Olaru v. Crawford Co., Unpublished Decision (12-23-2004)
Olaru v. Crawford Co., Unpublished Decision (12-23-2004)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} In 1997, Olaru was involved in an automobile accident in Tennessee. In 2003, he filed an action against Crawford alleging "discrimination and disability and illness discrimination." He claims that Crawford had a duty by an "express written automobile liability insurance and personal and property protection insurance policy", to provide him "PIP insurance benefits * * * including, but not limited to, disability benefits, lost wage payments, and medical expenses." Crawford claimed that it owed no duty to Olaru because it never issued an insurance policy to him.
{¶ 3} The trial court granted Crawford's motion for summary judgment. Olaru appeals, raising three assignments of error, which will be addressed together and out of order where appropriate.
{¶ 5} Appellate review of summary judgment is de novo.Grafton v. Ohio Edison Co.,
"Pursuant to Civ.R. 56, summary judgment is appropriate when(1) there is no genuine issue of material fact, (2) the movingparty is entitled to judgment as a matter of law, and (3)reasonable minds can come to but one conclusion and thatconclusion is adverse to the nonmoving party, said party beingentitled to have the evidence construed most strongly in hisfavor. Horton v. Harwick Chem. Corp.,
{¶ 6} Once the moving party satisfies its burden, the nonmoving party "may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of the party's pleadings, but the party's response, by affidavit or as otherwise provided in this rule, must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial." Civ.R. 56(E). Mootispaw v. Eckstein,
{¶ 7} Olaru maintains that this is a "discrimination" action. However, the language of the complaint clearly reflects a breach of contract claim. He alleges that Crawford, pursuant to an "express written automobile liability insurance and personal and property protection insurance policy," had a duty to provide him "PIP insurance benefits * * * including, but not limited to, disability benefits, lost wage payments, and medical expenses."
{¶ 8} Crawford claims that it did not issue an insurance policy to Olaru, thus it has no duty to pay benefits to him. Crawford also claims that Olaru's cause of action is barred by collateral estoppel.1
{¶ 9} Summary judgment was properly granted because Crawford did not issue Olaru an insurance policy. In support of its motion for summary judgment, Crawford attached the affidavit of William W. Gahr, its service center manager, who stated that Crawford is not in the business of issuing insurance policies, rather, it "manages and administers claims on behalf of insurance companies and self insured entities." Olaru has failed to provide any contract or documentation which would create a genuine issue of material fact that Crawford issued him an insurance policy. In fact, the documentation attached to Olaru's brief in opposition to summary judgment clearly indicates that Crawford did not issue any insurance policies. Rather, the documentation shows that Reliance National Indemnity Company and Lloyd's Underwriters and British companies were the insurance providers.
{¶ 10} Therefore, the trial court did not err in granting Crawford's motion for summary judgment because no genuine issues of material fact existed which would demonstrate that Crawford issued an insurance policy to Olaru. Having found that summary judgment was properly granted, we need not address the collateral estoppel claim.
{¶ 11} With regard to Olaru's third assignment of error, the record does not support Olaru's contention that the trial court granted Crawford's motion under the doctrine of res judicata.
{¶ 12} Accordingly, Olaru's first and third assignments of error are overruled.
{¶ 14} "An appellate court may disregard an assignment of error pursuant to App.R. 12(A)(2) if an appellant fails to cite to any legal authority in support of an argument as required by App.R. 16(A)(7)." State v. Martin (July 12, 1999), Warren App. No. CA99-01-003, citing Meerhoff v. Huntington MortgageCo. (1995),
{¶ 15} Accordingly, the second assignment of error is overruled.
Judgment affirmed.
It is ordered that appellee recover of appellant the costs herein taxed.
The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas to carry this judgment into execution.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
Blackmon, P.J. and Sweeney, J.* concur.
*Sitting by assignment, Judge James D. Sweeney, Retired, of the Eighth District Court of Appeals.
The Michigan court held that the action against FedEx Custom Critical was barred by res judicata because of the Tennessee action. The decision was recently affirmed by the Michigan Court of Appeals. See, Olaru v. FedEx Custom Critical, Inc. (Oct. 14, 2004), Mich. App. No. 248190.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.