590 N.E.2d 1337 | Ohio Ct. App. | 1990
K.S.T. Oil Gas Company, Inc. ("K.S.T.") appeals the trial court's decision granting partial summary judgment in favor of Summit Petroleum, Inc. ("Summit"), on the issue of liability under a natural gas contract. Summit cross-appeals the court's denial of its claims for punitive damages and prejudgment interest.
We must first direct our attention to the question of whether this court presently has jurisdiction to entertain the appeal and cross-appeal. The basis of the appeal is the granting of a summary judgment to the plaintiff on the issue of liability only. That order fixing liability did not dispose of the matter of damages, as Summit's cross-motion for summary judgment, which the trial court granted, sought judgment only as to the issue of liability. Accordingly, the question of what damages, if any, to which Summit is entitled, remains undetermined.1 *470
Civ.R. 56(C) says, in part:
"* * * A summary judgment, interlocutory in character, may be rendered on the issue of liability alone although there is a genuine issue as to the amount of damages."
In Davis v. Finch (1961),
Accordingly, the trial court's order determining K.S.T.'s liability, and denying Summit's claims for punitive damages and prejudgment interest, is an interlocutory order and cannot be considered a final order subject to appeal to this court. The appeal and cross-appeal are ordered dismissed for lack of a final appealable order.
Judgment accordingly.
BAIRD and CACIOPPO, JJ., concur.