Parker v. Giant Eagle, Inc

In Parker v. Giant Eagle, Inc., 2002 Ohio 5212, a customer filed suit against a grocery store claiming it had overcharged her state sales tax on her groceries; however, her case was dismissed by the trial court for failure to state a claim on which relief could be granted. Id. at P1, 6. On appeal, the Seventh Appellate District held that the plaintiff should have filed her suit against the state of Ohio, in the Ohio Court of Claims, as it would ultimately be the state's treasury that would be affected if her claim was successful. Id. at P29-30. The Parker court stated that the grocery store was under a duty to remit the taxes to the state, and even if the store had failed to remit them, the state still had a "right to receive the funds." Id. at P29. The court pointed out that if the plaintiff was successful in her suit against the grocery store, it would in fact hinder or preclude the state's rights to the funds collected. Id. In essence, Parker suggests that a party must file against the taxing entity, rather than the vendor, as the refund should come from the state's treasury, whether or not the taxes were actually remitted to the state. Id. at P29-30.