Favor v. Ohio State Univ.
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[Cite as Favor v. Ohio State Univ., 2009-Ohio-6062.]
Court of Claims of Ohio
The Ohio Judicial Center
65 South Front Street, Third Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
614.387.9800 or 1.800.824.8263
www.cco.state.oh.us
HUGH M. FAVOR, III
Plaintiff
v.
THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
Defendant
Case No. 2008-09937
Judge J. Craig Wright
JUDGMENT ENTRY
{¶ 1} On May 19, 2009, the parties filed a stipulation regarding the civil
immunity of Douglas A. Cunningham.
Therein, it is stipulated and agreed that
Cunningham is entitled to immunity pursuant to R.C. 9.86 and 2743.02(F) and that the
courts of common pleas do not have jurisdiction over any civil actions that may be filed
against him based upon the allegations of plaintiff’s complaint.
{¶ 2} The stipulation is hereby APPROVED. Based upon the stipulated facts,
the court finds that Douglas A. Cunningham is entitled to immunity pursuant to R.C.
9.86 and 2743.02(F) and that the courts of common pleas do not have jurisdiction over
any civil actions that may be filed against him based upon the allegations in plaintiff’s
complaint.
{¶ 3} On May 29, 2009, the court conducted an evidentiary hearing to determine
whether Robert S. Coleman is entitled to civil immunity pursuant to R.C. 2743.02(F) and
9.86.
{¶ 4} In the context of immunity, “[i]f the Court of Claims determines that the
employee’s acts did not further the interests of the state, i.e., the employee was acting
Case No. 2008-09937
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JUDGMENT ENTRY
outside the scope of his employment, maliciously, in bad faith, or in a wanton or
reckless manner, the state has not agreed to accept responsibility for the employee’s
acts and the employee is personally answerable for his acts in a court of common
pleas.” Conley v. Shearer, 64 Ohio St.3d 284, 287, 1992-Ohio-133.
{¶ 5} At all times relevant, plaintiff was enrolled as a student at the defendant
university; Coleman was a professor and vice chair in defendant’s Department of
Chemistry and Chemical Studies. At approximately 11:30 a.m. on September 27, 2007,
Coleman left his office carrying a defective microphone that he sought to replace at the
nearby classroom services building. As Coleman attempted to cross a street on his way
to the classroom services building, plaintiff drove his vehicle through the crosswalk very
near Coleman.
Plaintiff proceeded to park and exit his vehicle just beyond the
crosswalk, whereupon he and Coleman exchanged words.
Plaintiff approached
Coleman and shoved him, at which time Coleman placed a 911 call using his mobile
phone. According to Coleman, plaintiff continued to harass him while he spoke with the
911 dispatcher and he therefore placed his hand against plaintiff’s chest as a defensive
measure. However, according to plaintiff, Coleman grabbed his throat and threatened
him. It is undisputed that plaintiff then punched Coleman in the face and left the scene.
{¶ 6} As a result of the altercation, plaintiff was convicted of assault by the
Franklin County Municipal Court and his conviction was upheld by the Tenth District
Court of Appeals in State v. Favor, Franklin App. No. 08AP-215, 2008-Ohio-5371.
Plaintiff relates that as a further result of the altercation, defendant dismissed him from
his course of study.
{¶ 7} Plaintiff brings this action alleging that Coleman committed assault and
battery by grabbing his throat and threatening him, and he claims that such acts were
committed outside the scope of Coleman’s employment, with malice, in bad faith, and in
a wanton or reckless manner.
Defendant argues that to the extent it was actually
plaintiff who threatened and assaulted Coleman, Coleman properly defended himself
Case No. 2008-09937
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JUDGMENT ENTRY
and remained within the scope of his employment when doing so. The court agrees.
{¶ 8} Upon review of plaintiff’s testimony, the court finds that plaintiff’s version of
the events lacks credibility. Furthermore, plaintiff’s assertions that it was Coleman who
caused the altercation and that he thus punched Coleman in self-defense were rejected
by the trial court in his criminal case. The doctrine of collateral estoppel precludes
plaintiff from re-litigating those issues in this court. See Thompson v. Wing, 70 Ohio
St.3d 176, 183, 1994-Ohio-358. The court is persuaded that Coleman’s act of placing
his hand against plaintiff’s chest was a reasonable measure of self-defense against
plaintiff’s aggression. See Martin v. Central Ohio Trans. Auth. (1990), 70 Ohio App.3d
83, 93 (“Generally, one has a right to defend oneself by force, if that force is not
excessive.”). Inasmuch as Coleman was furthering the interests of his employer while
walking to the classroom services building, his contemporaneous acts of self-defense
also occurred within the scope of his employment. Id. at 93-94. Moreover, there is no
credible evidence that Coleman acted with malice, in bad faith, or in a wanton or
reckless manner.
{¶ 9} Based upon the foregoing, the court finds that Coleman is entitled to
immunity pursuant to R.C. 9.86 and 2743.02(F) and that the courts of common pleas do
not have jurisdiction over any civil actions that may be filed against him based upon the
allegations in this case.
{¶ 10} Lastly, the oral motion that defendant made during the hearing to dismiss
plaintiff’s complaint on the basis of res judicata is DENIED. The portion of the court’s
September 11, 2009 entry scheduling a status conference for November 13, 2009, is
hereby VACATED and the case will be set for trial.
_____________________________________
J. CRAIG WRIGHT
Judge
Case No. 2008-09937
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JUDGMENT ENTRY
cc:
Amy S. Brown
Randall W. Knutti
Assistant Attorneys General
150 East Gay Street, 18th Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215-3130
RCV/cmd
Filed October 13, 2009
To S.C. reporter November 17, 2009
Hugh M. Favor Jr.
4200 Regent Street, Suite 200
Columbus, Ohio 43219
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