W.A. Smith Fin., L.L.C. v. Doe

Citations

• 2026 Ohio 184

Syllabus

Motion for summary judgment; Civ.R. 56; unopposed; issue of fact; hearsay; App.R. 12(A)(2); defamation; fact or opinion; jury interrogatory; invited error. Affirmed. The trial court did not err in denying the unopposed motion for summary judgment leading to a jury trial in which the defendant presented questions of fact as to the truth of the alleged defamatory statements in an online review of plaintiff's services and the amount of damages. Further, the plaintiff failed to identify the place in the record where the jury was presented newspaper articles in violation of hearsay principles, such that evidentiary errors cannot be reviewed. And finally, plaintiff's claim that the jury considered a legal question of whether the alleged defamatory statement was an opinion was invited error.