[Cite as Kent v. Lee, 2026-Ohio-2969.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO
CLERMONT COUNTY
DAVID D. KENT, :
CASE NO. CA2025-06-046
Appellee, :
OPINION AND
vs. : JUDGMENT ENTRY
7/31/2026
ERIKA LEE, :
Appellant. :
:
CIVIL APPEAL FROM CLERMONT COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
DOMESTIC RELATIONS DIVISION
Case No. 2023 DRB 00642
David D. Kent, pro se
Strauss Troy Co., L.P.A., and Carrie R. Waide, for appellant.
OPINION
BYRNE, P.J.
{¶ 1} Erika Lee appeals from an order of the Clermont County Court of Common
Pleas, Domestic Relations Division. That order dismissed Erika’s post-decree motion
Clermont CA2025-06-046
seeking relief from judgment under Civ.R. 60(B), or, in the alternative, a new trial under
Civ.R. 59, and granted David Kent's motion for attorney fees. For the reasons discussed
below, we affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand for further proceedings.
I. Factual and Procedural Background
A. The Divorce Proceedings and Decree of Divorce
{¶ 2} Erika Lee ("Erika") and David Kent ("David") married in 2016. In 2023, David
filed for divorce. Following that filing, the domestic relations court issued a temporary
restraining order pursuant to local rule. That order, among other things, broadly prohibited
each spouse from selling, transferring, or concealing any property owned by either
spouse without the written consent of the court.
{¶ 3} The parties exchanged discovery but their interrogatory answers,
responses to requests for the production of documents, and documents produced in
discovery were not filed with the court.
{¶ 4} On November 22, 2024, the parties appeared before the domestic relations
court for a final hearing at which they presented the court with an agreement as to all
issues. We will refer to this as the "Divorce Hearing." The court found the agreement fair
and equitable, and granted the parties a divorce. The court indicated it would review the
parties' decree of divorce and after ensuring that it complied with Ohio law, it would sign
and file the decree.
{¶ 5} On January 3, 2025, the domestic relations court issued a decree of divorce
that incorporated the parties' jointly executed separation agreement. The separation
agreement provided that the date of division of marital assets would be April 30, 2023.
Notably, this date of division was well over a year prior to the date the parties appeared
for the Divorce Hearing.
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{¶ 6} The separation agreement addressed the disposition of Broadcom common
stock held by David, which stock was acquired by David during the marriage while he
worked at Broadcom. That provision stated:
[David] holds an interest in Broadcom Common Stock held
with Fidelity. [David] shall retain the full balance of this
account free and clear of any claim of Wife. This account held
$70,262 in marital funds, which are being considered in the
overall division of the parties' assets and debts. The rest of
the stock held in this account is [David's] separate property as
it was received after the Date of Division.
{¶ 7} In a section of the separation agreement entitled "Acknowledgments," the
agreement stated:
A. The parties warrant that each has fully disclosed
that person's personal and financial situation and together
they have effected, to their mutual satisfaction, a division of all
property, real and personal, of whatever kind or disposition,
known to them and wheresoever situated . . .
B. It is mutually agreed by and between the parties
that each has relied upon the statements made and
information provided by the other in determining respective
equity rights in this Agreement. This Agreement is dependent
upon the accuracy and completeness of this information as it
relates to their financial affairs and ownership rights in all
property, real and personal.
(Emphasis added.)
B. Post-Decree Filings
{¶ 8} A few weeks after the domestic relations court entered the final decree of
divorce, Erika moved the court for relief from judgment under Civ.R. 60(B), or alternatively,
for a new trial under Civ.R. 59 ("Post-Decree Motion"). At the same time, Erika sought
discovery in connection with her Post-Decree Motion by serving post-decree
interrogatories and requests for the production of documents.
{¶ 9} In the Post-Decree Motion, Erika noted that David had not been awarded
any "significant" separate property in the parties’ separation agreement. But, Erika stated,
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she had discovered that on December 9, 2024—after the parties signed the separation
agreement, and before the court entered the final divorce decree—David had purchased
real estate in Akron, Ohio for $380,000, paying cash. Erika attached to her Post-Decree
Motion a limited warranty deed documenting the transfer of the Akron real estate to David.
