Wolfe v. Sagle, Unpublished Decision (9-22-2000)
Wolfe v. Sagle, Unpublished Decision (9-22-2000)
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
On August 27, 1993, appellees, Paul and Mary Ann Wolfe, filed a complaint against Rolland Sagle and appellant, Nancy Sagle, alleging they had a prescriptive easement across the Sagle's property for driveway use. An amended complaint was filed on September 7, 1993. In 1994, Mr. Sagle quit claimed his interest in the property to appellant. On April 16, 1996, the parties entered into an agreed order. Appellant agreed to construct a new thirty-five foot driveway with twenty-five feet apportioned to her and ten feet apportioned to appellees. Appellant also agreed to construct a barrier (post and fence) on her property which was not to impede the use of the new driveway by either party. On January 30, 1997, appellees filed a motion to show cause, alleging appellant had constructed a barrier that impeded appellees' use of the driveway. A hearing was held on August 3, 1998. By journal entry filed September 8, 1999, the trial court ordered appellant to remove the existing post and fence and move them back twelve feet. Appellant filed an appeal and this matter is now before this court for consideration. Assignments of error are as follows:I THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE ERROR IN ITS JOURNAL ENTRY OF 9/8/99 ORDERING APPELLANT TO REMOVE THE EXISTING POST AND FENCE AND TO BUILD A NEW ONE BACK A DISTANCE OF 12 FEET. SAID DECISION IS CONTRARY TO THE AGREED ORDER AND THE LAW AND VIOLATED APPELLANT'S DUE PROCESS RIGHTS AS GUARANTEED BY ARTICLE
I , SECTIONS10 AND16 OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION, AND BY THEFIFTH ANDFOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTIONS.II THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION IN FINDING APPELLANT IN CONTEMPT WHEN SAID FINDING WAS NOT BY CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE AND WAS AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE.
III THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN USING THE STANDARD OF PROOF BY CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE FOR THE REASON THAT THE PROCEEDINGS WERE IN FACT FOR INDIRECT CRIMINAL CONTEMPT.
IV THE TRIAL COURT JUDGE PLAINLY ERRED IN NOT RECUSING HIMSELF FROM THIS CASE WHEN HIS IMPARTIALITY MIGHT REASONABLY BE QUESTIONED UNDER CANON 3(C) OF THE CODE OF JUDICIAL CONDUCT. APPELLANT DID NOT WAIVE RIGHT TO RAISE ISSUE WHEN HER COUNSEL'S CONDUCT IS ALSO SUBJECT TO REVIEW.
We note a trial court has the inherent power to interpret and enforce its own orders. From the facts presented, the trial court specifically found the barrier impeded the use of the driveway. T. at 37-38. The evidence as to the impeding is in dispute. Appellees claim the barrier impedes while appellant claims it does not, citing to the fact that in a week's time over two thousand vehicles traveled by the barrier, with only one accident. T. at 26, 27-28. We note numerous photographs were admitted into evidence. The weight to be given to the evidence and the credibility of the witnesses are issues for the trier of fact. State v. Jamison (1990),
It is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed that the defendant shall remove the existing post and fence. The post and fence shall be moved back a distance of 12 feet to allow vehicles to enter and leave the plaintiff's property safely. The defendant shall comply with this order within 30 days of it's filing. Defendant is further ordered to pay the costs of these proceedings.
The agreed entry referenced in the order included the construction of the barrier as cited in Assignment of Error I. The appealed from journal entry journalized the following finding by the trial court made during the show cause hearing: The third — on the second page of the agreed order, the third paragraph from the end, says the barrier will extend to the right-of-way State Route 22 but shall not be extended to impede the use of the new driveway either by the plaintiffs or defendants. It seems pretty obvious to me that you are no more — less than a car length from the pavement to the pillar; and the driveway is a foot, 4 inches narrower than it's supposed to be. Certainly the pillar impedes the use — hinders the use of the driveway.
T. at 37-38.
Appellant argues this is a contempt finding. We do not find it to be a contempt finding but an attempt by the trial court to enforce the previous agreed order. The trial court gave appellant thirty days "to work it out." T. at 38. If appellant failed to work it out, the trial court informed appellant "I can tell you to do it. If you don't do it, I can sentence you for contempt." T. at 39. Thus far, no contempt finding has been made and no penalties or sanctions have been imposed. Civil contempt is designed to be "remedial or coercive." Brown v. Executive 200, Inc. (1980),
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.