The Ohio Court of Appeals recently dismissed an appeal from Lian Zhao Wang and Jing Yuan Wu in the case Operation Restoration, L.L.C. v. Wang, No. 25AP-879. The court ruled that it did not have jurisdiction to hear the appeal because it did not present a final, appealable order. This ruling affects the ongoing legal battle between the parties regarding a property in Columbus, Ohio, and underscores the importance of finality in legal judgments.
The dispute began when Operation Restoration, LLC, a contracting company, filed a complaint against Wang and Wu in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. The company claimed that the defendants owed them $15,100.81 for work done on their property located at 2038 Shawbury Court West, Columbus, Ohio. The work involved restoration, reconstruction, and remodeling services provided under a contract signed by a rental agent, Larissa Zang, on July 27, 2022.
According to Operation Restoration, after completing the work, they were not paid. In response, they filed a mechanic’s lien on the property on October 7, 2022, and sought foreclosure of that lien, claiming breach of contract and unjust enrichment. Wang, on the other hand, alleged that the rental agent had misrepresented the condition of the property and filed a separate complaint against her.
As the case progressed, Wang filed an answer to the complaint while a separate action against the agent was still pending. However, the deadline for filing dispositive motions passed, prompting Operation Restoration to file for a default judgment against Wu and a motion for summary judgment against Wang. Wang attempted to respond and sought to amend his answer and counterclaim, but the trial court denied his requests.
On October 8, 2025, the trial court issued a judgment entry that granted Operation Restoration’s motion for summary judgment against Wang and a default judgment against Wu. The court also issued a decree in foreclosure, stating that unless the owed amounts were paid within three days, the property would be foreclosed upon. This decree specified that the sheriff would be directed to sell the property free and clear of all interests if the payment was not made.
Wang appealed this decision, claiming that the trial court had erred by relying on forged documents presented by Operation Restoration. He argued that the court had abused its discretion in its fact-finding process.
However, the Ohio Court of Appeals, led by Judge Jamison, found that the trial court's order was not final and appealable. The court noted that the decree was contingent upon the defendants failing to pay the specified amount within the three-day deadline. Since the outcome of the foreclosure was dependent on a future event, the court ruled that it did not have the jurisdiction to hear the appeal.
The court stated, “the judgment was contingent upon a future event—namely, the failure to pay the specified amount by the stated deadline—which would then result in foreclosure.” This meant that the trial court's order did not conclusively determine the parties' rights and obligations, thus failing to meet the criteria for a final, appealable order.
As a result, the court dismissed the appeal and remanded the case back to the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas to determine if the payment contingency had been met. The ruling emphasizes the legal principle that an order must be final and conclusive in order for an appellate court to have jurisdiction.
The impact of this ruling is significant for both parties involved. For Operation Restoration, the dismissal of the appeal means that they will have to wait for the trial court to determine the next steps regarding the foreclosure process. For Wang and Wu, it means they may still have an opportunity to resolve the matter in their favor if they can meet the payment conditions set forth by the trial court. The case also serves as a reminder of the importance of finality in legal proceedings, particularly in foreclosure cases where the stakes can be high.
Looking ahead, it remains unclear whether Wang and Wu will pursue further legal action in this matter. The court's ruling allows for the possibility of an appeal once a final judgment is issued by the trial court, but for now, the focus will shift back to the lower court to determine the outcome of the foreclosure based on the payment conditions.