Shamberger v. Nhv Physicians Professional, Unpublished Decision (8-20-2003)
Shamberger v. Nhv Physicians Professional, Unpublished Decision (8-20-2003)
Concurring Opinion
CONCURS IN JUDGMENT ONLY, SAYING:
{¶ 17} I concur in the majority's judgment. However, I would reverse the trial court's decision to grant summary judgment on the basis that NHV failed to meet its Dresher burden regarding this claim.
{¶ 18} The majority concludes that NHV failed to provide evidence within the confines of Civ.R. 56(C). In particular, to support its motion for summary judgment, NHV attached various certified court documents. I am cognizant that Civ.R. 56(C) sets forth an inclusive list of documents that a trial court can consider when ruling on a motion for summary judgment and this rule does not specifically provide for certified documents. Nevertheless, documents not specifically listed may be introduced. Wall v. Firelands Radiology, Inc. (1995),
{¶ 19} The record in this case reveals that NHV failed to accompany the certified court documents with their respective affidavits. However, as Appellant failed to make a timely objection or motion to strike the nonconforming documents, this error is waived. SeeRodger v. McDonald's Restaurants of Ohio, Inc. (1982),
{¶ 20} Notwithstanding my conclusion that the trial court could properly consider these certified court documents, I find NHV failed to satisfy its Dresher burden to show the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. See Dresher v. Burt (1996),
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 3} In the trial court, NHV filed a motion for summary judgment, in which the Bureau joined. NHV argued that Dr. Prade's death did not arise out of her employment because her ex-husband, Douglas Prade had been convicted of her murder, and therefore, her minor children were not entitled to death benefits. The Bureau argued that Dr. Prade's death did not occur in the course of nor arise out of her employment. The Summit County Court of Common Pleas agreed that Dr. Prade's death did not arise out of her employment and granted summary judgment in favor of NHV and the Bureau. This appeal followed.
{¶ 4} In her sole assignment of error, Shamberger challenges the trial court's decision to grant summary judgment in favor of Appellees. Shamberger asserts that there was a genuine issue of material fact as to whether Dr. Prade's death arose out of her employment. We agree that summary judgment was improperly granted.
{¶ 5} We begin by noting that an appellate court reviews an award of summary judgment de novo. Grafton v. Ohio Edison Co. (1996),
{¶ 6} Pursuant to Civil Rule 56(C), summary judgment is proper if:
"(1) No genuine issue as to any material fact remains to be litigated; (2) the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law; and (3) it appears from the evidence that reasonable minds can come to but one conclusion, and viewing such evidence most strongly in favor of the party against whom the motion for summary judgment is made, that conclusion is adverse to that party." Temple v. Wean United, Inc. (1977),
{¶ 7} To prevail on a motion for summary judgment, the party moving for summary judgment bears the initial burden of informing the trial court of the basis for the motion and pointing to parts of the record that show the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. Dresherv. Burt (1996),
{¶ 8} The Ohio Supreme Court has explained the summary judgment burden as follows:
"[T]he movant must be able to point to evidentiary materials of the type listed in Civ.R. 56(C) that a court is to consider in rendering summary judgment. The evidentiary materials listed in Civ.R. 56(C) include `the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, written admissions, affidavits, transcripts of evidence in the pending case, and written stipulations of fact, if any.' These evidentiary materials must show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact, and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. While the movant is not necessarily obligated to place any of these evidentiary materials in the record, the evidence must be in the record or the motion cannot succeed." Id. at 292-293.
{¶ 9} Only after the movant satisfies the initial Dresher burden, must the nonmoving party then present evidence that some issue of material fact remains for the trial court to resolve. Id. at 294. "It is basic that regardless of who may have the burden of proof at trial, the burden is on the party moving for summary judgment to establish that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Horizon Savings v. Wootton
(1991),
{¶ 10} Pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 11} An injury arises out of the employment when a sufficient causal connection exists between the injury and the employment. Lord v.Daugherty (1981),
{¶ 12} The Ohio Supreme Court set forth three factors to consider when determining the existence of a causal connection between the injury and the employment: (1) the proximity of the scene of the accident to the place of employment; (2) the degree of control the employer had over the scene of the accident; and (3) the benefit the employer received from the injured employee's presence at the scene of the accident. Lord,
{¶ 13} In workers' compensation cases concerning fights and assaults at the workplace, Ohio courts determine (1) if the origin of the assault was work-related and (2) if the claimant was not the instigator.Coleman, supra. See, also, Indus. Comm. v. Pora (1919),
{¶ 14} The record in this matter consists of Shamberger's complaint, the respective answers of the appellees, the motions for summary judgment and Shamberger's brief in opposition to summary judgment. In its motion for summary judgment, NHV argued that Shamberger could not demonstrate that Dr. Prade's death arose out of her employment and that, therefore, workers' compensation benefits should be denied. However, NHV failed to refer to any evidence in the record of the type listed in Civ.R. 56(C) in support of its argument. In order to meet its summary judgment burden under Dresher, NHV had to point to some portion of the record that demonstrated the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. This NHV failed to do. Instead, NHV supported its motion with a copy of Douglas Prade's conviction, a copy of this Court's opinion affirming that conviction, and a copy of an entry from the Ohio Supreme Court denying Douglas Prade's further appeal. Not only are these documents not proper Civ.R. 56(C) evidence, the documents are arguably not part of this record at all. Similarly, the Bureau did not attach any documentation or refer to any portions of the record in support of its position.
{¶ 15} As NHV and the Bureau have failed to point to portions of the record that demonstrate that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that they are entitled to judgment as a matter of law, they have failed to meet their initial burden under Dresher. As a result, Shamberger had no corresponding duty to present evidence that some issue of material fact remains for the trial court to resolve. Accordingly, we conclude that summary judgment was improperly granted to the appellees. The sole assignment of error is sustained to the extent that summary judgment was improperly granted. We note that we take no position regarding the merits of Shamberger's claim for workers' compensation benefits.
Judgment reversed, and cause remanded.
BATCHELDER, J. CONCURS.
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