The deed stated that David was "unmarried," even though his divorce to Erika was not
yet final at the time. Erika indicated that David never disclosed during the divorce
proceedings that he was under contract to purchase the Akron real estate or that he had
$380,000 in cash available to him. The facts as alleged in the motion were verified by
Erika through a notarized signature.
{¶ 10} Erika asked for relief from judgment under Civ.R. 60(B) "unless and until
David can provide an acceptable explanation as to the source of funding of his $380,000
cash real estate purchase. . . ." She specifically asked for relief from judgment based on
"surprise" under Civ.R. 60(B)(1), "newly discovered evidence" under Civ.R. 60(B)(2),
"fraud" under Civ.R. 60(B)(3), and "any other reason justifying the relief" under Civ.R.
60(B)(5). Alternatively, Erika asked for a new trial pursuant to Civ.R. 59(A).
{¶ 11} In response, David filed a document captioned "Motion to Dismiss /
Memorandum in Opposition to Defendant’s Verified Motion for Relief from Judgment;
Alternatively, Motion for new Trial," and "Plaintiff’s Motion for Attorney Fees." We will refer
to this filing as David’s "Memorandum in Opposition" to Erika’s Post-Decree Motion.1
{¶ 12} In his Memorandum in Opposition, David explained that the funds used to
purchase the Akron real estate were derived from "Restricted Stock Units" ("RSUs") that
1. David's use of the term "Motion to Dismiss" was improper, because a motion to dismiss may only seek dismissal of a pleading, not dismissal of a motion. See Civ.R. 12 (allowing motions to dismiss in response to "pleading[s]"); Civ.R. 7(A) (defining pleadings as only including a complaint, answer, reply to a counterclaim, answer to a cross-claim, third-party complaint, and third-party answer). Here, the domestic relations court properly considered David's misnamed filing as what it truly was: a memorandum in opposition to Erika's Post-Decree Motion.
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were granted to him by his then-employer, Broadcom, pursuant to Broadcom's stock
incentive plan. David stated that in June 2024, more than a year after the agreed April
2023 date of division, David left his employment with Broadcom, which resulted in the
conversion of a portion of his RSUs to Broadcom common stock. He then sold this stock
and used the proceeds to purchase the Akron real estate.
{¶ 13} David further stated in the Memorandum in Opposition that during the
divorce proceedings he provided Erika with "comprehensive disclosure" relative to the
RSUs. David pointed to interrogatory answers—attached to the Memorandum in
Opposition, and thus for the first time entered on the record—in which he disclosed he
possessed "RSUs" that would "vest in 2027" and that were valued at $866,484 as of June
6, 2023. David also referenced eight separate documents which he claimed to have
produced to Erika in discovery related to the RSUs and their conversion to common stock.
But none of these documents were filed with the domestic relations court, so none are
part of the record before us. David stated that these documents included Fidelity account
statements that listed "all units of granted but unvested stock" and a "Broadcom Exit
Package" which he described as "fully outlining the disposition of vested and unvested
RSUs upon termination" of employment. David argued that through these disclosures, he
made a "full, fair, and transparent disclosures of his assets" to Erika. In further support,
David attached an affidavit of income and expenses that was previously filed during the
divorce proceedings and which listed—under the section heading "pensions &
retirements plans"—"RSUs" titled in his name and valued at $661,000.
{¶ 14} In addition to responding substantively to the merits of Erika's Post-Decree
Motion, David moved the domestic relations court to award him attorney fees. He argued
attorney fees should be awarded because he fully and exhaustively disclosed the
existence of the RSUs, and if Erika had merely contacted his counsel she could have
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learned about the source of the funds used to purchase the Akron real estate without
having to resort to filing the Post-Decree Motion.
{¶ 15} Erika subsequently filed a motion to compel, asking the court to order David
to respond to Erika's post-decree interrogatories and requests for production of
documents that she issued in conjunction with the Post-Decree Motion. Erika stated her
counsel had attempted to obtain David's discovery responses extrajudicially but had
received no response.
