Fairlawn Landscape Supply v. Cook, Unpublished Decision (10-24-2001)
Fairlawn Landscape Supply v. Cook, Unpublished Decision (10-24-2001)
Opinion of the Court
This cause was heard upon the record in the trial court. Each error assigned has been reviewed and the following disposition is made: Appellant, Fairlawn Landscape Supply, appeals from the judgment in the Akron Municipal Court dismissing its claim and granting judgment in favor of Appellee, Mary Ann Cook. We affirm.
Appellee hired Appellant to deliver topsoil to her home, which Appellant was to deliver in two separate loads. Appellant delivered the first load of topsoil and Appellee promptly paid for it. However, when Appellant delivered the second load of topsoil, Appellee discovered that the soil contained glass. After her discovery, Appellee refused to pay Appellant for the second load of topsoil.
On October 10, 2000, Appellant filed a complaint against Appellee seeking monetary relief for Appellee's failure to pay for the second load of topsoil. In response, Appellee filed a counterclaim against Appellant and a third-party complaint against Raymond Zazo, owner of Fairlawn Landscape Supply. On February 15, 2001, a magistrate dismissed Appellant's claim and Appellee's third-party claim, but granted Appellee's counterclaim. Appellant promptly objected to the magistrate's decision. The trial court overruled Appellant's objections, adopted the findings of the magistrate, and determined that Appellee was entitled to judgment. Appellant timely appealed.
Appellant essentially argues that the trial court erred as follows: (1) improperly admitting photographs of the glass fragments; (2) failing to re-schedule the hearing sua sponte since Appellant was unable to properly prepare its defense or subpoena various witnesses, such as Grass Master, Inc.; (3) failing to state its findings of fact and conclusions of law; (4) determining damages on insufficient evidence; and (5) finding an agreement existed between Appellant and Appellee. Appellant's arguments lack merit. We will address, in turn, each of Appellant's arguments.
In this case, Appellant's challenge to the admission of the photographs was waived because it was not raised in the trial court pursuant to a timely objection. The record clearly indicates that Appellant failed to object to Appellee's photographs when presented to the court. As a result, Appellant did not preserve this issue for appellate review. Accordingly, Appellant's assignment of error is overruled.
In the instant case, the trial court awarded judgment to Appellee in the amount of $988.73 to cover her costs to remove the topsoil containing the glass. The trial court determined the award based on the receipt Appellee presented evidencing the amount she paid for removal. Appellant did not provide any evidence refuting Appellee's receipt, nor did Appellant object to Appellee's evidence. Thus, the trial court's damages award was supported by competent, credible evidence. Appellant's assignment of error lacks merit.
Appellant's assignments of error are overruled. The judgment of the Akron Municipal Court is affirmed.
The Court finds that there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
We order that a special mandate issue out of this Court, directing the Akron Municipal Court, County of Summit, State of Ohio, to carry this judgment into execution. A certified copy of this journal entry shall constitute the mandate, pursuant to App.R. 27.
Immediately upon the filing hereof, this document shall constitute the journal entry of judgment, and it shall be file stamped by the Clerk of the Court of Appeals at which time the period for review shall begin to run. App.R. 22(E).
Costs taxed to Appellant.
Exceptions.
BAIRD, P.J., WHITMORE, J. CONCUR.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.