2013 Ohio 5888
Ohio Ct. App.
2013

JEFFERY C. DILL, ET AL., Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. CITY OF ATHENS, OHIO, ET AL., Defendant-Appellee.

Case No. 12CA30

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT ATHENS COUNTY

RELEASED: 12/26/13

[Cite as Dill v. Athens, 2013-Ohio-5888.]

Harsha, J.

DECISION AND JUDGMENT ENTRY

APPEARANCES:

Garry E. Hunter, Garry E. Hunter Law Offices, Inc., Athens, Ohio, for appellants.

Patrick J. Lang, City of Athens Director of Law, Athens, Ohio, for appellee City of Athens, Patrick Lang, John Paszke, Athens City Planning Commission and Athens City Zoning Board.

Tiffany C. Miller, Bailey Cavalieri LLC, Columbus, Ohio, and William R. Walker, Walker & Walker Co., L.P.A., Athens, Ohio, for appellee Integrated Services of Appalachian Ohio, Inc.

Harsha, J.

{¶1} Jeffery Dill and other taxpayers (collectively “the taxpayers“) appeal the trial court‘s entry dismissing their action without prejudice. However, because the trial court‘s entry is not a final, appealable order we have no jurisdiction to consider the appeal and must dismiss it.

I. FACTS

{¶2} This appeal arose from the construction of a multi-unit, residential structure in Athens, Ohio, by Integrated Services of Appalachian Ohio, Inc. (Integrated Services). Initially, Integrated Services sought a variance from the Athens City Board of Zoning Appeals to construct a two-story complex that would replace a single-family mobile home it removed. The Board of Zoning Appeals denied the variance, and rather than appeal its decision, Integrated Services sought approval of a three-story complex from the Athens City Planning Commission. The Planning Commission approved the new plan for a three-story structure, without residential use on the first floor. Integrated Services then returned the case to the Board of Zoning Appeals and asked for a substitution of a nonconforming use (the mobile home) for a not more objectionable nonconforming use (the two-story structure). The Board of Zoning Appeals approved the substitution of a two-story structure with first-floor residential use, the same structure which it had previously denied.

{¶3} The taxpayers filed this action under R.C. 733.59 against the City of Athens, Athens City Planning Commission, Athens City Zoning Board, and various city officials (collectively “city defendants“), as well as Integrated Services. Many of the taxpayers also filed two other related administrative appeals that directly challenge the Board of Zoning Appeals’ and Planning Commission‘s decisions. In their amended complaint in this case, the taxpayers alleged that the city defendants “have failed to enforce the laws of the City of Athens, Ohio,” and sought to enjoin Integrated Services from building any structure on the property; they also sought a writ of mandamus. After the court denied a temporary injunction, both the city defendants and Integrated Services filed Civ.R. 12(B)(6) motions to dismiss the amended complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. The court found that this case could not be finally resolved until the administrative appeals were decided and dismissed the case without prejudice. The taxpayers now appeal the trial court‘s dismissal.

II. ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR

{¶4} The taxpayers raise one assignment of error for our review:

  1. “THE TRIAL COURT DISMISSAL WITHOUT PREJUDICE PURSUANT TO OHIO CIVIL RULE 12 (B) WAS PREMATURE.”

III. LAW AND ANALYSIS

{¶5} In their assignment of error, the taxpayers argue that the trial court erred by dismissing the case for several reasons: 1.) this is public cause of action under R.C. 733.59 and the administrative appeals are distinct private causes of action; 2.) the allegations in the amended complaint are sufficient to state a cause of action; and 3.) the City of Athens failed to post a required notice prior to the Planning Commission‘s first hearing. However, both the city defendants and Integrated Services contend that the trial court‘s dismissal is not a final, appealable order.

{¶6} The Ohio Constitution limits an appellate court‘s jurisdiction to the review of “final orders” of lower courts. Section 3(B)(2), Article IV, Ohio Constitution. Under R.C. 2505.02(B)(1), an order is final if it “affects a substantial right in an action that in effect determines the action and prevents a judgment[.]” A “substantial right” is “a right that the United States Constitution, the Ohio Constitution, a statute, the common law, or a rule of procedure entitles a person to enforce or protect.” R.C. 2505.02(A)(1).

{¶7} “To be final, however, ‘an order must also determine an action and prevent a judgment.‘” Natl. City Commercial Capital Corp. v. AAAA at Your Serv., Inc., 114 Ohio St.3d 82, 2007-Ohio-2942, 868 N.E.2d 663, ¶ 7, quoting Chef Italiano Corp. v. Kent State Univ., 44 Ohio St.3d 86, 88, 541 N.E.2d 64 (1989); R.C. 2505.02(B). “‘For an order to determine the action and prevent a judgment for the party appealing, it must dispose of the whole merits of the cause or some separate and distinct branch thereof and leave nothing for the determination of the court.‘” Natl. City at ¶ 7, quoting Hamilton Cty. Bd. of Mental Retardation & Dev. Disabilities v. Professionals Guild of Ohio, 46 Ohio St.3d 147, 153, 545 N.E.2d 1260 (1989).

{¶8} Ordinarily, an action dismissed without prejudice is not a final, appealable order because such a dismissal does not prevent the party from refiling the case. See Natl. City at ¶ 8. This is so because a dismissal without prejudice relieves the court of jurisdiction over the matter, and the action is treated as though it had never been commenced. See Zimmie v. Zimmie, 11 Ohio St.3d 94, 95, 464 N.E.2d 142 (1984). If an action has never been commenced, it follows that it could not have decided anything with the kind of finality required by R.C. 2505.02.

{¶9} In their reply brief the taxpayers contend the trial court‘s entry is a final, appealable order because it affects their substantial right to collect court costs and attorney fees. However, they give no valid reason why they cannot pursue these claims after the administrative appeals have been decided. In fact, the trial court dismissed the case on the condition “that any issues in this case not conclusively and finally resolved by the two companion administrative appeals be reserved for further consideration if and when appropriate.” Even if we assume that the taxpayers’ ability to collect attorney fees under R.C. 733.61 is a substantial right, given the trial court‘s express reservation of jurisdiction to address collateral matters, we can see no reason why they cannot pursue these issues later. See Natl. City at ¶ 12. See also Cooter & Gell v. Hartmarx Corp, 496 U.S. 384, 396, 110 S.Ct. 2447, 110 L.Ed.2d. 359 (1990); State ex rel. Engelhart v. Russo, 131 Ohio St.3d. 137, 2012-Ohio-47, 961 N.E.2d 1118, ¶ 28; State ex rel. Hummel v. Sadler, 96 Ohio St.3d 84, 2002-Ohio-3605, 771 N.E.2d 853, ¶ 23, 25; and State ex rel. Corn v. Russo, 90 Ohio St.3d 551, 556, 740 N.E.2d 265 (2001), citing Cooter & Gell at 396. Thus, the trial court‘s entry is not a final, appealable order and we dismiss the appeal.

APPEAL DISMISSED.

JUDGMENT ENTRY

It is ordered that the APPEAL IS DISMISSED and that Appellants shall pay the costs.

The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.

It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the Athens County Court of Common Pleas to carry this judgment into execution.

Any stay previously granted by this Court is hereby terminated as of the date of this entry.

A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

McFarland, P.J. & Hoover, J.: Concur in Judgment and Opinion.

For the Court

BY:

William H. Harsha, Judge

NOTICE TO COUNSEL

Pursuant to Local Rule No. 14, this document constitutes a final judgment entry and the time period for further appeal commences from the date of filing with the clerk.

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