{¶ 16} David then moved to stay discovery and for a protective order.
C. Post-Decree Hearing
{¶ 17} The domestic relations court held a hearing on April 11, 2025. We will refer
to this as the "Post-Decree Hearing." Erika appeared at the Post-Decree Hearing in
person, with her counsel. Counsel for David appeared by telephone, asked whether Erika
was present, and was told she was. David's counsel then stated that she had understood
that the Post-Decree Hearing would be for counsel only. The court then stated, "I was told
that this was to be converted to a pretrial." Erika's counsel agreed.2 The court then stated
"And, ma'am, we'll get with you in just a minute." Although it is not clear from our record,
Erika's counsel has represented that Erika was asked to leave the courtroom and was
not present for the remainder of the Post-Decree Hearing.
{¶ 18} No evidence was presented at the Post-Decree Hearing. Instead, the
parties' respective counsel made various arguments. Erika's counsel provided the court
with background information concerning Erika's pending Post-Decree Motion. Erika's
counsel stated that, through discovery in the divorce, David had disclosed, through
statements from Fidelity, RSUs that had a value of approximately $1 million as of
2. There is conflicting information in the record as to whether the Post-Decree Hearing was a "hearing," a "pretrial," or something else. For consistency we will refer to that proceeding as a "hearing."
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December 2023. Erika's counsel then stated that in August 2024, David disclosed that
those RSUs were "gone." Erika's counsel stated that Erika was "led to believe" that the
non-existence of the RSUs was "related to his termination of employment in June of
2024." Erika's counsel stated that Erika was completely unaware that David had "cashed
in" his RSUs and received $1 million less taxes. Erika's counsel asserted that David never
disclosed to Erika or her counsel that he converted the RSUs to common stock.
{¶ 19} The court then asked whether David had in fact "cashed in" his RSUs. In
response, David's counsel stated that the "most important" consideration was the April
30, 2023 date of division in the parties' separation agreement. David's counsel stated that
Erika's new counsel believed that Erika got a "bad deal" in an agreed upon separation
agreement that Erika was now "regretting." David's counsel highlighted instances where
Erika had been provided information about the RSUs during discovery. David's counsel
also stated that "most" of the RSUs were unvested at the date of separation in April 2023.
{¶ 20} As to Erika's assertion that she did not have any Fidelity statements in 2024
demonstrating the value of David's RSUs or any cash-out activity, David argued that Erika
could have requested that information during the divorce discovery process and failed to
do so.
{¶ 21} After David's counsel finished her explanation of how David had disclosed
the RSUs, Erika's counsel stated that he would like to respond, while adding "we're not
here to argue the underlying motion." Erika's counsel stated that Erika had, in August
2024, made a discovery request concerning "any documents related to restricted stock
units," and that in response, David stated, "None." Erika's counsel stated he was trying,
through post-decree discovery, to learn at what date and where the RSUs were disposed
of, and the amount of monies received. Erika's counsel also argued that any liquidation
of the RSUs while the divorce remained pending was in violation of the court's temporary
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restraining order, which broadly prohibited the parties from selling or transferring assets
while the divorce was pending.
{¶ 22} In response, David's counsel stated that the RSUs were converted to
common stock and added "that's why there were none [that is, no RSUs]. Whether her
prior counsel failed to do adequate discovery is on her prior counsel." David's counsel
once again iterated that the RSUs were disclosed to Erika. David's counsel explained that
the "none" response to the document request about RSUs was accurate because at the
time of the discovery request, the RSUs had already been converted into common stock
when David was terminated from his employment at Broadcom (in June 2024).
{¶ 23} Erika's counsel then stated that Erika understood that unvested RSU's
"evaporated" upon David's termination from Broadcom. David's counsel replied, "it
doesn't matter what she understood or didn't understand." And the court replied, "Right,
it's a disclosure issue."
{¶ 24} The court then stated, "So, I have to look and decide whether husband
properly disclosed the . . . that he had unvested stock interest and whether wife properly
pursued discovery in terms of asking questions regarding or getting documents regarding
. . . that asset."
