on
              Defendant/Appellant for contempt where said sanctions are
              contrary to law and/or the Agreed Judgment Entry.

       {¶31} R.C. 2705.05(A) provides:

              (A) In all contempt proceedings, the court shall conduct a
              hearing. At the hearing, the court shall investigate the charge
              and hear any answer or testimony that the accused makes or
              offers and shall determine whether the accused is guilty of the
              contempt charge. If the accused is found guilty, the court may
              impose any of the following penalties:

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Case No. 2022-L-122
              (1) For a first offense, a fine of not more than two hundred fifty
              dollars, a definite term of imprisonment of not more than thirty
              days in jail, or both;

              (2) For a second offense, a fine of not more than five hundred
              dollars, a definite term of imprisonment of not more than sixty
              days in jail, or both;

              (3) For a third or subsequent offense, a fine of not more than
              one thousand dollars, a definite term of imprisonment of not
              more than ninety days in jail, or both.

       {¶32} Here, as set forth above, the trial court sanctioned Lors to 30 days of

confinement and a fine of $1,000.00, which he could purge by doing the following within

seven days of service of the order: (1) removing his garbage cans, firewood, and PVC

pipe from Beavers’ property, and (2) removing all other of his personal property from

Beavers’ property. Lors maintains in his third assigned error that the trial court erred by

imposing contempt sanctions against him because in the mutual no-contact order, the

parties agreed that “[v]iolation of this Order will result in liquidated damages of $500.00

per violation and would result in the violating party being liable to reimburse the other

party for reasonable attorney fees and expenses in enforcing these provisions.” Lors

maintains that the contempt order essentially requires specific performance of the mutual

no-contact order contrary to the parties’ bargained-for damages provision contained in

the mutual no-contact order. In his fourth assigned error, Lors contends that the trial

court’s sanctions exceed the sanctions permitted by statute.

       {¶33} With respect to the third assigned error, although the parties agreed to the

damages provision in the mutual no contact order, a court has inherent and statutory

authority to enforce its orders through contempt proceedings. See Allen, 2022-Ohio-

3198, at ¶ 61. Lors does not provide any support for the proposition that a court is

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Case No. 2022-L-122
divested of this authority where the parties agree to alternative damage provisions for

violations of an agreed entry.

       {¶34} Accordingly, Lors’ third assigned error lacks merit.

       {¶35} As to his fourth assigned error, the Ohio Supreme Court questioned the

legislature’s authority to limit punishments for indirect contempt in Cincinnati v. Cincinnati

Dist. Council 51, Am. Fedn. of State, Cty. & Mun. Emp., AFL-CIO, 35 Ohio St.2d 197,

207, 299 N.E.2d 686 (1973), stating, “It is * * * highly doubtful that the General Assembly

may properly limit the power of court to punish for contempt. Although it is conceded that

the General Assembly may prescribe procedure in indirect contempt cases, the power to

punish for contempt has traditionally been regarded as inherent in the courts and not

subject to legislative control.” Compare State v. Local Union 5760, United Steelworkers

of America, 172 Ohio St. 75, 173 N.E.2d 331 (1961), paragraph four of the syllabus (“In

imposing punishment for acts of direct contempt, courts are not limited by legislation but

have the power to impose a penalty reasonably commensurate with the gravity of the

offense. State, ex rel. Turner v. Albin, 118 Ohio St. 527, 161 N.E. 792, approved and

followed.” (Emphasis added.)).

       {¶36} Subsequently, in Pugh v. Pugh, 15 Ohio St.3d 136, 142, 472 N.E.2d 1085

(1984), the Ohio Supreme Court addressed former R.C. 2705.05, which provided that an

accused found guilty of contempt could be fined not more than $500.00 or imprisoned not

more than ten days, or both. In Pugh, the appellant was ordered to serve two consecutive

ten-day jail terms for violating two different terms of a separation agreement. Id. Both

violations were brought in one action for contempt. Id. The Supreme Court held that the

appellant could “only be imprisoned for a maximum of ten days if he is found guilty of

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Case No. 2022-L-122
contempt,” and could not “be imprisoned for each violation which composes the contempt

charge.” Id. at 143.

