Waterloo v. Liquor Control Comm., Unpublished Decision (6-26-2003)
Waterloo v. Liquor Control Comm., Unpublished Decision (6-26-2003)
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
{¶ 1} Appellant, Waterloo, Inc., appeals from a judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas affirming an order of appellee, Ohio Liquor Control Commission ("Commission"), revoking appellant's liquor permits. Because the record does not establish that an employee of the permit holder was convicted of a felony, we reverse that judgment.{¶ 2} Appellant is a holder of multiple liquor permits in Cleveland, Ohio. Marie Schilero is appellant's sole shareholder and officer. Her ex-daughter-in-law, Beverly Schilero ("Schilero") was employed by appellant as a bookkeeper. On or about March 28, 2001, Schilero was convicted of one count of conspiracy to impede and impair the Internal Revenue Service in violation of Section 371, Title 18, U.S. Code, a felony. The conviction arose from a course of conduct which ended on August 13, 1996. Apparently, this criminal conduct was unrelated to appellant's business. After Schilero's conviction, the Commission mailed appellant a notice of hearing which alleged that Schilero, appellant's employee or agent, was convicted of a felony and that the Commission would determine whether appellant's liquor permits should be suspended or revoked pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 3} After a brief hearing, the Commission revoked appellant's liquor permits. On appeal, the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas affirmed that decision, finding that R.C.
{¶ 4} Appellant appeals, assigning the following error:
{¶ 5} "The trial court erred in finding that the order of the Commission was supported by reliable, probative and substantial evidence and was in accordance with law."
{¶ 6} In an administrative appeal pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 7} "* * * (1) `Reliable' evidence is dependable; that is, it can be confidently trusted. In order to be reliable, there must be a reasonable probability that the evidence is true. (2) `Probative' evidence is evidence that tends to prove the issue in question; it must be relevant in determining the issue. (3) `Substantial' evidence is evidence with some weight; it must have importance and value." Our Place, Inc. v. Ohio Liquor Control Comm. (1992),
{¶ 8} On appeal to this court, the standard of review is more limited. Unlike the court of common pleas, a court of appeals does not determine the weight of the evidence. Rossford Exempted Village School Dist. Bd. of Edn. v. State Bd. of Edn. (1992),
{¶ 9} The Commission revoked appellant's liquor permits solely due to Schilero's felony conviction. R.C.
{¶ 10} The plain and ordinary meaning of R.C.
{¶ 11} A review of the record reflects that there is not reliable, probative and substantial evidence establishing that Schilero was appellant's employee at the time she was convicted of a felony. Schilero was convicted on or around March 28, 2001. Marie Schilero stated in an affidavit that, "once she became aware that Beverly Schilero had incurred a felony charge in Federal Court she discharged Beverly Schilero as the bookkeeper for Waterloo, Inc." The exact date Schilero's employment was terminated is unknown, although the affidavit suggests that Schilero's employment was terminated before her conviction. A memorandum from the Division of Liquor Control, dated March 13, 2001, indicated that, as of January 23, 2001, appellant still employed Schilero as a bookkeeper. It did not state that she was employed by appellant on March 28, 2001. In fact, nothing in the record establishes that Schilero was employed by appellant on the date she was convicted of a felony or at any time thereafter. The majority of this court in Shotz Bar Grill reached the same conclusion on essentially the same record.
{¶ 12} Although this court in In Out Market, supra, affirmed the revocation of a liquor permit pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 13} In conclusion, R.C.
Judgment reversed and
remanded with instructions.
BOWMAN and WATSON, JJ., concur.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.