Simpkins v. Grace Brethren Church of Del., 2014–1953.

• Citation: 75 N.E.3d 122,149 Ohio St.3d 307,2016 Ohio 8118
• Decision Date: 14 December 2016
• Docket Number: No. 2014–1953.,2014–1953.
• Parties: SIMPKINS et al., Appellants, v. GRACE BRETHREN CHURCH OF DELAWARE, OHIO, Appellee, et al.
• Court: United States State Supreme Court of Ohio

149 Ohio St.3d 307

75 N.E.3d 122

2016 Ohio 8118

SIMPKINS et al., Appellants,

v.GRACE BRETHREN CHURCH OF DELAWARE, OHIO, Appellee, et al.

No. 2014–1953.

Supreme Court of Ohio.

Submitted Dec. 15, 2015.

Decided Dec. 14, 2016.

The Fitch Law Firm and John K. Fitch, Columbus; David A. Fitch ; Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, L.L.P., Stephen C. Fitch, and Celia M. Kilgard, Columbus, for appellants.

Weston Hurd, L.L.P., and W. Charles Curley, Columbus, for appellee.

Harris, Meyer, Heckman & Denkewalter, L.L.C., and Darrell L. Heckman, urging reversal for amicus curiae National Center for Victims of Crime.

The DiCello Law Firm and Robert F. DiCello, Mentor, urging reversal for amicus curiae Ohio Association for Justice.

Tucker Ellis, L.L.P., Susan M. Audey, and Benjamin C. Sassé, Cleveland, urging affirmance for amicus curiae Academy of Medicine of Cleveland & Northern Ohio.

Bricker & Eckler, L.L.P., Anne Marie Sferra, Columbus, and Kara Herrnstein, urging affirmance for amici curiae Ohio Alliance for Civil Justice and Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys.

FRENCH, J.

{¶ 1} This appeal presents as-applied constitutional challenges to the caps on noneconomic tort damages set out in R.C. 2315.18(B). In this opinion, we consider whether application of the damage caps to damages awarded to a minor who was the victim of sexual assault violates the minor's constitutional rights to a jury trial, to a remedy and open courts, to equal protection, and to due process. We also review and apply the statutory definition of "occurrence" in R.C. 2315.18(A)(5). We do not consider here whether there may exist any set of facts under which application of the statutory damage caps would prove unconstitutional. We conclude only that R.C. 2315.18(B) is constitutional as applied to the facts before us and that this case involves a single "occurrence" for purposes of applying the caps. We affirm the judgment of the Fifth District Court of Appeals.

Background: noneconomic-damage caps

{¶ 2} The General Assembly enacted R.C. 2315.18 as part of a broader tort-reform bill in Am.Sub.S.B. 80, 150 Ohio Laws, Part V, 7915 ("S.B. 80"), effective April 7, 2005. In support of those reforms, the General Assembly recognized the state's interest in "a fair, predictable system of civil justice" that preserves the rights of injured parties while curbing frivolous lawsuits, which increase the costs of doing business, threaten Ohio jobs, drive up consumer costs, and may hinder innovation. S.B. 80, Section 3(A)(3), 150 Ohio Laws, Part V, 8024.

{¶ 3} R.C. 2315.18 sets out procedures for imposing tort damages. When there is a jury trial, the jury returns a general verdict accompanied by answers to interrogatories. R.C. 2315.18(D). The verdict must specify the jury's determination of the total compensatory damages recoverable, as well as the portions of that total that represent economic and noneconomic losses. Id. The trial court then enters judgment for the total amount of economic damages determined by the jury and for the amount of noneconomic damages determined by the jury, up to the limits established by R.C. 2315.18(B). R.C. 2315.18(B)(1), (B)(2), (E)(1).

{¶ 4} R.C. 2315.18(B)(2) establishes a cap on compensatory tort damages for "noneconomic loss," which includes but is not limited to "pain and suffering, loss of society, consortium, companionship, care, assistance, attention, protection, advice, guidance, counsel, instruction, training, or education, disfigurement, mental anguish, and any other intangible loss." R.C. 2315.18(A)(4). R.C. 2315.18(B)(2) provides:

[T]he amount of compensatory damages that represents damages for noneconomic loss * * * shall not exceed the greater of two hundred fifty thousand dollars or an amount that is equal to three times the economic loss, as determined by the trier of fact, of the plaintiff in that tort action to a maximum of three hundred fifty thousand dollars for each plaintiff in that tort action or a maximum of five hundred thousand dollars for each occurrence that is the basis of that tort action.

{¶ 5} The damage caps on noneconomic loss do not apply where the noneconomic loss is for "[p]ermanent and substantial physical deformity, loss of use of a limb, or loss of a bodily organ system" or for "[p]ermanent physical functional injury that permanently prevents the injured person from being able to independently care for self and perform life-sustaining activities." R.C. 2315.18(B)(3)(a) and (b).

