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CLERK OF COURTSUPREME COURT OF OHIO
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THE COURT OF APPEALS
ELEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
TRUMBULL COUNTY, OHIO
CI^ ^^LS
DEC 2 6 Z'nJ7
TRU,U1bUtl COUVT`^ OhiKA^iEiU IIVfANTEr^LtEPJ, CLEi1K
DELORES KARNOFEL, O P I N I O N
Plaintiff-Ptppellant,
-vs-
KMART CORPORATION, et al.,
Defendants-Appellees.
CASE NOS. 2007-T-0036and 2007-T-0064
Civil Appeal from the Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 2006 CV 1266.
Judgment: Affirmed Case No. 2007-T-0036; Dismissed Case No: 2007-T-0064.
Delores Kamofel, pro se, 1528 Greenwood Avenue, Girard, OH 44420 (Plaintiff-Appellant).
Elisabeth D. Gentile and Juan Jose Perez, Perez and Morris, L.L.C., 8000 Ravine'sEdge Court, Suite 300, Columbus, OH 43235-3235 (For Defendant-Appellee, KmartCorporation).
Margo S. Meola, Comstock, Springer & Wilson Co., L.P.A., 100 Federal Plaza East,Suite 926, Youngstown, OH 44503-1811 (For Defendant-Appellee, D.R. Herbert FoodEquipment, lnc.);
MARY JANE TRAPP; J.
{¶1} Appellant, Delores Kamofel ("Ms. Karnofel"), appeals in Case No. 2007-T-
0036 the Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas' January 22, 2007 order granting
summary judgment in favor of defendants-appellees Kmart Corporation ("Kmart") and
D.R. Herbert Food Equiprnent, Inc. ("D.R. Herbert"). Ms. Karnofel also appeals in Case
No. 2007-T-0064 the Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas' June 5, 2007 order
denying her motion for leave to amend her complaint. The two appeals were
consolidated for our review. For the reasons that follow, we affirm the decision of the
trial court in Case No. 2007-T-0036 and dismiss the appeal in Case No. 2007-T-0064.
{¶2} Statement and Facts and Procedural History
{¶3} On May 22, 2004, Ms. Karnofel sustained injuries to her right knee and
right hip while riding on and operating an electric mobility cart while shopping at the
Kmart store located at Niles-Cortland Road in Warren, Ohio. On May 18, 2006, Ms.
Karnofel filed a pro se complaint against Kmart and D.R. Herbert alleging that the
defendants "engaged in the manufacturing, distribution and service business of electric
mobility carts" and that the defendants negligently maintained the cart on which she was
riding, which caused her to be thrown forward and to sustain injuries.
{1[4} O.n September 7, 2006, D.R. Herbert filed a motion for summary
judgment.. Attached to the motion was the affidavit of the company's president, David
R. Herbert ("Mr. Herbert"). In the affidavit, he averred that D.R. Herbert does not
manufacture, distribute, rent, or supply any make or model of any type of electric
mobility cart. Mr: Herbert conceded that the company services mobility carts and that it
placed its serviceaabels on the carts at Kmart. However, he averred that no one at D.R.
Herbert ever received a service call from Kmart nor did it ever service any electric
mobility carts at the Kmart store in question. Mr. Herbert said that he told Ms. Karnofel
that the company had never serviced any carts from Kmart prior to her filing the lawsuit
{15} On December 6, 2006; defendant Kmart filed a motion for summary
judgment. Kmart maintained that there were no genuine issues of material fact because
Ms. Karnofel could not identify which electric cart was allegedly negligently maintained.
Furthermore, according to the attached affidavit of Kmart's loss prevention associate, all
carts were tested but no operational problems or defects were found with any of the
carts. He further averred that Ms. Karnofel had called him two days after the accident
and that he had asked her to come into the store to fill out an incident report, but she
had failed to do so.
