627 N.E.2d 1033 | Ohio Ct. App. | 1993
[EDITORS' NOTE: THIS PAGE CONTAINS HEADNOTES. HEADNOTES ARE NOT AN OFFICIAL PRODUCT OF THE COURT, THEREFORE THEY ARE NOT DISPLAYED.] *848 On March 30, 1984, the Columbus Board of Education ("board") filed suit in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas against twenty-eight named defendants, manufacturers of asbestos and asbestos-containing products. The complaint set forth various claims for relief, including negligence, fraud, breach of implied warranties, nuisance and strict liability in tort. The board sought to recover damages for the cost of abating the asbestos found in particular schools of the Columbus public school system. On February 25, 1986, the board amended its complaint and added Basic, Inc. as a defendant to the action. Eventually, the *849 board dismissed all of the original defendants except Pfizer, Inc. ("Pfizer") and the newly added Basic, Inc. ("Basic"). The board also dismissed all but the strict liability claims.
Both Pfizer and Basic filed motions for summary judgment, each contending that the board's suit was barred by the applicable statute of limitations. The trial court granted Pfizer's and Basic's motions for summary judgment, stating that under the authority of Beavercreek Local Schools v. Basic, Inc.
(1991),
"The trial court erred, as a matter of law, in entering summary judgment against plaintiff on the statute of limitations."
Appellant's suit is one for injury to property arising out of the presence of asbestos in Columbus public schools. Asbestos-containing materials were installed in Columbus public schools in the late fifties and early sixties. It is now known that asbestos is a carcinogen and can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis, among other diseases. Adding to the insidiousness of asbestos is the fact that there is a latency period of approximately twenty to forty years between initial exposure and appearance of the disease.
According to the decision of the trial court and the record herein, appellant was first made aware of the potential danger of asbestos in mid-1978 through information from the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare ("HEW"), and news reports from the East Coast concerning sprayed-on asbestos in schools. In the fall of 1978, Stephen Vargo, head of the Department of Facility Planning for Columbus public schools, was contacted by Neil Marquard of the Ohio Industrial Commission and was offered assistance regarding the possibility of finding asbestos in Columbus public schools. Vargo then contacted appellant's supervising architect, who confirmed that certain schools did in fact contain asbestos.
In November 1978, thirteen Columbus schools were tested by Marquard and the Ohio Safety and Hygiene Division. Air and bulk samples of acoustical plaster in the ceilings were taken, and the results were positive for the presence of asbestos. On November 17, 1978, Vargo and Marquard had a conversation regarding the results of the tests. Vargo's notes from that conversation indicated that, based on the results of the tests, there was no immediate hazard. Portions of Vargo's notes stated that fiber counts were "low" and that one "can't even say [there was] any asbestos in [the] air." *850
Marquard testified that he had not reached a conclusion as to the hazardousness of the asbestos found in the thirteen schools. In an affidavit, Vargo stated that he understood that the results showed no airborne asbestos fibers and, therefore, he did not believe there was any hazard in 1978. Hence, he stated he had no basis to advise appellant or the superintendent that any health hazard existed. A Columbus Dispatch news report, dated December 22, 1978, indicated Vargo stated that the hard plaster used in the Columbus public schools had not caused the problems associated with sprayed-on asbestos and that he would be contacting experts to determine if the ceilings should be encapsulated.
In notes dated December 6, 1978, Vargo stated that sprayed-on asbestos is "bad" and cementitious asbestos was "no problem." In a memo dated December 21, 1978, Vargo told Dr. Joseph Davis, the superintendent at the time, that testing of the thirteen schools indicated no airborne asbestos fibers and pointed out that the material used by Columbus was a hard, cementitious type and "not the sprayed on type that had been a problem elsewhere."
In 1979, the United States Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") published what is commonly referred to as the "Orange Book." This publication contained background information regarding asbestos in schools and provided suggestions for the inspecting, testing and correcting of asbestos in schools. Although the publication stated that any exposure to asbestos should be eliminated or controlled, it went on to state that only certain kinds of asbestos-containing materials were considered hazardous. The soft or friable asbestos-containing materials were said to be the ones that can cause contamination and exposure problems. Sprayed-on materials are usually soft. However, hard materials were said generally not to create exposure problems. In 1979, there were no federal laws or regulations regarding asbestos in schools.
According to Vargo's deposition, Windsor Elementary School was tested in late 1979 or early 1980. Vargo testified that ceiling material in Windsor Elementary was removed in 1980 or 1981. Vargo stated that the material was friable. This was the first abatement of asbestos performed in a Columbus public school. In 1983, other abatement work was performed in various schools. Although documents reflecting abatement work are referred to in depositions, none was made part of the record here.