{¶ 25} The court ended the Post-Decree Hearing stating it would hold the
discovery motions in abeyance "pending my decision on the 60(B)."
D. Domestic Relations Court's Decision on Pending Motions
{¶ 26} In May 2025, the domestic relations court issued its decision on the parties’
various post-decree filings.
{¶ 27} With regard to Erika’s request for Civ. R. 60(B) relief from judgment, the
domestic relations court found that Erika had failed to present sufficient factual
information to warrant an evidentiary hearing. The court stated that the parties did not
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dispute that David disclosed the existence of the RSUs to Erika during the negotiation of
the separation agreement and described the parties' counsels' arguments at the PostDecree Hearing. The court then made factual findings, stating, "[Erika's] belief that the
RSU's were extinguished when [David] left his employment with Broadcom was not due
to [David's] lack of disclosure. Rather, [Erika] made assumptions about Broadcom's Stock
Incentive Plan which she relied upon to her apparent detriment." Accordingly, the court
found that Erika had not demonstrated surprise, newly discovered evidence, fraud, or any
other ground that would entitle Erika to relief under Civ.R. 60(B)(1), (2), (3), or (5),
respectively. The court therefore denied Erika’s request for relief from judgment under
Civ.R. 60(B).
{¶ 28} As to Erika's Civ.R. 59 motion for a new trial, the court found that Erika had
provided "no factual or evidentiary support" to show irregularities in the proceedings,
misconduct on David's behalf, surprise, or newly discovered evidence. The court again
highlighted that David had disclosed his interest in RSUs. The court denied Erika’s Civ.R.
59 request for a new trial.
{¶ 29} The court also denied Erika's motions to compel discovery, finding that the
court's denial of Erika's motions for relief under Civ.R. 60(B) and for a new trial under
Civ.R. 59 rendered the discovery motions moot.
{¶ 30} The court granted David's motion for attorney fees, but the court did not
explain its rationale, other than stating that such an award was equitable. Because David
had not submitted any evidence in support of his motion for attorney fees, the court
awarded David $500 as a "presumed" reasonable attorney fee.
{¶ 31} Erika appealed, raising three assignments of error. David did not file an
appellate brief or otherwise participate in this appeal.
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II. Law and Analysis
A. Civ.R. 60(B) Motion for Relief from Judgment
{¶ 32} Erika's first assignment of error states:
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DISMISSING [ERIKA'S]
MOTION FOR RELIEF FROM JUDGMENT AND FOR
FAILING TO HOLD AN EVIDENTIARY HEARING.
{¶ 33} In support of her first assignment of error, Erika contends that she presented
the domestic relations court with "operative facts" that required the court to grant her an
evidentiary hearing on her Civ.R. 60(B) motion, and that it erroneously failed to hold such
a hearing. She asserts that she presented the court with evidence that David purchased
real estate valued at $380,000 with cash shortly after the court held the Divorce Hearing,
and that none of David's financial disclosures while the divorce was pending reflected
available assets sufficient to provide David with the means to pay this amount of cash.
Erika contends that the only logical conclusion that can be reached is that David failed to
disclose the full details of his unvested Broadcom RSUs.
{¶ 34} Erika also faults the domestic relations court for taking no evidence or
testimony from either party but basing its decision on factual findings for which there is
no record evidence in support.
1. Civ.R. 60(B) and Standard of Review
{¶ 35} Civ.R. 60(B) provides, in full:
On motion and upon such terms as are just, the court may
relieve a party or his legal representative from a final
judgment, order or proceeding for the following reasons:
(1) mistake, inadvertence, surprise or excusable neglect;
(2) newly discovered evidence which by due diligence could
not have been discovered in time to move for a new trial under
Rule 59(B);
(3) fraud (whether heretofore denominated intrinsic or
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extrinsic), misrepresentation or other misconduct of an
adverse party;
(4) the judgment has been satisfied, released or discharged,
or a prior judgment upon which it is based has been reversed
or otherwise vacated, or it is no longer equitable that the
judgment should have prospective application; or
(5) any other reason justifying relief from the judgment.
