Huspen v. Cooper, 07ca2987 (9-9-2008)
Huspen v. Cooper, 07ca2987 (9-9-2008)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 3} The Huspens filed a complaint against the Coopers on October 12, 2005. The Huspens alleged that before 2004, the Coopers "wrongfully and unlawfully constructed an earthen levy running east to west across [the Coopers'] land which has prevented surface waters from flowing through such depression through [the Huspens'] land" causing "surface water to remain on [the Huspens'] land for a substantially longer period than they would naturally remain following rainfalls * * *." The Huspens sought an order: (1) requiring the Coopers to remove the earthen levy and other action to restore the natural drainage of surface water on the properties; (2) injunctive relief preventing the obstruction or interference with the natural drainage of surface water on the properties; (3) damages; and (4) attorneys fees and costs.
{¶ 4} After the court denied the Coopers' motion for summary judgment, the case proceeded to trial. Following the close of the Huspens' case, the trial court granted a directed verdict in favor of the Coopers on the issue of damages after finding that the Huspens failed to present any evidence showing a reduction in value of the Huspens' property as the result of the Coopers' alleged acts. The case then proceeded *Page 3 with regard to the Huspens' request for injunctive relief. With regard to the injunction claim, the court concluded:
defendants have contributed to causing an unreasonable and dangerous condition on the property of plaintiffs and that they should share in the alleviation of said condition. It is therefore ordered the plaintiffs shall be given a period of 60 days from the filing of this entry in which to investigate ways to increase the flow under defendants' lane and the costs related thereto. Defendants are to co-operate with this study and with any resulting, necessary construction and pay a third of any costs, up to twenty-five hundred dollars.
* * *
The reasonable co-operation of each party is expected. If no action is taken within the sixty-day period, this matter will be terminated. If construction is commenced, the court will retain jurisdiction.
{¶ 5} The Coopers now appeal asserting the following assignment of error: THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN AWARDING INJUNCTIVE RELIEF TO PLAINTIFFS-APPELLANTS.
{¶ 7} "An order is a final order that may be reviewed, affirmed, modified, or reversed, with or without retrial, when it is * * * [a]n order that affects a substantial right in an action that in effect determines the action and prevents a judgment" or "[a]n order that affects a substantial right made in a special proceeding[.]" R.C.
{¶ 8} An order adjudicating "one or more but fewer than all the claims or the rights and liabilities of fewer than all the parties must meet the requirements of R.C.
{¶ 9} Here, the court's judgment entry contemplates further action by the court. Upon the Huspens failure to take action within sixty-days, the court stated its intention to terminate the case, making the Coopers responsible to the Huspens for nothing. However, assuming action was taken by the Huspens within sixty-days, the order *Page 5 makes the Coopers responsible for an undetermined amount up to $2,500. Because further action by the court is required to terminate the action, the order is not a final appealable order.
{¶ 10} Further, the Supreme Court of Ohio recently held that "[w]hen attorney fees are requested in the original pleadings, an order that does not dispose of the attorney-fee claim * * * is not a final, appealable order." Internatl. Bhd. Of Electrical Workers, Local UnionNo. 8 v. Vaughn Industries, L.L.C.,
{¶ 11} Here, the Huspens prayed for attorney fees in their original complaint. The trial court's order does not dispose of that prayer for relief. As a result, the order cannot be a final, appealable order.
*Page 6APPEAL DISMISSED.
The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the Ross 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. Exceptions.
Harsha, J. and McFarland, J.: Concur in Judgment and Opinion.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.