Kiser v. Flanagan, Unpublished Decision (7-26-2000)
Kiser v. Flanagan, Unpublished Decision (7-26-2000)
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
On October 3, 1983, appellant, Timothy Kiser, and appellees, Doc and Cheryl Flanagan, entered into a six month lease wherein appellees were to lease a house owned by appellant. In April of 1984, appellees signed six month addendums, the last one signed in April of 1996. Appellees vacated the premises on June 3, 1996. On August 23, 1996, appellant filed a complaint against appellees for damages to the premises and rent due and owing. Due to the death of the magistrate who heard the matter, a trial de novo was held before a magistrate on January 20, 1998. By decision filed May 28, 1999, the magistrate found in favor of appellant on some of his damage claims, and awarded him $3,352.62 as against appellee Doc Flanagan. The magistrate found appellee Cheryl Flanagan was not liable for damages. On June 11, 1999, appellant filed objections to the magistrate's decision. Appellee Doc Flanagan filed objections on June 17, 1999. A hearing was held on August 31, 1999. By judgment entry filed October 27, 1999, the trial court overruled the objections and entered the amount awarded by the magistrate. Appellant filed an appeal and this matter is now before this court for consideration. Assignments of error are as follows:I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY HOLDING THAT CO-TENANT CHERYL FLANAGAN DID NOT HAVE USE OR POSSESSION OF THE LEASED PROPERTY AND THEREFORE WAS NOT LIABLE FOR DAMAGES TO THE PREMISES.
II. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ITS HOLDING THAT APPELLEES WERE NOT LIABLE FOR ALL THE DAMAGES CLAIMED BY APPELLANT TO RESTORE THE PREMISES.
That the second party will deliver up and surrender to the first party, or to the heirs, executors, administrators or assigns of said first party, the possession of the premises hereby leased, at the expiration of the term aforesaid, in a good condition and repair as the same shall be in at the commencement of said term, the natural wear and decay, and the destruction or damage by the elements or electricity, or by an act of God, or by means of invasion, insurrection, riot or civil commotion, or of any military or usurped power, only excepted.
That if any waste be committed upon or unnecessary damage be done to the demised premises, the first party may, for that cause, enter upon the same and avoid this lease, and bring his action for such waste or damage; or he may bring his action and recover for such damage, without avoiding this lease, at his election. This lease and subsequent addendums were signed by appellee Cheryl Flanagan. Clearly appellee Cheryl Flanagan was a party to the lease and was therefore bound by the lease for damages regardless of whether or not she was in possession of the premises. Upon review, we find the trial court erred in finding appellee Cheryl Flanagan not to be liable for damages under the lease. Assignment of Error I is granted.
In its judgment entry filed October 27, 1999, the trial court overruled the objections, noting "neither party has requested a transcript of the proceedings in this matter to aid the Court in review of these objections. * * * [I]n order for the court to fully review the Objections raised, a transcript would have been necessary." We concur with this reasoning because the objections (pertaining to this assignment of error) raised factual issues as to the amount of damages and repairs. As the trial court noted in its judgment entry, the submitted exhibits "are one piece of evidence, but not the entire record." We note in his appellate brief, appellee Doc Flanagan lists five additional "assignments of error" on the issue of damages and repairs. Appellee Doc Flanagan did not file a notice of cross appeal pursuant to App.R. 3(C)(1) and App.R. 4(B)(1) therefore, these assignments are stricken. Assignment of Error II is denied.
The judgment of the New Philadelphia Municipal Court of Tuscarawas County, Ohio is hereby reversed and remanded.
___________________ Farmer, J.
By Edwards, J. and Milligan, V.J. concur.
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