The motion shall be made within a reasonable time, and for
reasons (1), (2) and (3) not more than one year after the
judgment, order or proceeding was entered or taken. A motion
under this subdivision (B) does not affect the finality of a
judgment or suspend its operation.
The procedure for obtaining any relief from a judgment shall
be by motion as prescribed in these rules.
{¶ 36} "To prevail on a Civ.R. 60(B) motion, the moving party must demonstrate
that (1) [s]he has a meritorious defense or claim to present if relief is granted, (2) [s]he is
entitled to relief under one of the grounds stated in Civ.R. 60(B)[(1) through (5)], and (3)
the motion is made within a reasonable time." Total Quality Logistics, L.L.C. v. ATA
Logistics, Inc., 2020-Ohio-1553, ¶ 7 (12th Dist.), citing GTE Automatic Electric, Inc. v.
ARC Industries, Inc., 47 Ohio St.2d 146 (1976), paragraph two of the syllabus. Because
all three criteria must be satisfied in order for the trial court to grant relief, the moving
party's failure to meet any one of these three factors is fatal. Scrimizzi v. Scrimizzi, 2019-Ohio-2793, ¶ 51 (12th Dist.).
{¶ 37} A party moving for relief from judgment under Civ.R. 60(B) is not
automatically entitled to an evidentiary hearing and bears the burden of proving
entitlement to a hearing. In re C.W., 2025-Ohio-1931, ¶ 18 (8th Dist.). "If the movant files
a motion for relief from judgment and it contains allegations of operative facts which would
warrant relief under Civil Rule 60(B), the trial court should grant a hearing to take evidence
and verify these facts before it rules on the motion." Id., quoting Coulson v. Coulson, 5
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Ohio St.3d 12, 16 (1983). "Operative facts" are those that, "if found to be true, would
present a meritorious defense." See Fifth Third Bank v. Schoessler's Supply Room,
L.L.C., 2010-Ohio-4074, ¶ 13 (12th Dist.)
{¶ 38} The corollary to this is that a movant is not entitled to a hearing on a motion
for relief from judgment when the motion does not allege operative facts that would entitle
the movant to relief from judgment if found to be true. See Steve Robertson Trucking,
L.L.C. v. Todd, 2024-Ohio-1634, ¶ 16 (12th Dist.).
{¶ 39} "The decision to grant or deny a Civ.R. 60(B) motion lies within the trial
court's discretion, and the decision will be reversed only for an abuse of discretion." Hill
v. Dorger, 2024-Ohio-2305, ¶ 16 (12th Dist.).
2. Analysis
{¶ 40} Upon review, we find that Erika's motion alleged operative facts that, if true,
would provide grounds for relief under various provisions of Civ.R. 60(B). Erika's motion,
which was verified by Erika's signature, pointed to the Separation Agreement, in which
both parties acknowledged that they had "fully disclosed" their "personal and financial
situation" and that the validity of the agreement was premised on both parties doing so
prior to the execution of the agreement. Erika's verified motion also pointed to evidence
suggesting that David, during the divorce proceedings, did not disclose assets of sufficient
value that would have enabled him to purchase the Akron real estate. If true, such
evidence could potentially constitute surprise, newly discovered evidence, or
misrepresentation or misconduct on the part of David in the discovery process. Civ.R.
60(B)(1), (2), or (3). As such, in our view, Erika met her burden under Civ.R. 60(B) to
obtain an evidentiary hearing.
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{¶ 41} But the domestic relations court went further than simply declining to hold
an evidentiary hearing. The court made factual findings that David properly disclosed
information about the RSUs to Erika:
[Erika's] belief that the RSU's were extinguished when [David]
left his employment with Broadcom was not due to [David's]
lack of disclosure. Rather, [Erika] made assumptions about
Broadcom's Stock Incentive Plan which she relied upon to her
apparent detriment.
{¶ 42} These factual findings appear to be based on David's counsel's argument
at the Post-Decree Hearing that David fully disclosed to Erika the existence of the RSUs
and the terms under which they could be converted to common stock. But no testimony
or evidence was taken at the Post-Decree Hearing; the court only heard—and relied on—
arguments from the parties' respective counsel. Arguments of counsel are not evidence.
