Richards v. Wadian, Unpublished Decision (3-27-2001)
Richards v. Wadian, Unpublished Decision (3-27-2001)
Opinion of the Court
While appellee's brief argues that appellants failed to submit evidence of a claim of a meritorious defense and timely filing of the Civ.R. 60(B) motion, (See GTE Automatic Electric v. ARC Industries, Inc. (1976),
Therefore, sufficient testimony, if accepted by the court, would support a basis for these two required aspects of Civ.R. 60(B).
The actual sole issue, therefore, in this cause is whether service of the complaint was properly issued to 14000 Lincoln Street, Lot 31, Minerva, Ohio, or whether such was not the proper address of appellants at the time service was made. No dispute is raised as to the method of service attempted by appellee under Civ.R. 4 or the compliance thereof by the Clerk of Courts.
THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION BY DENYING A MOTION FOR RELIEF FROM DEFAULT JUDGMENT WHERE THE OPERATIVE FACTS AND AFFIDAVITS ACCOMPANYING THE MOTION FOR RELIEF FROM JUDGMENT SATISFY THE REQUISITE GROUNDS FOR SUCH RELIEF.
The standard of abuse of discretion is that in order to find such, we must determine that the trial court's decision was unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable, and not merely an error of law or judgment.Blakemore v. Blakemore (1983),
The trier of fact has the principal responsibility for determining the credibility of the witnesses and the relative weight attributable to their testimony. State v. Jamison (1990),
At the Civ.R. 60(B) hearing, the court had before it the affidavits of appellants, their testimony and that of others, and evidence of the commencement date of telephone service at a Massillon, Ohio, address.
It also had conflicting testimony by appellants as compared to that of appellee's witnesses, as to receipt of mail, location and time of residence occupation. Through cross-examination of Tom Uhler, an attempt was made to indicate the possibility that Augustine Wadian was not truthful.
The court in consideration of all of this testimony and the credibility of the witnesses, had a sufficient basis for its decision. This court, therefore, disagrees with appellants' Assignment of Error, as it finds that the decision below was not unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable.
Boggins, J. Edwards, P.J. and Hoffman, J. concur.
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