DUECK v. CLIFTON CLUB CO.

Nos. 103868 and 103888.

95 N.E.3d 1032 (2017)

2017-Ohio-7161

Arthur P. DUECK, et al., Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. The CLIFTON CLUB COMPANY, et al., Defendants-Appellees.

Court of Appeals of Ohio, Eighth District, Cuyahoga County.

Released and Journalized: August 10, 2017.


Attorney(s) appearing for the Case

Dennis R. Rose , Arthur E. Gibbs III , Casey J. McElfresh , Hahn, Loeser & Parks, L.L.P., 200 Public Square, Suite 2800, Cleveland, Ohio 44114, Ross M. Babbitt , Ross M. Babbitt Co., L.P.A., 1382 West 9th Street, Suite 220, Cleveland, Ohio 44113, ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANTS.

Adam M. Fried , Julian T. Emerson , David Ross , Holly M. Wilson , Reminger & Reminger Co. L.P.A., 1400 Midland Building, 101 Prospect Avenue, West, Cleveland, Ohio 44115, for Clifton Club Company.

Kip Reader , Mary Forbes Lovett , Ulmer & Berne, L.L.P., Skylight Office Tower, 1660 W. Second Street, Suite 1100, Cleveland, Ohio 44113, for Trustees of Clifton Park Trust.

Leo M. Spellacy , Porter Wright Morris & Arthur L.L.P., 950 Main Avenue, Suite 500, Cleveland, Ohio 44113, Attorney for BAI, L.L.C.

Walter F. Ehrnfelt , Thomas M. Ehrnfelt , Waldheger Coyne & Associates Co. L.P.A., Gemini Tower One, # 550, 1991 Crocker Road, Westlake, Ohio 44145, Attorneys for Edmond and Mary Blades, Trustees; Louis and Cynthia Keppler; and Robert Stall.

Michael C. Cohan , Cavitch, Familo & Durkin Co., L.P.A., 1300 E. Ninth Street, 20th Floor, Cleveland, Ohio 44114, Attorney for Sarah Cohan; Leigh E. Fox, Trustee; Joanne H. Calkins, Trustee; Matthew and Susan Beverstock; Jeffrey S. and Stefanie Christian; Janna Dresing; Cynthia Dunn and Dale Cuthbertson; Mark and Nancy S. Graves; Scott and Amy C. Kimes; Andrew Logan; Peter and Linda Joy Nintcheff, Trustees; Ron and Beverly Rudin; Carolyn Seelbach; and Byron T. and Mary Anne Crampton, Trustees.

Gary A. Vick, Jr. , Connick & Associates Co., L.P.A., NorthPoint Tower, Suite 1720, 1001 Lakeside Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114, Attorney for Charles and Patricia Geiger; Gordon D. and Susan S. Geiger; Christine R. Kraay, Trustee; and 17822 Lake Avenue L.L.C..

F. Thomas Vickers , Vickers Law Group Co., L.P.A., 1119 Bassett Road, Westlake, Ohio 44145, Attorney for Joseph and Alicia A. Kerrigan.

John F. McCaffrey , Tucker Ellis L.L.P., 950 Main Avenue, Suite 1100, Cleveland, Ohio 44113, Attorney for John F. and Margaret McCaffrey.

Kevin M. Spellacy , McGinty, Hilow & Spellacy Co., L.P.A., The Rockefeller Building, Suite 1300, 614 West Superior Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44113, Attorney for Thomas and Kelly O'Malley; Michael and Patricia Smith; and Kevin and Molly M. Spellacy.

Michael J. Connick , Connick & Associates Co., L.P.A., NorthPoint Tower, Suite 1720, 1001 Lakeside Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44114, Attorney for James and Nancy S. Seibert.

Gregory D. Seeley , Seeley, Savidge, Ebert & Gourash Co., L.P.A., 26600 Detroit Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44145, Attorney for Melissa K. Meany.

Michael E. Smith , Frantz Ward L.L.P., 2500 Key Center, 127 Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio 44114, Attorney for Michael Smith and Michelle Myers.

