Ohio Court of Appeals: Sam's Excavating Unlimited v Smith 2026-Ohio-4394 Opinion Issued

• The Ohio Court of Appeals, Fifth Appellate District, has issued an Opinion and Judgment Entry for the case of Sam's Excavating Unlimited, Inc. v. Smith.
• The case is officially cited as 2026-Ohio-4394 and is identified by Case No. 2026 CA 00014.
• Sam's Excavating Unlimited, Inc. is designated as the Plaintiff-Appellee in this appellate matter.
• The legal dispute originated in Fairfield County, Ohio, falling under the Fifth Appellate District's jurisdiction.
• An Opinion and Judgment Entry signifies a formal decision by the appellate court, including its reasoning and order.

The Ohio Court of Appeals for the Fifth Appellate District has formally issued an Opinion and Judgment Entry concerning the case styled Sam's Excavating Unlimited, Inc. v. Smith.

The Ohio Court of Appeals for the Fifth Appellate District has formally issued an Opinion and Judgment Entry concerning the case styled Sam's Excavating Unlimited, Inc. v. Smith. This official document, which carries the unique public domain citation 2026-Ohio-4394, signifies a definitive action by the appellate court regarding a legal dispute that originated within Fairfield County, Ohio. The specific identifier for this proceeding within the court's docket is Case No. 2026 CA 00014, providing a clear reference point for all involved parties and legal researchers.

In this particular appellate matter, Sam's Excavating Unlimited, Inc. holds the procedural designation of Plaintiff-Appellee. This role indicates that the entity was the original plaintiff who initiated the lawsuit in the trial court, and subsequently, achieved a favorable outcome there. Consequently, as the appellee, Sam's Excavating Unlimited, Inc. is now responding to an appeal filed by the opposing party, Smith, seeking to uphold the lower court's decision. The issuance of an Opinion and Judgment Entry confirms that the appellate panel has thoroughly reviewed the arguments and evidence presented, culminating in a formal decision that addresses the merits of the appeal.

The Ohio Court of Appeals serves as the crucial intermediate appellate tier within the state's comprehensive judicial framework, tasked with reviewing decisions rendered by various trial courts across its twelve distinct districts. Specifically, the Fifth Appellate District exercises jurisdiction over appeals originating from a defined geographical area that encompasses Fairfield County, Ohio, the locale from which the underlying case of Sam's Excavating Unlimited, Inc. v. Smith ascended. The primary function of these appellate courts is to meticulously examine legal questions and procedural fairness, rather than to re-adjudicate factual disputes, ensuring the consistent application of law throughout the state.

The "Opinion and Judgment Entry" represents the standard and authoritative format through which the Ohio Courts of Appeals communicate their final determinations on appealed cases. The "Opinion" section of this document meticulously articulates the court's legal reasoning, systematically addressing the specific legal arguments advanced by both the appellant and the appellee. It provides a detailed explanation for the court's conclusions. Following this, the "Judgment Entry" component formally sets forth the court's binding order, which may include affirming the trial court's decision, reversing it, modifying it in part, or remanding the case back to the lower court for further action in accordance with the appellate court's directives.

The citation 2026-Ohio-4394 is an integral component of Ohio's legal reporting system, representing an official public domain citation meticulously assigned by the Ohio Supreme Court. This standardized methodology ensures a consistent and universally recognized means of referencing appellate decisions across the state. The numerical components of the citation are highly informative: "2026" precisely indicates the year in which the appellate decision was formally issued, "Ohio" unequivocally identifies the jurisdiction as the State of Ohio, and "4394" serves as a unique sequential number specifically assigned to that particular opinion within the calendar year.

Such official citations are indispensable tools for maintaining the structural integrity and broad accessibility of legal precedent within the Ohio judicial system. They empower legal practitioners, judges, and academic researchers to accurately locate, cite, and rely upon specific court rulings, which collectively form the foundational bedrock of common law jurisprudence. The consistent application of this citation system, as exemplified by the entry for Sam's Excavating Unlimited, Inc. v. Smith, 2026-Ohio-4394, underscores a steadfast commitment to transparency and systematic order within Ohio's legal landscape, thereby greatly facilitating the rigorous study and precise application of judicial pronouncements emanating from the Ohio Court of Appeals, Fifth Appellate District.

The provided article text is an opinion and judgment entry header, lacking any substantive details about the case's facts, legal issues, or holding. Therefore, it is not possible to identify a practical implication for a lawyer or compliance officer from this information alone.

Source: Original reporting via Ohio Court of Appeals filing.