See Rubino v. Showalter, 24 Ohio App.3d 232, 233 (9th Dist. 1985).
{¶ 43} This deficiency is critical here. First, while the court's analysis and factual
findings assumed that David paid for the Akron real estate with cash obtained from the
sale of common stock that was derived from converted RSUs, none of these facts were
in evidence. Erika's Post-Decree Motion established—via verified statements—that David
paid for the Akron real estate with unexplained, undisclosed cash. In response, David
offered only his counsel's argument that the converted RSUs were the source of the cash,
first in writing in the Memorandum in Opposition and then orally at the Post-Decree
Hearing. But it must not be overlooked: David never offered any affidavit, testimony, or
document establishing that the RSUs were the source of the cash for the Akron real
estate. The court simply assumed this to be the case based on the argument of counsel.
{¶ 44} Second, even if there were evidence in the record that the RSUs were the
ultimate source of the cash used to buy the Akron real estate, David offered only the
argument of counsel about what David did or did not disclose about the RSUs (and
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common stock) in his responses to Erika's requests for the production of documents and
in his document production. The very documents produced in discovery that David's
counsel told the court would shed light on the question of what David did or did not
disclose are not in the record and so could not be considered by the court. See generally,
Lisboa v. Lisboa, 2011-Ohio-351, ¶ 10 (8th Dist.).
{¶ 45} Furthermore, the Post-Decree Hearing was attended by counsel only, was
referred to by the court as a "pretrial," and there was no indication at the start of the PostDecree Hearing that it would be considered a merits hearing on the Civ.R. 60(B) motion.
Erika was excluded from the Post-Decree Hearing and could not present testimony.
{¶ 46} We thus conclude that the domestic relations court made factual findings
based on information not in the record, and without providing Erika the opportunity to
present evidence on the record. These factual findings were the basis for the court’s
decision to deny Erika’s Civ.R. 60(B) motion. As such, we find that the court abused its
discretion in denying Erika's Civ.R. 60(B) motion.
{¶ 47} Accordingly, we sustain Erika's first assignment of error and remand for an
evidentiary hearing on Erika's Civ.R. 60(B) motion for relief from judgment.3
3. On remand, the domestic relations court should also address whether R.C. 3105.171(I) bars Erika's Civ.R. 60(B) motion. That statute states, "A division or disbursement of property or a distributive award made under this section is not subject to future modification by the court except upon the express written consent or agreement to the modification by both spouses." R.C. 3105.171(I). The Ohio Supreme Court has interpreted this statute as prohibiting a court from "modifying" a property division in a divorce decree in response to a Civ.R. 60(B) motion, absent an agreement by the parties. See Walsh v. Walsh, 2019-Ohio3723, ¶ 22-23. However, at least one district court of appeals has concluded that, despite R.C. 3105.171(I), a domestic relations court still has subject-matter jurisdiction to vacate the entirety of a dissolution decree pursuant to Civ.R. 60(B) based on material misstatements made while negotiating the separation agreement. Quesinberry v. Quesinberry, 2022-Ohio-635, ¶ 18-21 (2d Dist.). We spoke approvingly of Quesinberry in Kelly v. Kelly, 2024-Ohio-124, ¶ 16 (12th Dist.), and Wiseman v. Wiseman, 2022-Ohio-3689, ¶ 13 (12th Dist.), though we did not issue a specific holding on the matter in either case. Nor have we addressed the question of whether a Civ.R. 60(B) motion that on its surface seeks vacatur of an entire divorce decree, but that in fact seeks mere modification of a property division, should be treated as barred by R.C. 3105.171(I). See Fahrer v. Fahrer, 2023-Ohio-4380, ¶ 21-26 (5th Dist.). Rather than decide these issues now, in an appeal in which they have not been addressed by any party, we conclude that this is a legal issue better addressed for the first time by briefing before the trial court, which has not yet decided the scope of relief requested by Erika.