{¶6} In an entry dated January 18, 2007 and journalized on January 22, 2007,
the trial court granted .summary judgment in favor of defendants. Also on January 22,
2007, but after the summary judgment entry had been filed, Ms. Karnofel filed a motion
for leave to file an amended complaint. She sought to amend the complaint to add two
newpaities: "name unknown" and Amigo Mobility,'an entity she believed manufactured
the mobility carts. She further alleged that due to her thyroid condition she had difficulty
concentrating and failed to include in her original complaint a claim that there were
obstacles (a pole and a fire e)tinguisher) that obstructed her safe entranceway into the
aisle where the accident occurred.
{¶7} On March 15, 2007, Ms. Karnofel appealed the trial court's granting of
summary judgment.' Subsequently, on May 21, 2007, Ms. Karnofel filed her second
.motion to amend the complaint again alleging that since D.R. Herbert was not the
manufacturer of the cart, it was necessary to name Amigo Mobility International, Inc.
She further alleged thather injuries were caused by the difficult layout of the store. In
an order dated. June 5, 2007, the trial court denied Ms. Karnofel's motion to amend the
1. The notice of appeal was filed on March 15, 2007 in Case No. 2007-T-0036 but was deemed timelyfiled because although the court's order was journalized on January 22, 2007, service was not perfected
complaint on the ground that because it already granted summary judgment and
entered a final judgment, it no longer retained jurisdiction over the case. Ms. Karnofel
appealed that order, which forms the basis of Case No. 2007-T-0064.
{¶8} Ms. Karnofel raises five assignments of error in Case No. 2007-T-0036:
{¶9) "[1.] The lower court abused its discretion when it failed to grant plaintiff's
leave of court to amend complaint and approve statement of evidence.
{¶10} "[2] The lower court abused its discretion by issuing a judgment that was
not supported by reliable evidence.
{¶11} "[3.] PlaintifPs constitutional right to the fourteenth amendment-due
process of law was denied.
{¶12} "[4] The lower court abused its discretion by committing prejudicial and
reversible error by granting summary judgment for defendants:
{¶13} "[5] By plaintiff failing to compel the lower court to approve statement of
evidence and leave to amend complaint, as well as failing to compel defendants to
answer interrogatories, does not prevent plaintiff from recovering damages."
{¶14} The January 22, 2007 order from which Ms: Karnofel appeals from in
Case No. 2007-T-0036 granted summary judgment in favor of Kmart and D.R. Herbert.
Although Ms; Karnofel raises other issues in this appeal, including the issue ofin!hether
the trial court erred in failing to allow her to amend her complaint and approve her
"statement of evidence," as we stated in our September 20, 2007 judgment entry, we
are limited in our discussion to the trial court judgment on appeal which granted
summary judgment in favor of appellees. Thus, the only pertinent issue befcie usis
whether summary judgment was properly granted in appellees' favor.
{¶15} Standard of Review
{¶16} Summary judgment is appropriate under Civ.R. 56(C) when (1) there is no
genuine issue of material fact remaining 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 the evidence in favor of the
nonmoving party, that conclusion favors the moving party. Temple v. Wean United, Inc.
(1977), 50 Ohio St.2d 317, 327.
{117} "This court reviews de novo a trial court's order granting summary
judgment." Hudspath v. Cafaro Co., 11th Dist. No. 2004-A-0073,. 2005-Ohio-6911, ¶8,
citing Hagood v. Conrad, 11th Dist. No. 2000-T-0058, 2002-Ohio-3363, ¶13. "A
reviewing court will apply the same standard a trial court is required to apply, Which is to
determine whether any genuine issues of material fact exist and whether the moving
party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Id.
{¶18} "Since summary judgment denies the party his or her'day in court' it is not
to be viewed lightly as docket control or as a'little trial.' The jurisprudence of'summary
judgment standards has placed burdens on both the moving and the nonmoving party.
I^ ^ Dresher v. Burt, the Supreme Court of Ohio held that the moving party seeking
summary judgment bears the initial burden of informing the trial court of the basis for the
motion and identifying those portions of the record before the trial court that
demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue
noranioving party's claim. The evidence must be in the record or the motion cann,ot
succeed. The moving party cannot discharge its initial burden under Civ.R. 56 simpl
by making a conclusory assertion that the nonmoving party has no evidence to prove its
case but must be able to specifically point to some evidence of the type listed in Civ.R.