In 1983, the EPA updated the Orange Book with what has been commonly referred to as the "Blue Book." The purpose of this publication was to inform officials of new developments and information concerning asbestos control. In addition, it briefly described a new set of EPA regulations known as the "Asbestos-in-Schools Rule." These regulations required schools to inspect, sample and analyze friable materials to determine the presence of asbestos. If friable asbestos was detected, notification to school employees and parent-teacher *851 groups was required. The intent of these regulations was to locate asbestos materials and alert employees and parents of the presence of asbestos. The regulations contained no standards for airborne asbestos concentrations, exposure levels or abatement requirements in schools. These regulations became effective on June 28, 1982, and schools had to comply by May 27, 1983.
On March 23, 1983, a class action suit was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, of which appellant was made a class member. The suit was for damages for the cost of removing asbestos-containing materials from schools. Pfizer was an original defendant, and Basic was added December 15, 1986. Appellant opted out of the suit on November 12, 1987. Appellant filed this suit in March 1984, and it appears that abatement activity has continued since.
The sole issue before this court is when the cause of action accrued for statute of limitations purposes. Since appellant's suit is for injury to property, R.C.
"An action for any of the following causes shall be brought within four years after the cause thereof accrued:
"* * *
"(D) For an injury to the rights of the plaintiff not arising on contract nor enumerated in sections
The Supreme Court of Ohio has held that "[a]bsent legislative definition, it is left to the judiciary to determine when a cause `arose' for purposes of statutes of limitations."O'Stricker v. Jim Walter Corp. (1983),
Appellant has set forth alternative theories as to how to determine when the four-year period began to run. Both parties contend that the discovery rule applies but, in applying it, come up with different results. In essence, the discovery rule states that the cause of action accrues when the plaintiff knew or, in the exercise of reasonable diligence, should have known, of the injury. See O'Stricker, paragraph two of the syllabus, and Melnyk v. Cleveland Clinic (1972),
The discovery rule has been applied most often in medical malpractice cases. The underlying rationale for the rule is that the injury complained of may not manifest itself immediately and, therefore, it would be unfair to preclude a person *852
from asserting a claim when discovery of the injury comes so far after the negligent act. Examples of this include latent diseases and foreign-object cases. In O'Stricker, the discovery rule was applied to a cause of action for bodily injury caused by exposure to asbestos. The Supreme Court of Ohio recognized that with asbestos, injury does not occur contemporaneously with exposure, but instead can have a latency period of over twenty years. O'Stricker,
Appellant's property is damaged because it contains material that is now known to cause cancer and other diseases and isnow the subject of federal regulation and recommendations. Similar to the person physically injured by exposure to asbestos, appellant was for some time unaware that it had been injured. Despite the fact that asbestos was linked to certain cancers as far back as 1948, there was little, if any, regulation concerning its use until 1972, when the Occupational Safety and Health Administration promulgated airborne-exposure standards. See United States Environmental Protection Agency, "Guidance for Controlling Asbestos-Containing Materials in Buildings" (1985 Edition). Even then, these standards were for the purpose of protecting those persons who worked with asbestos in an industrial setting and not those who merely worked or went to school in a building that contained asbestos. Even the methods of testing for airborne fibers has changed since appellant was first told that its levels were either low or nonexistent. Indeed, in testimony made part of the record herein, former EPA employee David W. Mayer testified that the EPA issued its different publications in part because the information they contained kept changing.
Like so many other products, the health risks associated with asbestos were not discovered until long after its widespread use by the public. Because of the nature of asbestos and the ever-changing data available regarding the hazards of its presence in buildings, we believe application of the discovery rule in asbestos property damage cases is the most equitable method and most in line with the rationale behind statutes of limitations. See O'Stricker,
The question then becomes when did appellant know or when should appellant have known that its property was damaged. Pfizer and Basic contend that appellant knew it had been injured in 1978 when appellant became aware that asbestos waspotentially harmful. Appellant, although not stating a specific date of accrual, argues that reasonable minds could differ as to whether it knew or should have known it was injured in 1978 and that, therefore, summary judgment was inappropriate. Alternatively, appellant contends that the "cognizable *853 event" rule, an extension of the discovery rule, should be applied to find that the cause of action accrued in 1983 when appellant was included in the class action suit filed in federal court in Pennsylvania.
