Armco, Inc. v. United Steel Wkrs., Am., Unpublished Decision (12-22-2000)
Armco, Inc. v. United Steel Wkrs., Am., Unpublished Decision (12-22-2000)
Concurring Opinion
I concur in the majority's analysis and disposition of the second assignment of error. I concur in the majority's disposition of the first assignment of error and with the analysis that appellant failed to demonstrate how he was prejudiced by the trial court's action in holding the hearing on appellee's motion and notice for contempt six, rather than seven, days after service of the motion on appellant. My disagreement is with the conclusion that the accelerated hearing date was set by order of the court. The "order" referred to by the appellee does not appear to be signed by the trial judge and I, therefore, would not find it to be a court order in the case sub judice.
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
Defendant-appellant Ray Delarwelle appeals the May 5, 2000, Judgment of the Richland County Court of Common Pleas granting plaintiff-appellee Armco, Inc.'s tenth motion for contempt.On April 25, 2000, appellant Ray Delarwelle was personally served with a copy of the motion for contempt and of the trial court's notice setting an oral hearing on such motion for May 1, 2000. Following the hearing on appellee's tenth motion for contempt, the trial court, pursuant to an entry filed on May 5, 2000, granted appellee's motion and found that appellant Ray Delarwelle had, on April 14, 2000, violated the Agreed Preliminary Injunction. The court ordered appellant Ray Delarwelle to pay appellee $250.00 and the costs of the proceedings. It is from the trial court's May 5, 2000, entry that appellant Ray Delarwelle prosecutes his appeal, raising the following assignments of error:
I THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AND ABUSED ITS DISCRETION BY CONDUCTING [AN] ORAL HEARING ON PLAINTIFF'S TENTH MOTION FOR CONTEMPT PRIOR TO THE SEVEN-DAY REQUIREMENT AS SPECIFIED IN CIVIL RULE 6(D).
II THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY FINDING THE DEFENDANT, RAY DELARWELLE, IN CONTEMPT OF THE SEPTEMBER 28, 1999 AGREED PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION ON GROUNDS OTHER THAN WHICH PLAINTIFF HAD REQUESTED IN ITS TENTH MOTION FOR CONTEMPT.
As a preliminary matter, this Court notes that, pursuant to a Judgment Entry filed on August 14, 2000, we held that since the transcript was filed without a motion to supplement, we would not consider the transcript of the proceedings during the merit review of this matter. I Appellant Ray Delarwelle, in his first assignment of error, contends that the trial court erred in conducting an oral hearing on appellee's tenth motion for contempt prior to the seven day requirement set forth in Civ.R. 6(D). As is stated above, appellee filed its motion for contempt against appellant Ray Delarwelle on April 24, 2000. The next day, appellant was personally served with a copy of the motion as well as a copy of the notice stating that an oral hearing on plaintiff's tenth motion for contempt was set for May 1, 2000, which is six days later. Appellant now maintains that the trial court, by setting a hearing before the seven day requirement of Civ.R. 6(D), has committed reversible error. Civ.R. 6(D) states, in relevant part, as follows:"[a] written motion, other than one which may be heard ex parte, and notice of the hearing thereof shall be served not later than seven days before the time fixed for the hearing, unless a different period is fixed. . .by order of the court." (Emphasis added). Pursuant to such rule, the court, by court order, may set a time period of less than seven days for the hearing. In Re Foreclosure of Liens for Delinquent Taxes (1992),
1. Defendants shall not interfere with, hinder, threaten or intimidate in any manner whatsoever, the officers, agents, employees, representatives, prospective employees, customers and business associates of the other, and other persons having business with them, provided, however, Defendants are permitted to picket in accordance with the restrictions of paragraph #8 of this Agreed Preliminary Injunction.
11. Defendants shall not commit any acts and/or threats of violence or harassment toward either the persons or property of any officers, agents, employees, prospective employees, customers, or other persons desiring to do business with Plaintiff, likewise, Plaintiff and its agents shall not commit any acts and/or threats of violence or harassment toward Defendant.
13. Defendants shall not molest or threaten nor shall they follow or trail in any unlawful manner or for any unlawful purpose, any of Plaintiff's carriers, suppliers or others doing business with Plaintiff.
As is set forth in detail in the statement of facts above, appellee's motion also described in detail the alleged events of April 14, 2000, that led to the filing of the motion for contempt. We concur with appellee that the April 24, 2000, motion for contempt clearly apprised appellant Ray Delarwelle both of the nature of the proceedings (civil contempt) and the reason for them (violation of the Agreed Preliminary Injunction). See Cincinnati v. Council, supra. We further find that the motion sufficiently informed appellant Ray Delarwelle of the charges against him so as to enable him to prepare an adequate defense.
Appellant Ray Delarwelle's second assignment of error is, therefore, overruled.
Accordingly, the judgment of the Richland County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.
By Milligan, V.J. Hoffman, P.J. concur.
Edwards, J. concurs separately.
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