56(C) that affirmatively demonstrates that the nonmoving party has no evidence to
support the nonmoving party's claims. If the moving party fails to satisfy its initial
burden, the motion for summary judgment must be denied. If the moving party has
satisfied its initial burden, the nonmoving party has a reciprocal burden outlined in the
last sentence of Civ.R. 56(E) to set forth specific facts showing.there is a genuine issue
for trial. If the nonmoving party fails to do so, summary judgment, if appropriate shall be
entered against the nonmoving party based on the principles that have been firmly
established in Ohio for quite some time in Misteff v. Wheeler (1988), 38 Ohio St.3d
112." Welch v. Ziccarelli, 11th Dist. No. 2006-L-229, 2007-Ohio-4374, at ¶40.
{119} "The court in Dresher went on to say that paragraph three of the syllabus
in Wing v. Anchor 1Vledia, Ltd. of Texas (1991), 59 Ohio St.3d 108, is too broad and fails'-
to account for the burden Civ.R. 56 places upon a moving party. The court, therefore,
limited paragraph three of the syllabus in Wing to bring it into conformity with Misteff..
(Emphasis added.)" Id. at ¶41. -
{120} "The Supreme Court in Dresher went on to hold that when neither the
moving nor nonmoving party provides evidentiary materials demonstrating that there are
no material facts in dispute, the moving party is not entitled a judgment as a mafter of
law as the moving party bears the initial responsibility of informing the trial court of the
basis for the motion, `and identifying those portions of the record which demonstrate the
ahsence of a aenuine issue of faet on a material elemenf nf the nnmmnvina nartv's
(¶21} Whether Granting of Summary Judgment Was An Abuse of
Discretion
{¶22} Ms. Karnofel contends that summary judgment was inappropriately
granted in appellees' favor. She argues that Kmart owed her a duty of care to guard
against any dangerous conditions in the store and that Kmart should have posted
warning signs alerting customers to ride the electric mobility carts at their own risk and
should have also warned patrons of "hidden dangers, due to the layout of the store."
{¶23} Ms. Karnofel's complaint alleged that the defendants were engaged in the
manufacturing, distribution and service business of electric mobility carts, and that she
was injured as a result of the defendants' negligence in failing to reasonably maintain
the cart. Summary judgment was properly granted in favor of D. R. Herbert since its
president established by affidavit that the company did not service any of the electric
mobility carts at the Kmart store.
{¶24} With respect to. Kmart,. irr order to maintain an action for negligence, Ms..
Karnofel must show "the existence of a duty, a breach of that duty, and an: injury
proximately resulting therefrom." Texler v:. D.O. Summers (1988), 81 Ohio St.3d 677,
680; Lewis v. Ritondaro Funeral Home, lnc.; 11th Dist. No. 2006-G-2693, 2007-Ohio-
463, at 119. tn its brief in support of its motion for summary judgment, the affidavit of
Kmart's loss prevention associate established that all carts_were tested and found to be
in working order. Thus, although Kmart owed Ms. Karnofel, as a business invitee, a
duty of care to provide her with premises in a reasonably safe condition (see Paschal v:
Rite Aid Pharmacy, lnc. (1985), 18 Ohio St.3d 203), there is no evidence that Kmart
breached that duty of care or caused Ms: Karnofel's injuries. Without proof of a
malfunctioning cart, Ms. Karnofel cannot establish that Kmart was negligent in failing to
reasonably maintain the cart. Ms. Karnofel's own statement that the cart malfunctioned
was not submitted in affidavit form and cannot be used to create an issue of fact on this
point.