The Supreme Court of Ohio has extended the cognizable event rule only to medical malpractice cases and we will not extend it to the case at bar. Instead, we apply the discovery rule and find, construing the evidence most strongly in favor of appellant, the cause of action accrued when the first abatement occurred. Vargo testified that this occurred in 1980 or 1981 at Windsor Elementary.
The record shows that appellant first became aware of thepotential hazard of asbestos in 1978 when it began receiving information from HEW and news reports. Upon learning this, appellant did its own research and found its schools contained asbestos but not the type which had been the subject of most of the reports. The results of air sampling showed little, if any, airborne fibers. In addition, Vargo testified that the fact that appellant's buildings may have contained asbestos did not "have much relationship at all" to the sale of any buildings and that it was not a point of negotiation as far as an increase or decrease in price. Accordingly, we hold that the record, including exhibits and testimony, indicates that in 1978, appellant could reasonably have believed that no danger from asbestos existed in its schools and that, therefore, its property had not been damaged.
Appellee contends and the trial court held that the decision in Beavercreek controls and, under its authority, appellant's cause of action accrued in 1978. We believe, however, that the facts are distinguishable. More important, however, we believe that the court's analysis of when the cause of action accrued inBeavercreek comports with our holding here.
There is no question that the facts in Beavercreek and the facts here are similar. The causes of action are the same and at least one of the parties is the same. As in this case, the school district in Beavercreek first gained knowledge of the potential danger of asbestos from information and literature from various sources and, based on this, investigated and then conducted tests which indicated low fiber counts. The school district was told that there appeared to be no health hazard. However, the school district was also told that noticeable deterioration was detected. A list of recommendations was given to the school district and it was "strongly suggested that the undamaged acoustic plastered ceilings be painted or coated with a good quality latex paint." Id.,
Appellant never received such detailed recommendations for abatement. Indeed, the only evidence as to recommendations given to appellant shows that Vargo was told, as indicated by his November 17, 1978 notes, only that Battelle Memorial Institute was studying a sealing material. In addition, a December 21, *854 1978 memo stated that appellant was planning to meet with Battelle to discuss the best way to seal the ceilings if the need arose or if appellant wanted to know. The December 22, 1978Dispatch article also indicated that appellant was planning to check with experts as to whether the ceilings should be encapsulated. We cannot blame appellant for investigating the various options that it may have had to consider, and we do not now hold that such information-gathering charged it with knowledge that its property was therefore damaged.
The court in Beavercreek held that the cause of action accrued in June 1980 when the school district, in response to detailed recommendations, abated by encapsulating ceilings.Id.,
A problem arises as to Basic because it was not added as a defendant until February 25, 1986. The question becomes whether the amendment adding Basic relates back to the original complaint. Civ.R. 15(C) applies and states, in pertinent part:
"Whenever the claim or defense asserted in the amended pleading arose out of the conduct, transaction, or occurrence set forth or attempted to be set forth in the original pleading, the amendment relates back to the date of the original pleading. An amendment changing the party against whom a claim is asserted relates back if the foregoing provision is satisfied and, within the period provided by law for commencing the action against him, the party to be brought in by amendment (1) has received such notice of the institution of the action that he will not be prejudiced in maintaining his defense on the merits, and (2) knew or should have known that, but for a mistake concerning the identity of the proper party, the action would have been brought against him."1 *855
The primary purpose of Civ.R. 15(C) is to preserve those actions which have been filed against the wrong person or entity, either through a mistaken identity or misnomer. SeeLittleton v. Good Samaritan Hosp. Health Ctr. (1988),
The amended complaint here sets forth the same conduct as in the original complaint and, therefore, the first requirement has been met. The second requirement has also been met. Basic is a wholly owned subsidiary of Combustion Engineering, Inc. ("Combustion"), an original defendant to this action. Basic and Combustion share the same statutory agent and legal representation. Under the identity-of-interest doctrine, the institution of the action against Combustion served as constructive notice of the action to Basic because the two parties are so closely related in business. See HernandezJimenez v. Calero Toledo (C.A.1, 1979),
The common theme running through the case law is that, with respect to the third requirement, a relation back is permitted only when there has been a mistake as to the identity of the new party and not when there was a mere lack of knowledge as to the proper party. See Beavercreek,
Here, appellant has set forth no evidence showing a mistake on its part as to the identity of Basic. Indeed, the only evidence of why Basic was not added until later is contained in appellant's motion for leave to add Basic. The text of this motion states, in pertinent part: *856
"From approximately 1955 to 1962[,] plaintiff has reason to believe that the product [Kilnoise] was manufactured by Basic, Inc. Although there is a relationship between defendant Combustion * * * and Basic * * *, it has now become clear to the plaintiff that in order to achieve a complete disposition of the issue of liability for Kilnoise it is necessary to have Basic * * * as a defendant in this action.