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B. New Trial
{¶ 48} Erika's second assignment of error states:
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DETERMINING THAT
[ERIKA] WAS NOT ENTITLED TO A NEW TRIAL
PURSUANT TO CIV R. 59(A).
{¶ 49} In her second assignment of error Erika contends that she was entitled to a
new trial pursuant to Civ.R. 59(A)(1), (2), (3) and (8).
{¶ 50} Civ.R. 59(A) provides, in relevant part:
(A) Grounds for New Trial. A new trial may be granted to all or
any of the parties and on all or part of the issues upon any of
the following grounds:
(1) Irregularity in the proceedings of the court, jury, magistrate,
or prevailing party, or any order of the court or magistrate, or
abuse of discretion, by which an aggrieved party was
prevented from having a fair trial;
(2) Misconduct of the jury or prevailing party;
(3) Accident or surprise which ordinary prudence could not
have guarded against;
(8) Newly discovered evidence, material for the party
applying, which with reasonable diligence he could not have
discovered and produced at trial;
{¶ 51} A trial court's decision on a motion for a new trial under Civ.R. 59(A)(1), (2),
(3) and (8) is reviewed under the abuse-of-discretion standard. Nwankwo v. Uzodinma,
2022-Ohio-565, ¶ 39 (12th Dist.); Nwafo v. Ugwualor, 2024-Ohio-189, ¶ 11 (12th Dist.).
An abuse of discretion implies a ruling that is unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable.
Nwafo at id.
{¶ 52} A threshold question that must be answered in determining whether a new
trial is warranted under Civ.R. 59—that is, whether the trial court in fact conducted a "trial"
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in the first place. Shepherd v. Shepherd, 2018-Ohio-1037, ¶ 20 (10th Dist.). Accord WolfSabatino v. Sabatino, 2012-Ohio-6232, ¶ 13 (10th Dist.) ("A motion for a new trial properly
lies only after a trial."); Fougere v. Estate of Fougere, 2017-Ohio-7905, ¶ 14 (10th Dist.)
("A motion for a new trial is a nullity unless it is filed after a trial has occurred.")
{¶ 53} In First Bank of Marietta v. Mascrete, Inc., 79 Ohio St.3d 503 (1997), the
Ohio Supreme Court addressed the meaning of the word "trial" for purposes of Civ.R. 59.
The supreme court held that the proper test for determination of whether a proceeding is
a "trial," subject to a Civ.R. 59 motion for a new trial, is an "inquiry that focuses on the
substance of the proceeding rather than on its form." Id. at 507. The court further stated
that a proceeding should be considered a trial for Civ.R. 59 purposes when the "indicia of
trial substantially predominate in the proceeding." Id.
{¶ 54} The court identified the following as relevant indicia:
(1) whether the proceeding was initiated by pleadings, (2)
whether it took place in court, (3) whether it was held in the
presence of a judge or magistrate, (4) whether the parties or
their counsel were present, (5) whether evidence was
introduced, (6) whether arguments were presented in court by
counsel, (7) whether issues of fact were decided by the judge
or magistrate, (8) whether the issues decided were central or
ancillary to the primary dispute between the parties, (9)
whether a judgment was rendered on the evidence. The list of
factors is not intended to be exhaustive. Other indicia may be
considered.
Id. at 507.
{¶ 55} The Tenth District Court of Appeals has twice addressed the scenario
presented here, i.e., where a party filed a Civ.R. 59 new trial motion where there was no
trial on contested issues but instead a divorce decree was entered based on a separation
agreement negotiated by the parties. In Shepherd, 2018-Ohio-1037 (10th Dist.), the
parties executed a divorce settlement memorandum, appeared before the judge,
confirmed their agreement under oath, and the court entered an agreed judgment entry
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and decree of divorce. Id. at ¶ 10. When the husband later filed a Civ.R. 59 motion for a
new trial, the trial court denied it on the ground that no trial occurred: no evidence was
submitted, no arguments were given as to assets, liability, or parental rights, and the court
made no findings of fact and issued no decision based on evidence submitted. Id. at ¶
14. The court of appeals affirmed, holding that under the Mascrete analysis, a judgment
entry and divorce decree that is the result of a settlement agreement reached between
the parties does not generally constitute a trial for purposes of Civ.R. 59. Id. at ¶ 22.
