Forbis v. Springfield Tp. Trustees

Decision Date25 March 1978
Citation10 O.O.3d 266,382 N.E.2d 781,56 Ohio App.2d 249
Parties, 10 O.O.3d 266 FORBIS, Appellant, v. SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES, Appellees.
CourtOhio Court of Appeals

Syllabus by the Court

1. The legislative intent of R.C. 5571.10 is to impose liability upon township trustees arising out of their negligence solely with regard to the performance of their official duties regarding roads and bridges as prescribed in R.C. Chapter 5571, and not to impose liability upon township trustees for their negligence generally.

2. A complaint states a good claim for relief against township trustees by one injured by the negligent maintenance or operation of a township building leased for commercial purposes without alleging the commercial nature or proprietary capacity of the township trustees' venture in the township building when and where plaintiff was injured. Such complaint is sufficient against attack by the defendants' motion to dismiss because Civ.R. 8(A) requires only that a pleading set forth a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief and a demand for judgment for the relief to which the pleader deems himself entitled.

Robert J. Potter, Toledo, for appellant.

Stephen E. Klein, Toledo, for appellees.

CLIFFORD F. BROWN, Judge.

Plaintiff-appellant, April E. Forbis, appeals from a dismissal of her personal injury action against the Springfield Township Trustees, defendants-appellees, for injuries sustained from a glass door which shattered on the premises of the Springfield Township Hall. The plaintiff's complaint alleged that defendants were negligent.

The action was dismissed by the trial court on the basis of the defendants' motion to dismiss, asserting that the complaint failed to state a claim for relief which would entitle plaintiff to recover. The dismissal was granted upon the doctrine of governmental immunity of the township trustees.

The plaintiff's sole claim of error raises the following legal issue: are the allegations of the complaint in this case sufficient to state a good claim for relief that a board of township trustees is liable for its negligence in maintaining township property, which negligence proximately causes injury to a person, in view of the sovereign immunity doctrine with which the township trustees are clothed? Under the broad allegations of the complaint in this case, the answer is "yes." We reverse.

Plaintiff contends that liability of township trustees for their negligence causing personal injuries is created by R.C. 5571.10, which provides:

"Each board of township trustees shall be liable, in its official capacity, for damages received by any person, firm, or corporation, by reason of the negligence or carelessness of such board in the discharge of its official duties."

However, R.C. 5571.10 is one of many statutes in Chapter 5571, entitled "Board of Township Trustees," and is concerned solely with the duties and functions of township trustees related to highways, roads and bridges.

The legislative intent of R.C. 5571.10 is to impose liability upon trustees arising out of their negligence solely with regard to the performance of their official duties regarding roads and bridges as prescribed in R.C. Chapter 5571, and not to impose liability upon township trustees for negligence generally. Statutes which grant the privilege of suing the state or its political subdivisions are in derogation of the common law and must, therefore, be strictly construed and not enlarged unless that purpose and intent is unequivocally indicated by such statutes. Washington Township v. Rapp (1934), 50 Ohio App. 1, 197 N.E. 413; Ray v. Bd. of Trustees of Trenton Township (1934), 49 Ohio App. 172, 174, 195 N.E. 707. See Dunn v. Agricultural Society (1888), 46 Ohio St. 93, 96-97, 18 N.E. 496; 1961 Ohio Atty.Gen.Ops. 540, No. 2482; 1957...

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7 cases
  • Royce v. Smith
    • United States
    • Ohio Supreme Court
    • 9 Diciembre 1981
    ...are limited to duties imposed under Chapter 5571 of the Ohio Revised Code * * *." The trustees rely on Forbis v. Springfield Township Trustees (1978), 56 Ohio App.2d 249, 382 N.E.2d 781, to support their position. Forbis dealt with a plaintiff who was injured when a glass door in the townsh......
  • Jeffrey G. Woosley v. Maurice E. Beathard, Executor
    • United States
    • Ohio Court of Appeals
    • 19 Diciembre 1983
    ... ... himself entitled. Civ. R. 8(A); Forbis v ... Springfield Township Trustees (1978), 56 Ohio App ... 2d 249. "Under the civil ... ...
  • Shawn Cole v. John G. Johnson & Sons
    • United States
    • Ohio Court of Appeals
    • 21 Septiembre 1995
    ... ... the relief to which the pleader deems himself entitled ... Forbis v. Springfield Township Trustees (1978), 56 ... Ohio App.2d 249. A party is not required to ... ...
  • Floyd Crise v. City of Cleveland
    • United States
    • Ohio Court of Appeals
    • 14 Noviembre 2002
    ... ... showing the entitlement to relief and a demand for judgment ... for that relief. Forbis v. Springfield Township ... Trustees (1978), 56 Ohio App.2d 249. A party is not ... required to ... ...
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