{¶25} As the non-movant, Ms. Karnofel "bore the responsibility of, pointing to
some evidence in the record, and supporting it, to raise a genuine issue of material
fact." Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. v. Poppy, 11th Dist. No. 2003-L-134, 2004-Ohio-
5936, at ¶31, citing Civ.R.56(E), "When a motion.for summary judgment is made and
supported as provided in this rule, an adverse party may not rest upon the mere
allegations or denials of the party's pleadings,but the party's response, by affidavit or
as othenniise provided in this rule, must set forth specific facts showing that there is a
genuine issue for trial."
{126} We reject Ms. Karnofel's argument that the trial oourt should have
considered in opposition to the motions for summary judgment a letter she received
from Ohio Mobility, a company that allegedly received a service call to supply Kmart
with a battery charger fifteen months prior to the accident.' It was Ms. Karnofel's burden
to submit evidentiary materials in accordance with Civ.R. 56(E) setting forth specific
facts to demonstrate the existence of a genuine issue of material fact. Civ.R. 56(E)
specifically states that sworn or certified copies of documents must be submitted along
with.an affidavit. An unsworn letter is not#he type of evidence a trial court may consider
under Civ:R. 56:
{¶27} Although this may seem to be a technicality to a non-attorney, the Ohio
Rules of Civil' Procedure must be followed regardless of whether the litigant is
represented by counsel or appears pro se. As the court noted in State v. Pryor, 10th
Dist. No. 07-AP-90, 2007-Ohio-4275: "While one has the right to represent himself or
herself and one may proceed into litigation as a pro se litigant, the pro se litigant is to be
treated the same as one trained in the law as far as the requirement to follow procedural
law and the adherence to court rules.. If the courts treat pro se I.itigants differently, the
court begins to depart from its duty of impartiality and prejudices the handling of the
case as it relates to other litigants represented by counsel." Id: at ¶9, citing In Justice v.
Lutheran.Socia! Servs. (Apr. 9, 1993), 10th Dist. No. 92AP-1153, 1993 Ohio App. LEXIS
2029, 6. Thus, although we recognize the difficult task pro se litigants face when
representing themselves, we must adhere. to the established rule that "[p]ro se litigants
are held to the same standard as other litigants and are hot entitled to special
treatment." In Re: Salsgiver, 11th Dist. No. 2003-G-2514, 2003-Ohio-6420, at ¶46,
citing Kilroy v. B.H. Lakeshore Co. (1996), 111 Ohio App.3d 357, 361
{128} Because Ms. Karnofel did not comply with the requirement of Civ.R. 56(E)
and failed to rebut the affidavit of Kmart's loss prevention associate, yve find that the trial
court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to consider the letter from Ohio Mobility.
{129} Ms. Karnofel also argues that Kmart was negligent because the store
layout, with its narrow aisles, made it diff"rcult for her to maneuver the cart and caused
her to injure herse ►f. This claim, which was alleged in Ms. Karnofel's motion to amend
her complaint, was not part of the trial court's decisiongranting summary judgment and
is not properly before this court. Nevertheless, we note that if it was properly before us,
there is no evidence to support this claim or to raise a genuine issue of material fact to
defeat the granting of summa ry judgment.
{¶30} We find that the trial court acted within its discretion in granting D.R.
Herbert and Kmart's motions for summary judgment. We overrule Ms. Karnofei's
assignments of error.
{531} In Case No. 2007-T-0064, Ms. Karnofel raises three assignments of error:
{532} "[1.j The lower court abused its discretion when it failed to grant plaintiff's
motion for leave to.amend the complaint.
{133} "[2.] Plaintiff's constitutional right to the fourt eenth amendment-due
process of law- was violated.
{¶34} "[3.] The lower court abused its. discretion by committing prejudicial and
reversible error by not granting plaintiff's motion to amend the complaint, and granting
summary judgment for defendants."
{¶35} Ms. Karnofel's appeal in Case No. 2007-T-0064 stems from the trial
court's denial of her second leave to amend her complaint, which she filed on May 21,
2007, nearly four months after the trial court entered final judgment in favor of D.R.
Herbert and Kmart, on. January 22, 2007: Because the trial court had already entered
final judgment and because an appeal of'that decision was taken, the trial court
correctly determined that it was without jurisdiction to consider Ms: Karnofel's motion to
amend her complaint.
