Patel v. Strategic Group, L.L.C.

Citations

• 161 N.E.3d 42
• 2020 Ohio 4990

Syllabus

Breach of contract ambiguity parol evidence conversion and alternate causes of action. The trial court did not err when it permitted the introduction of parol evidence to determine the parties' intent when they drafted ambiguous contract language that was susceptible to multiple interpretations. Where the trial court's judgment in favor of plaintiff-appellee's breach of contract claim was supported by competent, credible evidence and was not unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable, the trial court's judgment and award was not in error. Conversion and breach of contract are alternate causes of action and a litigant may not recover under both theories. Once a trial court enters judgment on a breach of contract claim and grants a monetary award, any pending claims for conversion are moot. The trial court's entry of a judgment and award on plaintiff-appellee's conversion claim subsequent to a judgment and identical award to the same party on his breach of contract claim was vacated while the judgment and award for breach of contract were affirmed.