Byrd v. Cincinnati Reg. Initiative, Unpublished Decision (9-11-2002)
Byrd v. Cincinnati Reg. Initiative, Unpublished Decision (9-11-2002)
Opinion of the Court
Plaintiff-appellant, Herman J. Byrd, appeals the trial court's decision granting summary judgment in favor of defendant-appellee, Kennedy Funding, Inc, on Byrd's claims for unjust enrichment, conversion, and aiding or participating in the sale of unregistered securities. The record shows that Byrd invested $100,000 in a fraudulent scheme perpetrated by Cincinnati Regional Initiative, Inc., and the other defendants (collectively, "CRI"). Kennedy Funding was a lender who had initially agreed to fund a development project for CRI. Byrd wired his $100,000 investment to Kennedy Funding at CRI's direction. He understood that this wire transfer to Kennedy Funding would be applied toward a nonrefundable loan-application fee that CRI owed Kennedy Funding. Kennedy Funding withdrew its offer for funding when it discovered that the real estate CRI had pledged as collateral was not worth $30,000,000, as CRI had claimed.
In his sole assignment of error, Byrd contends that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of Kennedy Funding. The trial court granted summary judgment on Byrd's conversion claim on the basis that Byrd's $100,000 was not specifically earmarked and capable of identification. See Wiltberger v. Davis (1996),
Nevertheless, a trial court can be right for the wrong reasons, and here the trial court was ultimately correct in granting summary judgment. See Este Oils Co. v. Federated Ins. Co. (1999),
Further, if the original taking is rightful and no act of control inconsistent with the plaintiff's ownership has taken place, a demand and refusal are necessary before a conversion may occur. Kraft Constr. Co.v. Cuyahoga Cty. Bd. of Commrs. (1998),
We find no issues of material fact. Construing the evidence most strongly in Byrd's favor, we hold that he failed to show a conversion by Kennedy Funding. Kennedy Funding was entitled to judgment as a matter of law, and the trial court did not err in granting summary judgment in its favor on Byrd's conversion claim. See Dresher v. Burt (1996),
Byrd next contends that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of Kennedy Funding on his unjust-enrichment claim. He contends that no evidence existed to support the trial court's finding that Kennedy Funding was entitled to keep the $100,000 wire transfer.
Unjust enrichment occurs when a party retains money or benefits that in justice and equity belong to another. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co. v. Indus.Comm. (1988),
Kennedy Funding was actually entitled to a $440,000 nonrefundable application fee as part of its contract with CRI, $340,000 of which it never received. Byrd never expected Kennedy Funding to repay his money. Instead, he expected to receive his $100,000 plus a return on his investment from CRI. The record is devoid of any evidence of fraudulent, illegal or bad-faith conduct on the part of Kennedy Funding. SeeMetropolitan Life Ins. Co. v. Triskett Illinois, Inc. (1994),
We find no issues of material fact. Construing the evidence most strongly in Byrd's favor, we hold that Byrd failed to demonstrate that Kennedy Funding had been unjustly enriched. Accordingly, Kennedy Funding was entitled to judgment as a matter of law, and the trial court did not err in granting summary judgment in favor of Kennedy Funding on Byrd's unjust-enrichment claim. See Dresher, supra; Stinespring, supra.
Finally, Byrd contends that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment on his claim relating to Ohio's Blue Sky laws in R.C. Chapter 1707. He contends that he presented evidence to show that Kennedy Funding participated or aided in the sale of unregistered securities.
Under R.C.
We find no issues of material fact. Construing the evidence most strongly in Byrd's favor, we hold that Byrd failed to demonstrate that Kennedy Funding participated or aided in the sale of unregistered securites. Consequently, Kennedy Funding was entitled to judgment as a matter of law, and the trial court did not err in granting its motion for summary judgment on Byrd's securities-law claim. See Dresher, supra;Stinespring, supra.
In sum, we hold that the trial court did not err in granting summary judgment on all three of Byrd's claims against Kennedy Funding. Accordingly, we overrule Byrd's assignment of error and affirm the trial court's judgment.
Further, a certified copy of this Judgment Entry shall constitute the mandate, which shall be sent to the trial court under App.R. 27. Costs shall be taxed under App.R. 24.
Painter, P.J., Doan and Winkler, JJ.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.