       {¶37} However, here, the trial court did not impose separate sanctions for each

violation of the prior orders. Instead, it relied on its inherent authority to craft a contempt

sanction. Although Pugh did not specifically address the issue of whether a court has

inherent authority to exceed the statutory limitations on contempt sanctions for a singular

contempt finding, we note that the Second District has held that “[n]otwithstanding, the

language of Pugh, * * * the common pleas court’s authority to punish contempt is not

limited by R.C. 2705.05.” Carter v. Carter, 2d Dist. Montgomery Nos. 14409, 14530,

14574, 1994 WL 660811, *14 (Nov. 23, 1994); see also Johnson v. Johnson, 2020-Ohio-

1644, 154 N.E.3d 310, ¶ 22 (2d Dist.). In support, the Second District relied on State ex

rel. Johnson v. Cty. Court of Perry Cty., 25 Ohio St.3d 53, 54, 495 N.E.2d 16 (1986),

which post-dated Pugh and addressed the inherent authority of certain courts to punish

for contempt. Therein, the Supreme Court determined that statutorily-created courts have

no inherent authority to define and punish indirect contempt.           Id.   In reaching this

conclusion, the Supreme Court contrasted the powers inherent in constitutionally-created

courts:

              “A court created by the constitution has inherent power to
              define and punish contempts, such power being necessary to
              the exercise of judicial functions.” State, ex rel. Turner, v.
              Albin (1928), 118 Ohio St. 527, 161 N.E.2d 792, paragraph
              one of the syllabus. “The general assembly is without
              authority to abridge the power of a court created by the
              constitution to punish contempts * * *, such power being
              inherent and necessary to the exercise of judicial functions * *
              *.” Hale v. State (1896), 55 Ohio St. 210, 45 N.E. 199,
              paragraph one of the syllabus. Statutory powers to deal with
              contempts are merely cumulative and in addition to the
              inherent authority of the court. Univis Lens Co. v. United
                                              12

Case No. 2022-L-122
              Electrical Radio & Machine Workers of America (1949), 86
              Ohio App. 241, 245, 89 L.Ed.2d 658 [41 O. O. 158]. However,
              where a procedure has been prescribed for the exercise of the
              power to punish contempts by rule or by statute, it is the duty
              of the court to follow such procedure. See In Matter of Lands
              (1946), 146 Ohio St. 589, 595, 67 N.E.2d 433 [33 O.O. 80].

State ex rel. Johnson at 54. Accordingly, the Second District has determined that,

“[b]ecause the holding in Pugh relied on R.C. 2705.05, which the Supreme Court of Ohio

later indicated does not limit the trial court's inherent authority to punish contempts,” an

appellate court should simply apply the abuse of discretion standard of review. Johnson

at ¶ 22, citing Carter at *14. Other appellate district courts have likewise concluded that

common pleas courts are not bound by the statutory limitations on sanctions for indirect

contempts. See, e.g., Caldwell v. Caldwell, 4th Dist. Gallia No. 02CA17, 2003-Ohio-1752,

¶ 18; Faubel v. Faubel, 7th Dist. Mahoning Nos. 05-MA-101, 05-MA-210, 2006-Ohio-

4679, ¶ 65; Copley Twp. Bd. of Trustees v. W.J. Horvath Co., 193 Ohio App.3d 286, 2011-

Ohio-1214, 951 N.E.2d 1054, ¶ 10 (9th Dist.); Heinrichs v. 356 Registry Inc., 70 N.E.3d

91, 2016-Ohio-4646, ¶ 75-76 (10th Dist.); Davis v. Davis, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2021-

11-139, 2022-Ohio-3179, ¶ 36.

       {¶38} We recognize that this court previously stated in dicta that the Ohio

Supreme Court would likely uphold the statutory limitations on contempt sanctions and

not follow the logic from Moraine v. Steger Motors, Inc., 111 Ohio App.3d 265, 675 N.E.2d

1345 (2d Dist.1996), which held that courts are not bound to statutory limitations on

contempt sanctions. Concord Twp. Trustees v. Hazelwood Builders, Inc., 11th Dist. Lake

No. 2000-L-040, 2001 WL 285822, *3 (Mar. 23, 2001). However, based upon the inherent

authority of constitutionally-created courts and the Ohio Supreme Court’s discussion in

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Case No. 2022-L-122
State ex rel. Johnson, we agree with those districts that hold that common pleas courts

are not restricted by the statutory limitations on indirect contempt sanctions.

        {¶39} Accordingly, the trial court had discretion in crafting a sanction for contempt

and was not restricted by statutory limitations. As Lors has not advanced an argument

that the trial court abused its discretion, his fourth assigned error lacks merit.

        {¶40} In his fifth assigned error, Lors maintains:

        {¶41} “The trial court committed prejudicial error in holding Defendant/Appellant

in contempt where the record contains insufficient evidence to support the contempt

finding[.]”

