Hooten v. Safe Auto Insurance

{¶ 1} This case addresses whether local rules of court can adequately provide parties with notice of the deadline for filing a response to a motion for summary judgment or of the date the trial court will consider such motion.

I

Facts and Procedural History

{¶ 2} On May 21, 1998, plaintiff-appellee, Henry L. Hooten, filed a complaint against defendant-appellant, Safe Auto Insurance Company (“Safe Auto”), in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court. Hooten alleged that Safe Auto had improperly refused payment under an auto insurance policy between Hooten and Safe Auto for a 1997 accident. Safe Auto…