(1[36} "As a general proposition, once an appeal has been taken froma
judgment of a trial court, that court only retains the authority to take actions which are
not inconsistent with the jurisdiction of the appellate court; in other words, the trial court
is divested of all jurisdiction except to act in aid ofthe appeal." Willoughby-Eastlake
City Schoo! Dist. V. Lake Cty. Court of Common Pleas (Apr. 21, 2000), 11th Dist. No:
I-
10
99-L-130, 2000 Ohio App. LEXIS 1758; 9, citing McAuley v. Smith (1998), 82 Ohio St.3d
393, 395; Yee v. Erie Cty. Sheriffs Dep't. (1990), 51 Ohio St.3d 43, 44.
{137} Since the trial court was divested of jurisdiction at the time Ms. Karnofel
filed her motion to amend her complaint, this court also lacks jurisdiction to address the
issue raised in this appeal. However, even if this issue was properly before us, we
would still find no error in the court's refusal to allow Ms: Karnofel to amend her
complaint.
{138} A trial court's ruling on a motion to amend a complaint is reviewed under
an abuse of discretion standard. Wilmington Steel Prods., Inc. v. Cleveland Elec. alfum.
Co. (1991), 60 Ohio St.3d 120, 122. An abuse of discretion involves more than an error
of judgment but connotes that the trial court's attitude was unreasonable,
unconscionable, or arbitrary. Blakeinore v. Blakemore (1983), 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219.
{139} Civ.R. 15(A) provides that, once a responsive pleading is made, a party
may amend his. pleading only by leave of court or by written consent of the adverse
party. Although leave of court may be given when justice so requires, in this case, the
trial court had already granted summary judgment in favor of the defendants. The
motion to amend the complaint was filed after the court held an oral argument on the
motions for summary judgment and after it had disposed of the underlying lawsuit.
Under these circumstances, there was no abuse its discretion in failing to.grant Ms.
Karnofel's motion to amend her complaint.
{140} Because the court was divested of jurisdiction when Ms
motion, we dismiss the appeal in Case No. 2007-T-0064.
Karnofel filed this
11
{141} The judgment of the Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed
in Case No. 2007-T-0036 and the case is dismissed in Case No. 2007-T-0064.
CYNTHIA WESTCOTT RICE, P.J.,
TIMOTHY P. CANNON, J., concur.
STATE OF OHIO ))SS.
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
COUNTY OF TRUMBULL
DELORES KARNOFEL,
) ELEVENTH DISTRICT
Plaintiff-Appellant,JUDGMENT ENTRY
-vs-
KMART CORPORATION, et 5iI.,
Defend a nts-Appel lees.
CASE NOS. 2007-T-0036arid 2007-T-0064
For the reasons stated in the opinion of this court,.. the assignments of
error in 11th Dist. No. 2007-T-0036 are without merit. Accordingly, the judgment
of the Trumbull" County Court of Common Pleas in that particular appeal is
affirmed.
As to 11th Dist. No. 2007-T-0064, it is the order of this court that the.
appeal is dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
_y .D eJUDGE MARY JANE. TRAPP
FOR THE COURT
F1LEDCOUFSTOFAPPEALS
DEC 2 C;200T
TRisMfSU! L COU{yT1; 0,4KAREN iiUFAVMALLEN, C_ERK
STATE OF OHIO)SS.
COUNTY OF TRUMBULL
DELORES KARNOFEL,
- vs -
Plaintiff-Appellant,
KMART CORPORATION, et al.,
F1 EDCOURT APPEALS
FEB f6 2008
Defendants-Appellees.
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
ELEVENTH DISTRICT
JUDGMENT ENTRY
CASE NOS. 2007-T-0036, and 2007-T-0064
TRUMBU COUNTN,OK This m tte b th t i i: a r comes efore e cour on a t me y application by appellant,KARENINfA EALLEN,CLERK
Delores Karnofel ("Ms. Karnofel"), for reconsideration of our December 24, 2007
opinion and judgment entry affirming the judgment of the Trurnbull County Court
of Common Pleas' For the reasons that' follow, Ms: Karnofel's ap"plication for
reconsideration is denied.