Brian J. Darling , John Duffy & Associates, Brendan Place, 23823 Lorain Road, Suite 270, North Olmsted, Ohio 44070, Attorney Harold W. Goforth.

James D. Romer , Polito, Paulozzi, Rodstrom & Burke, 21300 Lorain Road, Fairview Park, Ohio 44126, Attorney for James and Katherine Romer.

Ross M. Babbitt , Ross M. Babbitt Co., L.P.A., 1382 West Ninth Street, Suite 220, Cleveland, Ohio 44113, Co-Counsel for Plaintiffs and Attorney for Rhonda Loje and Jeffrey Mansell.

Christian M. Bates , Corsaro & Associates Co., L.P.A., 28039 Clemens Road, Westlake, Ohio 44145, Attorney for Saji T. Daniel, Trustee.

Solvita McMillan , 17904 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Attorney for John G. and Solvita A. McMillan.

James P. Oliver , Squire Patton Boggs L.L.P., 4900 Key Tower, 127 Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio 44114, Attorney for James and Mary Patricia Oliver.

Dennis R. Lansdowne , Spangenberg Shibley & Liber L.L.P., 1001 Lakeside Avenue East, Suite 1700, Cleveland, Ohio 44114, William Ahern , Kathy Franzinger , 18119 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, R. Craig Andrews , Ruth A. Andrews , z18117 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Gary D. Arbeznik , Maureen A. Arbeznik , 18128 West Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Suzanne Morphy Backus, Trustee, Suzanne Morphy Backus Trust, 17862 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Richard R. Baker , Sandra W. Baker , 18150 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Deborah A. Baker , 1186 West Clifton Boulevard, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, John Ballard , Karen Ballard , 1107 West Forest Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Kevin Barry , Sherri Whitaker , 17817 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Russell L. Beeler , Carolyn R. Beeler , 1123 Forest Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Judith Bizga , 17900 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Paul Bjorn , Jean Bjorn , 1084 Lake Point Drive, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, John Blesi , 1131 Forest Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Kevin R. Brown , Trustee, Kevin R. Brown Family Trust, 17908 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Markus Bruckner , Louanne Jennings Bruckner , 17888 Clifton Park Lane, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Ruth E. Budzar , Trustee, Ruth E. Budzar Trust, 17835 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107 R. Craig Andrews , Douglas Burry , Cynthia Burry , 18104 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Dennis Butler , Marilyn Butler , 18113 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Lawrence Campana , Cynthia Mikula , 17859 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Marc Castelluccio , Trustee, Kent Castelluccio, Trustee , Raymond Castelluccio 2011 Dynasty Trust, 17818 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Ronnie Cheung , Eva Lum , 18097 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Warren Coleman , Trustee, Clifton Park Trust, Leslie D. Coleman , Trustee, 18136 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Frank Conway , Karin Conway , 18176 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Peter Corrigan , Kathryn Corrigan , 18179 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, David B. Cottenden , Courtney E. Cottenden , 18135 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Diana Curran , 17837 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, James Cutler , 18169 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Brian J. Dalisky , Margaret Z. Dalisky , 18141 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, David L. Dashiell , Stacie F. Dashiell , 17894 Clifton Park Lane, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Michael R. Davis , Kathryn M. Davis , 18140 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, William L. Davis , Janice E. Davis , 18162 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Charles W. Debelak , Hellene V. Debelak , 18106 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Thomas Demitrack , Peggy Ann Demitrack , 17804 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Guy B. Schroen , Carrie Schroen , 17863 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Anthony W. Dimacchia , 1099 West Forest Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Terrence J. Dobro , Patricia A. Dobro , 18147 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Cynthia Dunn , Dale Cuthbertson , 1106 Forest Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Griffith R. Dye , Nancy S. Dye , 17846 Clifton Boulevard , Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Hugh Fagan , Alana Fagan , 17831 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Thomas Feser , Donna Feser , 17853 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Daniel Flannery , Caroline Flannery , 18148 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, John W. Forgetta , 18121 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Victor Forgetta , Rose Forgetta, 17901 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Frank Foti , 17869 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Grace A. Frank , Trustee, 1101 West Forest Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Thomas J. Fraser , Mary Ellen Fraser , 18177 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Billy T. Frazier , 17892 Clifton Park Lane, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Juanita Dia Frenden , 17830 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Robert Frost , Amy M. Frost , 18126 West Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, John Gallagher , Eileen Gallagher , 17850 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Juliane Gillespie , 1117 