        {¶42} In Lors’ fifth assigned error, he initially challenges the propriety of Beavers’

counsel’s use of leading questions and then challenges Beavers’ authentication of the

exhibits during the hearing because she could not view the exhibits that her counsel

described. However, as Lors did not appear for the contempt hearing, he failed to lodge

any objections to Beavers’ counsel’s use of leading questions or to Beavers’

authentication of the exhibits based only on description by counsel. “A party who does

not bring an alleged error to the trial court’s attention forfeits the right to challenge that

error on appeal.” Redding v. United States Parachute Assn., Inc., 11th Dist. Geauga No.

2022-G-0024, 2023-Ohio-884, ¶ 6, citing Ashmore v. Eversole, 2d Dist. Montgomery No.

15672, 1996 WL 685568, *6 (Nov. 29, 1996). Although these challenges are forfeited,

this court may recognize plain error. However,

               [I]n appeals of civil cases, the plain error doctrine is not
               favored and may be applied only in the extremely rare case
               involving exceptional circumstances where error, to which no
               objection was made at the trial court, seriously affects the
               basic fairness, integrity, or public reputation of the judicial

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Case No. 2022-L-122
               process, thereby challenging the legitimacy of the underlying
               judicial process itself.

Goldfuss v. Davidson, 79 Ohio St.3d 116, 679 N.E.2d 1099 (1997), syllabus. This is not

such a case.

       {¶43} Last, Lors maintains that the court’s finding that he had not removed his

firewood, PVC pipe, and garbage cans from Beavers’ property was not supported by the

evidence because Beavers provided no testimony that the firewood and PVC piping

belonged to Lors. At the hearing, Beavers indicated that the garbage cans located on her

property as shown in an exhibit belonged to Lors. With respect to the firewood, Beavers

testified that the firewood was pushed up against her house, as shown in another exhibit,

but she did not at the time specifically indicate that the firewood belonged to Lors. With

respect to the PVC pipe, Beavers testified that the piping was on her property as shown

in another exhibit, and she testified that the pipes had been located there since this case

began. However, again Beavers did not specifically state that the PVC pipes belonged

to Lors. Thereafter, during a discussion between the court and Beavers’ counsel, counsel

indicated that all of these items were subject to removal by Lors under the orders, and

Lors failed to remove them. Following this exchange, the court asked Beavers if Lors had

indicated to her why he would not move the garbage cans. Beavers replied:

               [BEAVERS]: He is not a big fan of my cameras and he wants
               all the cameras removed.

               THE COURT: Okay.

               [BEAVERS]: And so I think his logic is if I don’t move the
               cameras he won’t move his stuff.

       {¶44} We recognize that statements of counsel are not evidence. See Corp.

Exchange Bldgs. IV & V, L.P. v. Franklin Cty. Bd. of Revision, 82 Ohio St.3d 297, 299,
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Case No. 2022-L-122
695 N.E.2d 743 (1998). However, here, counsel’s statement that the order required Lors

to remove all of the items identified in the exhibits provides meaning to Beavers’ later

statement that Lors would not remove “his stuff,” instead of simply replying to the court’s

question of why Lors would not remove his garbage cans. Based on Beavers’ statements,

the trial court could reasonably infer Lors’ ownership of the firewood and PVC pipe.

      {¶45} Accordingly, Lors’ fifth assigned error lacks merit.

      {¶46} In his sixth assigned error, Lors contends:

      {¶47} “The trial court committed prejudicial error in denying Defendant/Appellant’s

motion for relief from judgment under Civil Rule 60(B) based upon a misinterpretation of

the law and a misunderstanding and/or mischaracterization of the facts.”

      {¶48} Lors did not appeal from the denial of his Civ.R. 60(B) motion. Therefore,

“because we do not have a separate notice of appeal from the trial court's judgment on

the Civ.R. 60(B) motion, we can neither decide nor consider that motion since it was filed

after the trial court issued its decision and judgment entry on the jurisdictional matter,

which is the subject of this appeal.” (Emphasis sic.) Plaza v. Kind, 3d Dist. Auglaize Nos.

2-18-05, 2-18-06, 2018-Ohio-5215, ¶ 14, citing Bank of New York v. Bartmas, 10th Dist.

Franklin No. 04AP-1011, 2005-Ohio-6099, ¶ 7.          “In other words, we do not have

jurisdiction to hear arguments regarding the denial of a Civ.R. 60(B) motion in a direct

appeal from the trial court’s original judgment.” Plaza at ¶ 14, citing Brooks v. Merchant,

8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 89462, 2008-Ohio-932, ¶ 13.

      {¶49} Accordingly, Lors’ sixth assigned error is not properly before us.

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Case No. 2022-L-122
      {¶50} The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

MARY JANE TRAPP, J.,

MATT LYNCH, J.,

concur.

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