{¶ 56} Likewise, in Byrd v. Byrd, 2002-Ohio-2579 (10th Dist.), the parties executed
a settlement agreement that was fully incorporated into the parties' divorce decree. Id. at
¶ 7. Applying the Mascrete factors, the trial court concluded that no trial had occurred for
Civ.R. 59 purposes because the decree was the result of a settlement agreement, no
evidence was introduced, the parties presented no argument to the court, the court
decided no issues of fact, and the court simply incorporated the parties' agreement into
the decree. Id. at ¶ 27. The court of appeals affirmed, finding no error in the application
of the Mascrete factors. Id. at ¶ 30.
{¶ 57} In the present case, the Divorce Hearing was held on November 22, 2024.
Both parties were sworn and offered testimony. However, that testimony was limited to
the parties confirming the basic grounds necessary to grant a divorce, confirming that
both parties believed that each other had fully disclosed assets and liabilities, and
confirming that the parties agreed that they had voluntarily entered into the negotiated
separation agreement and requested that the court incorporate the separation agreement
into the decree of divorce. No other evidence was introduced, no arguments were
submitted to the court for decision, and the court did not decide any issues of fact.
Applying the Mascrete factors to the present case plainly reveals that "indicia of trial" did
not "substantially predominate" at the Divorce Hearing. Like the hearings in Shepherd
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and Byrd, the Divorce Hearing was a non-contested hearing held for the purposes of
creating a record that the parties were submitting a negotiated separation agreement to
the court for approval and incorporation into the divorce decree. Accordingly, because no
"trial" for purposes of Civ.R. 59 occurred in this case, we find no error in the trial court's
decision to deny Erika's motion for a "new" trial.
{¶ 58} We overrule Erika's second assignment of error.
C. Attorney Fees
{¶ 59} Erika's third assignment of error states:
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ORDERING [ERIKA] TO PAY
ATTORNEY FEES TO [DAVID].
{¶ 60} In her third assignment of error, Erika argues that the court abused its
discretion in ordering attorney fees because the court should not have dismissed her postdecree motions.
{¶ 61} R.C. 3105.73(B) permits a domestic relations court to award attorney fees
arising out of post-decree motions or proceedings "if the court finds the award equitable."
We review an award of attorney fees under this statute for an abuse of discretion. Lykins
v. Lykins, 2023-Ohio-4469, ¶ 68 (12th Dist.)
{¶ 62} The domestic relations court did not explain its rationale in ordering attorney
fees, or otherwise explain why it found an award equitable. Presumably the court ordered
attorney fees because it concluded that Erika's Post-Decree Motion was meritless. But
because we found that the Post-Decree Motion had merit, we find no equitable basis for
an award of attorney fees at this juncture of the proceedings. Accordingly, we find that the
award constituted an abuse of discretion and vacate the award of attorney fees.
{¶ 63} We sustain Erika's third assignment of error.
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III. Conclusion
{¶ 64} For the foregoing reasons, we sustain Erika's first and third assignments of
error and overrule Erika's second assignment of error.
{¶ 65} Judgment affirmed in part, reversed in part, and matter remanded for further
proceedings.
PIPER and M. POWELL, JJ., concur.
JUDGMENT ENTRY
The assignments of error properly before this court having been ruled upon, it is the order of this court that the judgment or final order appealed from be, and the same hereby is, reversed as to the denial of appellant’s Civ.R. 60(B) motion and the award of attorney fees to appellee, and remanded for further proceedings according to law and consistent with the above Opinion. In all other respects, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
It is further ordered that a mandate be sent to the Clermont County Court of
Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, for execution upon this judgment and that a certified copy of this Opinion and Judgment Entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to App.R. 27.
Costs to be taxed 67% to appellee and 33% to appellant.
/s/ Matthew R. Byrne, Presiding Judge
/s/ Robin N. Piper, Judge
/s/ Mike Powell, Judge
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