Forest Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Patrick Gowell , 18155 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Mark L Graves , Nancy S. Graves , 17889 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Sarah Grotta , 18188 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Kenneth Haber , Kathleen A. Haber , 17897 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Theodore Harakas , Marybeth Harakas , 17881 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Philip W. Hall , Trustee, Clifton Park Trust, Marcia Hall , 1127 Forest Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Laurence Heidelberg , Kathryn Heidelberg , 17852 Clifton Boulevard, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Andrew Henderson , Joselyn Tyler , 1109 Forest Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, John Henderson , Mary Ann Henderson , 17890 Clifton Park Lane, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Carol E. Herberger , Trustee, 17905 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Jerry Hoegner , Trustee, 18163 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Robert Houck , Joanne Houck , 1105 Forest Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Timothy Jablonski , Jennifer Jablonski , 17845 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Christopher Jammal , Patricia Jammal , 1133 Forest Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Maxwell S. Bombik , 18175 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Ronald Johnson , Christine Johnson , 18123 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, John Kappus , Melissa Kappus , 18143 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Kim Katzenberger , Nora Katzenberger , 1128 Forest Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Kerala, L.L.C., 17891 Captains Cove, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, George Khuri , Elizabeth Khuri , 1088 Lake Point Drive, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Mary Caye Kilbane , 18187 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Edward Hill and Karen Upton , Hill 1121 Forest Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Michael J. King , Trustee, Laura A. King , Trustee, Michael J. King Trust , 18138 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Daniel J. Klenkar , Carolyn M. Klenkar , 18115 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Donna Kolis , 17893 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Peter A. Kuhn , Trustee, Clifton Park Trust , Cathryn Thompson Kuhn , 1132 Forest Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Raymond Krncevic , Margarita Krncevic , 18158 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Gregg La Spisa , Melissa La Spisa , 17823 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Daniel P. Lavelle , Carolyn B. Lavelle , 18101 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Kyle M. Lawrence , 1206 West Clifton Boulevard, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Patrick Lenehans , Karen Lenehans , 1107 Forest Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, John Lewis , Pauline Lewis , 17807 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Timothy Liston , Dawn Griffith Liston , 1101 Forest Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Laura Novosel Little , Trustee, Laura Novosel Little Trust, Richard A. Little , Trustee, Richard A. Little Trust, 18105 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, David M. Lorenz , Susan G. Lorenz , 17909 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Mark Magnotto , Pamela Magnotto , 17874 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Cesare Mainardi , 17844 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Joel J. Jensen , Laura A. Jensen , 17811 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Goldie Maxim , Trustee, Ernest J. Maxim Family Trust, 17805 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Robert L. Mazzarella , Judith C. Mazzarella , 18186 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Laura McBride , 1115 Forest Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Timothy McBride , Kathleen McBride , 17883 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Robert McCabe , 17840 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Nancy McCann , 17802 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Brendan McCarthy , Lori McCarthy , 18184 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Rosalyn McGlynn , 18096 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, James McGowan , Margie Wright McGowan , 17839 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Michael J. McMahon , Laura A. McMahon , 17889 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, James H. McPolin , Noel H. McPolin , 1110 West Forest Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Robert C. Rose , 17856 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Shelley Mellino , 17824 Lake Road; Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Estate of Burton J. McGlynn, c/o Michael J. McGlynn, 18110 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Joanne S. Miller , 18109 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Susan Minnich , 17834 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Ned Molovich , Glenda Molovich , 1129 Forest Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Benjamin D. Whiting , Trustee, Melanie Whiting , Trustee, Whiting Family Revocable Living Trust, 18137 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, PNC Bank f.k.a. National City Bank, Trustee, 1900 East Ninth Street, Second Floor, Cleveland, Ohio 44114, Stephanie D. Neider , 17886 Beach, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Charles G. Norton , Trustee, Christe Norton McGraw , Trustee, Suzanne H. Norton Trust, 1124 Forest Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, James