Moorjani v. Mid Ohio Secs., L-07-1249 (6-6-2008)
Moorjani v. Mid Ohio Secs., L-07-1249 (6-6-2008)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} "I. FIRST ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR: The trial court erred in arbitrarily denying class certification, even using its discretion, by finding that Plaintiff was not a member of the proposed class.
"II. SECOND ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR: The trial court erred in arbitrarily denying class certification, in abuse its discretion, by finding that plaintiffs claims are not typical of the proposed class per the requirements of Civil Rule 23(A)(3).
{¶ 3} "III. THIRD ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR: The trial court erred in arbitrarily denying class certification, in abuse of discretion, by finding that Plaintiff could not adequately represent the proposed class per the requirements of Civil Rule 23(A)(4).
{¶ 4} "IV. FOURTH ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR: The trial court erred in arbitrarily denying class certification, in abuse of discretion, by finding that Plaintiffs proposed class failed to meet the requirements of Civil 23(B)(3) [sic]."
{¶ 5} Moorjani filed a complaint and request for class certification on January 4, 2006, naming Mid Ohio Securities, Equity Trust Company, Retirement Education Group, Inc., Richard Desich, and ten yet unidentified parties as defendants. Moorjani alleged that she is the owner and sole beneficiary of a traditional IRA account with Mid Ohio Securities, which was transferred by Mid Ohio Securities to its sister company, Equity Trust Company. Moorjani brought this action on her own behalf and on behalf of all other Ohioans who had investment accounts with Equity Trust Company, which hold unregistered securities in violation of Ohio securities law and were purchased by Equity *Page 3 Trust Company or Mid Ohio Securities from or through Westhaven Group, LLC, John Ulmer, or Haven Holdings, LLC (hereinafter "Westhaven"). Defendants opposed certification of the action as a class action. On June 27, 2007, the trial court denied Moorjani's motion to certify the action as a class action. Moorjani then sought an appeal to this court.
{¶ 6} On appeal, our standard of review is whether the trial court abused its discretion by denying class certification. Baughman v. StateFarm Mut. Auto Ins. Co.,
{¶ 7} Having found that the trial court did not commit error prejudicial to appellant, the judgment of the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed. Appellant is ordered to pay the costs of this appeal pursuant to App. R. 24. Judgment for the clerk's expense incurred in preparation of the record, fees allowed by law, and the fee for filing the appeal is awarded to Lucas County. *Page 4
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to App. R. 27. See, also, 6th Dist. Loc. App. R. 4.
*Page 1Peter M. Handwork, J., Arlene Singer, J., William J. Skow, J., CONCUR.
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