"* * *
"* * * [T]he plaintiff has reason to believe that the product was actually manufactured by Basic * * *." (Emphasis added.)
It is clear from this motion that at the time of the original complaint, appellant lacked knowledge of the proper parties. This is insufficient to meet the third requirement and, therefore, the amended complaint did not relate back. Hence, Basic cannot be maintained as a party under the relation-back doctrine.
Appellant also contends that its claim against Basic is not time-barred because the statute of limitations was tolled by the filing of the class action in Pennsylvania. The class action was filed March 23, 1983, but Basic was not added as a defendant until December 15, 1986. Appellant contends that the statute of limitations did not begin to run until November 12, 1987, the day it opted out of the class. However, as with the amended complaint in this suit, appellant has failed to show that its failure to name Basic as an original defendant in the class action was due to a mistake or misnomer and not because appellant lacked knowledge as to the proper party. Therefore, the amended class action complaint did not relate back to the original class action complaint. Because the cause of action in this case accrued in 1981, adding Basic as a party to the class action in 1986 was untimely under Ohio's four-year statute of limitations. See Beavercreek,
Appellant further contends that the continuous tort doctrine applies and that, as long as asbestos remains in its buildings, the statute of limitations does not begin to run. The nature of this cause of action is such that the continuous tort doctrine does not apply. The doctrine connotes a continuing injury, whereas here, the injury — property damage — is not continuing. Appellant argues that because asbestos still remains in its schools, fibers are continuously released and, therefore, appellant's injury is continuous. While this rationale may be true in bodily injury cases and a select few other cases, it has no applicability in this particular property damage suit.
We have previously determined that the most equitable and rational method of determining when the cause of action accrued is when the appellant knew or *857 should have known it was injured. In light of that discussion, we reject appellant's argument that Basic's actions constitute a continuing tort.
In its last argument, appellant contends that Basic can be maintained as a party to this action because newly enacted R.C.
"(B) A cause of action for any removal, measures, or reimbursement described in divisions (A)(1) to (4) of this section accrues upon the date that the board of education is informed by an official of a state, county, or local health department or of the United States environmental protection agency, the Ohio environmental protection agency, or the industrial commission who has conducted an inspection for asbestos or who has received test data concerning asbestos located in a building or other structure that is owned by the board of education, that asbestos or materials that contain asbestos in any building or other structure that is owned by the board of education should be removed from the building or other structure or be encapsulated or otherwise maintained because the asbestos poses a health hazard or risk to persons who use the building or other structure."
Appellant argues that application of R.C.
R.C.
The above language does not constitute a clear indication that the statute is to be applied retroactively. Instead, a natural reading of the statute reflects an awareness that most asbestos-containing products were installed in buildings decades ago and that fact alone will not bar application of the new statute. R.C.
In the alternative, appellant contends that R.C.
Here, appellant essentially asks us not only to use R.C.
In contending that the standard contained in R.C.
The new statute states that a school board's cause of action accrues when it is told by a governmental agency that it should abate because the asbestos in its schools poses a health hazard. Applying the common-law discovery rule, we held *859 that appellant's cause of action accrued when it first abated because it believed a health hazard existed. Thus, the only real difference between the discovery rule as applied in this case and the standard in the new statute is that appellant itself discovered its injury and, therefore, appellant's cause of action accrued before it was officially informed by a governmental agency that it should abate due to a health hazard.
Under the facts of this case, it would be unsound to hold that appellant's cause of action did not accrue until a governmental agency informed it that it should abate when appellant already made an informed decision that abatement was necessary. Therefore, even using the abatement language in the new statute as instructive, we believe applying the common-law discovery rule to find that appellant's cause of action accrued in 1981 with the first abatement is the most logical and equitable outcome. Hence, Basic cannot be maintained as a party to this action.
Having held that appellant's cause of action accrued in 1981, summary judgment was inappropriate as to Pfizer, an original defendant to this action. However, having rejected each of appellant's alternative arguments, summary judgment was appropriate as to Basic. Therefore, appellant's sole assignment of error is sustained as to Pfizer, and overruled as to Basic. The judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed in part and reversed in part, and this cause is remanded for further appropriate proceedings.
Judgment affirmed in part,reversed in part,and cause remanded.
PEGGY BRYANT, P.J., and TYACK, J., concur.
DEAN STRAUSBAUGH, J., retired, of the Tenth Appellate District, was assigned to active duty under authority of Section
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