E. O'Brien , Rosanne M. O'Brien , 1134 Webb Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Jill O'Brien , Trustee, Jill F. O'Brien Revocable Trust, 17809 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Daniel Oldfield , Claudine Oldfield , 17906 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Alec Pacella, 1130 Forest Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Gregory Pacholski , Terri A. Holliday , 18131 West Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Ann Paras , 17841 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Anthony Pietromica , Anne Pietromica , 18185 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Michael Polito , Annemarie Polito , 18156 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Mary Papandreas , Trustee, John G. Papandreas Personal Trust, 17828 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Brian Powers , Maureen Powers , 17855 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Daniel Raynor , Jennifer Raynor , 18111 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Mark H. Reinhold , Jean S. Reinhold , 1120 Forest Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Bradford J. Richmond , Margaret A. Richmond , 1122 Forest Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, John S. Pyke, Jr. , Trustee, Clifton Park Trust, Judith A. Pyke , 17808 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Peter Rose , Erika Gadomski , 17870 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Karen Ross , 18183 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Michael Rowell , Jennifer Rowell , 17803 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, John E. Rupert , 18129 West Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Dorcas Russo , 18165 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Gregory Sanker , Kim Sanker , 18124 West Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Frank J. Schwelik , Jennifer C. Schwelik , 18164 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Stephen W. Schwind , Cheryl K. Schwind , 1119 Forest Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Joyce Senney , 17849 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Donald Shultzaberger , Robert Paraska , 17896 Captains Cove , Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Robert E. Smitley , Joel R. Toth , 18107 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Edward Spellman , 17854 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Ryan M. Spicer , Lisa M. Spicer, 1108 West Forest Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Joseph Starck , Rebecca Starck , 17873 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Donald Strang , Karen Strang , 17820 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Robert A. Szabo , Julie K. Szabo , 18161 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Nancy Tanis , 1082 Lake Point Drive, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Richard D. Tanner , Gail A. Tanner , 18153 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Charles Tel-Hard , Laurel Telliard , 17878 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Jason Therrien , Holly Therrien , 17825 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Robert Thomas , Diane Thomas , 17907 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, William Todia , 17882 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Eleanor Truett , Trustee, Irrevocable Trust B, 17880 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Thomas Turner , Linda Turner , 1102 Forest Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Mark M. Twohig , Mary E. Twohig , 17826 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Ernest Vargo , Trisha Vargo , 17877 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Paul C. Venizelos , Christina G. Venizelos , 17864 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Terryl Q. Walker , Susan Jane Walker , 18152 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Clinton L. Weddell , Tara M. Kerivan (f.k.a. Weddell), 1116 Forest Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Jeffrey Williams , Erica Williams , 17843 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Kent Winterhalter , Lorysa Winterhalter , 18091 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Daniel Witzigreuter , Amy Witzigreuter , 17827 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Nicolas Young , 1100 Forest Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Rebecca Bugac Zak , 1102-1/2 Forest Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Chad Zumkehr , Mary Ellen Zumkehr , 17876 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Louis S. Binder , 18171 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Francis Keller , 18173 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Wynne Morley , 1104 Forest Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Eugene G. Drust , Trustee, Nora E. Drust , Trustee, Drust Family Trust, 17801 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Jill C. Gilmore , 17829 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Charles Drumm , Current Head Trustee, Clifton Park Trust, Catherine A. Drumm , 17895 Lake Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Paul A. Fox, 18139 West Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Karen Wilson , 18180 Clifton Road, Lakewood, Ohio 44107, Attorney for Kim Lansdowne, Trustee.

BEFORE: Laster Mays, J., E.T. Gallagher, P.J., and Boyle, J.


JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION

{¶ 1} Plaintiffs-appellants Arthur P. Dueck ("Dueck"), Todd Gilmore ("Gilmore"), Nancy Binder ("Binder"), and William R. Keller ("Keller," collectively "appellants") appeal the trial court's grant of summary judgment in a declaratory judgment action, interpreting a trust...

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