{¶ 6} In limiting the recovery of damages for noneconomic loss, the General Assembly noted that awards for pain and suffering "are inherently subjective" and that noneconomic damages may be inflated by "improper consideration of evidence of wrongdoing." S.B. 80, Section 3(A)(6)(d), 150 Ohio Laws, Part V, 8028. It further stated that "[i]nflated damage awards create an improper resolution of civil justice claims," leading to increased litigation costs and insurance premiums. S.B. 80, Section 3(A)(6)(e), 150 Ohio Laws, Part V, 8028.

Facts and procedural history

{¶ 7} This case began when appellants, Jessica Simpkins ("Simpkins") and her father, Gene Simpkins, sued Sunbury Grace Brethren Church ("Sunbury Grace"); Brian Williams; appellee, Grace Brethren Church of Delaware, Ohio ("Delaware Grace"); and Darrell Anderson in the Ross County Court of Common Pleas.

{¶ 8} The catalyst for appellants' claims occurred in March 2008 when Williams—then the senior pastor at Sunbury Grace—forced oral and vaginal intercourse with Simpkins, then a 15–year–old parishioner, in his office. Simpkins testified that she was seated in front of Williams's desk for a counseling session regarding her falling grades and unresolved issues at home regarding her parents' separation when Williams walked around the desk, put his hand on her shoulder, and told her to suck his penis. After repeatedly refusing, Simpkins eventually complied because she thought it was her only option to get out of the office. Simpkins testified that she then ran for the door but Williams blocked and shut it. She testified that despite her protests, Williams kissed her, pushed her to the ground, removed her pants, and engaged in forced vaginal intercourse with her. Williams pled guilty to two counts of sexual battery in violation of R.C. 2907.03(A)(12) and was sentenced to two consecutive four-year prison terms.

{¶ 9} Appellants voluntarily dismissed their case without prejudice after settling their claims against Sunbury Grace for $90,000 and after the trial court had granted partial summary judgment in favor of Delaware Grace. Appellants refiled their claims against Delaware Grace and Anderson, a former senior pastor at Delaware Grace, in the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas. This appeal concerns only appellants' claim against Delaware Grace for negligent hiring, retention, and supervision of Williams—the only claim that survived summary judgment in the trial court.

{¶ 10} Prior to becoming the senior pastor of Sunbury Grace, Williams was employed by Delaware Grace as a youth pastor beginning in 1988, later becoming an associate pastor. In the fall of 2004, while still an employee of Delaware Grace, Williams worked on "planting" the new Sunbury Grace church, with Delaware Grace's knowledge and support and with assurance from the Delaware Grace Elder Board that it would support him in starting the new church. Delaware Grace provided the primary financial support for the creation of Sunbury Grace. And a pastor from Delaware Grace served as Williams's supervisor for at least a year after he became the senior pastor at Sunbury Grace.

{¶ 11} Appellants allege that Delaware Grace knew or should have known that Williams was unqualified to serve as a pastor and that Delaware Grace was negligent in retaining Williams as an employee and in assisting Williams to become the senior pastor at Sunbury Grace. In support of that claim, appellants allege that prior to the fall of 2004, Delaware Grace was aware of at least two incidents during which Williams, while in its employ, engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior with young women.

{¶ 12} The first incident allegedly occurred during a mission trip in the early 1990s. Jeffrey Gill, the senior pastor at Delaware Grace from 1982 to 2002, testified that a teenage girl from another Grace Brethren church accused Williams of touching her inappropriately while on the mission trip. Williams admitted to Gill that he rubbed the girl's shoulders, but he denied any impropriety. Gill and Williams met with the pastor from the other church, the teenage girl, and her mother, and Williams read a prepared statement of apology. After that meeting, Gill felt that the accusations against Williams were resolved.

{¶ 13} The second alleged incident of sexual impropriety occurred in May 2002. Anderson, the former senior pastor at Delaware Grace, testified about a young woman's substantiated allegations of inappropriate sexual comments and touching by Williams. Although he did not make any notes regarding Williams's conduct, Anderson met with Williams and told him "how highly inappropriate" that conduct was. Anderson did not, however, report Williams's conduct to Gill, who was until June 2002 a senior pastor at Delaware Grace, or to the Delaware Grace Elder Board, of which Williams was a member. Nor did he inform Gary Underwood, who was hired as Delaware Grace's senior pastor in October 2004, about the 2002 incident. Underwood, in fact, testified that he was unaware of any personnel records reflecting the allegations or incidents of inappropriate sexual conduct by Williams.

{¶ 14} In September 2004, Delaware Grace executed a letter of understanding with Williams regarding the planting of Sunbury Grace. At that time, Anderson, who had personal knowledge of the 2002 incident, was the acting senior pastor of Delaware Grace. Anderson also served as Williams's supervisor for a period of time following the execution of the letter of understanding, while Williams was attending to Sunbury Grace...