In order for an appellate court to grant an application for reconsideration,
the movant must identify an "obvious error" in the court's decision or demonstrate
that the court did not properly or fully consider an issue. See Woemer v. Mentor-
Exempted Village School Gist. Bd. of Edn. (1993), 84 Ohio App.3d 844, 846:
App.R. 26 "provides a mechanism by which a party may prevent miscarriages of
justice that could arise when an appellate court makes an obvious gt•,ror or
renders an unsupportable decision under the law." State v. Owens (1997), 112
Ohio Appi.c1
Ms. Karnofel first contends that this noUrt' erred in failing to rcverse the
grant of summary judgment where 6 facY issue remaing regarding the negfigenee
of Kmart in failing to reasonably maintain the electric mobility cart she was using.
Ms. Karnofel argues that the trial court erred in failing to consider in opposition to
the motions for summary judgment a letter she received from Ohio Mobility, a
company that had allegedly received a prior service call from defendant Kmart.
Ms. Karnofel also alleges that appellee, whose loss prevention associate had
stated in his affidavit that all carts were tested and in functioning order, submitted
this affidavit in bad faith since her letter from Ohio Mobility proved that there had
been problems associated with the carts.
:,,•: Ms..Karnofel made. these exact arguments to this court and we rejected
these arguments based upon the fact that Ms. Karnofel had failed to adhere to
the requirements of Civ.R. 56(E). As we stated in our opinion: "It was Ms.
Karnofel's burden to submit evidentiary materials in accordance with Civ:R. 56(E)
setting forth specific facts to demonstrate the existence of a genuine issue of
xnaterial fact. Civ.R. 56(E) specifically states that sworn or certified copies of.
documents must be submitted:.along with an affdavit. An unsworn letter is not
the type of evidence a trial,court may consider under Civ.R. 56." Kamofel v.
Kmart, 11th Dist. Nos. 2007-T-0036, 2007-T-0064, 2007-Ohio-6939, at ¶26.
Contrary to Ms. Karnofel's position, in analyzing this issue, this court
properly interpreted Civ.R. 56(E) and reiterated the fact that evidentiary materials
that are submitted to support or defend a motion for summary judgment must be
submitted along with an affidavit. Ms. Karnofel simply disagrees with our.
interpretation of Civ.R. 56(E). However, the fact that Ms. Karnofel disagrees with
the logic employed, the language chosen in the opinion, or the.conclusions
reached by this court is not grounds for granting an application for
reconsideration. Owens, 112 Ohio App.3d at 336.
Ms. Karnofel next contends that reconsideration should be granted
because she has also proven that Kmart was negligent because the store layout
made it difficult for her to maneuver the cart. Again, Ms. Karnofel raised this
issue to us previously and we declined to address it because it was not properly
before us. We explained: "This claim, which was alleged in Ms. Karnofel's
motion to amend her complaint, was not„part of the trial court's decision granting
summary judgment and is not properly before this court. Nevertheless, we note
that if it was properly before us,<there is no evidence to suppqrt this claim or to
raise a genuine issue of material fact to defeat the granting of summary
judgment." Karnofel at ¶29.
Ms. Karnofel has 'not identified any obvious error in our decision
warranting that reconsideration should be granted. Because Ms. Karnofel has
failed to show us that we committed an obvious error or failed to properly
address its arguments in our opinion, Ms. Karnofel's application for
reconsideration is hereby overruled.
ADM IS - . IVEJUDGEtulk RY JANE TRAPP
CYNTHIA WESTCOTT RICE, J.,
TIMOTHY P. CANNON, J.,
concur.
J 1 L L:DRTOFAPPEAL$
FEB-11 0 5 2008
^FiljMBULL COUNFY OHKAR@N1NFANTEALL^N,EEERK