Dusenbury v. Lawson, Unpublished Decision (7-12-1999)
Dusenbury v. Lawson, Unpublished Decision (7-12-1999)
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
Defendants-appellants, Colonial Insurance Company of California and Colonial Insurance Company California c/o Dennis Montgomery, Agent, (hereinafter referred to collectively as "appellants") appeal the October 30, 1997 Judgment Entry of the Licking County Court of Common Pleas which denied their motion for summary judgment. Plaintiff-appellee is Robert W. Dusenbury.The Court finds there is $32,500.00 available to compensate the Plaintiff for damages caused by Defendant Brian Lawson if there are no other insurance policies in place to cover Plaintiff's injuries. The Court further holds that even though the proceeds do not represent uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and in deed, are not insurance, they may nevertheless be used to compensate the Plaintiff for his injuries and losses in the event no other insurance is available.
(Emphasis added).
On September 14, 1998, almost one year after the denial of summary judgment, appellants filed a motion for reconsideration of the motion for summary judgment. This motion was denied on September 21, 1998. The parties agreed to waive a jury and the matter proceeded to a trial on September 21, 1998. The trial court rendered a verdict on September 22, 1998, which was memorialized in an October 13, 1998 Judgment Entry. The judgment entry did not make any specific finding as to appellants, stating: It is hereby ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that Plaintiff be awarded judgment against Defendants Brian Lawson and Jeffrey Downour, jointly and severally, in the amount of $97,200.00 plus interest and costs from the date of judgment. IT IS SO ORDERED.
On September 28, 1998, appellant filed a motion requesting a hearing to establish the extent of liability for Colonial Insurance. In a Judgment Entry dated September 28, 1998, the court set an oral hearing on the motion for October 19, 1998. Although not explained in the record, appellee filed a motion contra to defendants request for a hearing on October 20, 1998, one day after the scheduled hearing. Appellants filed a reply brief, to which appellee filed a surreply, but no Entry established the extent of Colonial's liability or otherwise specifically resolved the motion. Because the trial court failed to rule on the motion, we presume it was overruled. See, Newman v. Al Castrucci Ford Sales, Inc. (1988),
I. THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED PREJUDICIAL ERROR IN THE COURT'S FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW, FILED OCTOBER 20, 1998, BY ARRIVING AT CONCLUSION OF LAW NO. 3.
II. THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED PREJUDICIAL ERROR BY FINDING, IN ITS ENTRY OF OCTOBER 30, 1997, DENYING COLONIAL'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT, THAT "THERE IS $32,500 AVAILABLE [UNDER THE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY BOND WHICH COLONIAL ISSUED TO DEFENDANT BRIAN LAWSON] TO COMPENSATE THE PLAINTIFF FOR DAMAGES CAUSED BY DEFENDANT BRIAN LAWSON."
III. THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED PREJUDICIAL ERROR IN THE COURT'S FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW, FILED OCTOBER 20, 1998, BY ARRIVING AT CONCLUSION OF LAW NO. 2.
Appellants argue the trial court's entry of October 30, 1997, which denied their motion for summary judgment, became a final appealable order by virtue of the trial court's October 13, 1998 Judgment Entry. We do not agree. The October 13, 1998 Judgment Entry stated "[t]he case proceeded on all issues pending for adjudication." However, the trial court entered judgment only against defendants Brian Lawson and Jeffrey Downour; it did not act to establish the extent of appellants' liability. While we note the October 30, 1997 Judgment Entry, and the July 17, 1997 Memorandum of Decision found $32,500 was "available" under the financial responsibility bond, neither entry imposed liability in any specific amount.
Because the trial court has not rendered any judgment against appellants, we find no final appealable order exists. Accordingly, we dismiss this case for lack of jurisdiction.
By: Hoffman, P.J. Farmer, J. and Edwards, J. concur
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