Porter v. Ohio Dept. of Transp.
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[Cite as Porter v. Ohio Dept. of Transp., 2005-Ohio-4635.] IN THE COURT OF CLAIMS OF OHIO JEANETTA PORTER : Plaintiff : v. : CASE NO. 2005-06112-AD : MEMORANDUM DECISION OHIO DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION Defendant : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : FINDINGS OF FACT {¶ 1} 1) On April 5, 2005, plaintiff s son was traveling south on State Route 545 near Charles Road in Weller Township in Richland County, when the automobile he was driving struck a pothole in the roadway causing tire damage to the vehicle. Plaintiff, Jeanetta Porter, is the owner of the damaged car. {¶ 2} 2) Plaintiff filed this complaint seeking to recover $185.88, the cost of replacement parts which plaintiff contends she incurred as a result of negligence on the part of defendant, Department of Transportation, in maintaining the roadway. The $25.00 filing fee was paid. {¶ 3} 3) Defendant has denied liability based on the fact it had no knowledge of the pothole prior to plaintiff s property damage occurrence. {¶ 4} 4) Plaintiff has not submitted any evidence to indicate the length of time the pothole existed prior to the incident forming the basis of this claim. {¶ 5} 5) Defendant has asserted maintenance records show three pothole patching operations were needed in the general vicinity of plaintiff s incident during the six-month period preceding the April 5, 2005, property damage event. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW {¶ 6} 1) Defendant has the duty to keep roads in a safe, drivable condition. Amica Mutual v. Dept. of Transportation (1982), 81-02289-AD. {¶ 7} 2) In order to recover on a claim of this type, plaintiff must prove either: 1) defendant had actual or constructive notice of the defect (pothole) and failed to respond or responded in a negligent manner, maintains its or 2) highways that defendant, negligently. in Denis a v. general sense, Department of Transportation (1976), 75-0287-AD. {¶ 8} 3) There is no evidence defendant had actual notice of the damage-causing pothole. {¶ 9} 4) The trier of fact is precluded from making an inference of defendant s constructive notice, unless evidence is presented in respect to the time the defective condition (pothole) developed. Spires v. Highway Department (1988), 61 Ohio Misc. 2d 262. {¶ 10} 5) Size of the defect (pothole) is insufficient to show notice or duration of existence. O Neil v. Department of Transportation (1988), 61 Ohio Misc. 2d 297. {¶ 11} 6) In order for there to be constructive notice, plaintiff must show sufficient time has elapsed after the dangerous condition (pothole) appears, so that under the circumstances, defendant should have acquired knowledge of its existence. Guiher v. Jackson (1978), 78-0126-AD. {¶ 12} 7) No evidence has shown defendant had constructive notice of the pothole. {¶ 13} 8) Furthermore, plaintiff has failed to show defendant negligently maintained the roadway. IN THE COURT OF CLAIMS OF OHIO JEANETTA PORTER : Plaintiff : v. : CASE NO. 2005-06112-AD : ENTRY OF ADMINISTRATIVE DETERMINATION OHIO DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION Defendant : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Having considered all the evidence in the claim file and, for the reasons set forth in the memorandum decision filed concurrently herewith, judgment is rendered in favor of defendant. are assessed against plaintiff. Court costs The clerk shall serve upon all parties notice of this judgment and its date of entry upon the journal. ________________________________ DANIEL R. BORCHERT Deputy Clerk Entry cc: Jeanetta Porter 2680 St. Rt. 545 Mansfield, Ohio 44903 Plaintiff, Pro se Gordon Proctor, Director Department of Transportation 1980 West Broad Street Columbus, Ohio 43223 For Defendant RDK/laa 8/11 Filed 8/24/05 Sent to S.C. reporter 9/2/05
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