Justia Ohio Supreme Court Opinion Summaries

The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the court of appeals dismissing Appellant's complaint for a writ of habeas corpus against warden of the Mansfield Correctional Institution, holding that the petition was properly dismissed.Since he was convicted in 1979 for numerous felony offenses Appellant had been released on parole and convicted of new crimes at least four times. In 2022, Appellant filed his petition for a writ of habeas corpus, arguing that his 1979 convictions were void. The court of appeals sua sponte dismissed the complaint on procedural grounds. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the court of appeals correctly dismissed the petition because Appellant did not comply with the mandatory filing requirements of Ohio Rev. Code 2725.04 and Ohio Rev. Code 2969.25. View "Robinson v. McConahay" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the court of appeals dismissing this original action seeking to challenge the validity of a common pleas court's determination that Huber Heights Veterans Club, Inc. (HHVC) was a vexatious litigator, holding that HHVC's failure to file an application for leave deprived the court of appeals of jurisdiction.HHVC filed a complaint against a court of common pleas judge alleging that the judge had not yet ruled on a motion for partial summary judgment. The common pleas court declared HHVC to be a vexatious litigator and denied relief. HHVC then sought a writ of mandamus compelling the judge to withdraw his decision. The court of appeals dismissed the complaint after construing HHVC's response to a show-cause order as a belated application for leave to proceed under Ohio Rev. Code 2323.52(D)(3). The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the court of appeals did not err in determining that there were no reasonable grounds to grant leave. View "State ex rel. Huber Heights Veterans Club, Inc. v. Skelton" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the court of appeals dismissing Appellant's complaint for a writ of mandamus and/or procedendo against the trial court, holding that Appellant's complaint failed to state a claim for relief in mandamus or procedendo and was properly dismissed.Appellant was found guilty of felony murder and aggravated vehicular homicide and sentenced to an aggregate prison term of twenty years. Appellant later filed a complaint seeking a writ of mandamus and/or procedendo compelling the trial court to enter judgment on each offense for which there was a conviction, namely, felonious assault. The court of appeals dismissed the complaint on the ground that Appellant had not been indicted on a separate charge of felonious assault. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the trial court was under no duty to dispose of a felonious assault charge in Defendant's criminal case because no such charge was brought against him. View "State ex rel. Myles v. Goering" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the court of appeals dismissing Appellant's mandamus action and denied Appellant's motions for default judgment and summary judgment, holding that the court of appeals properly dismissed the complaint.Appellant, a defendant in a criminal case, filed a complaint for a writ of mandamus seeking a writ compelling Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas Judge Robert Ruehlman to honor his motion to dismiss and to vacate the judgment below. The court of appeals granted Judge Ruehlman's motion to dismiss. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that Appellant failed to state a valid claim for mandamus relief. View "Furr v. Ruehlman" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court granted a writ of mandamus sought by Matthew Lusane against the city of Kent police department, holding that Lusane was entitled both to the writ and to $1,000 in statutory damages.In 2022, Lusane delivered a public records request to the police department seeking all officer body cameras and cruiser dash camera video related to a certain incident. The department denied the request, stating that the videos fell under the public records disclosure exception for confidential law enforcement investigatory records. Lusane then filed this action requesting a writ of mandamus and seeking an award of statutory damages. The Supreme Court granted both the writ and awarded statutory damages, holding (1) the department improperly denied Lusane a copy of the videos; and (2) Lusane was entitled to $1,000 in statutory damages. View "State ex rel. Lusane v. Kent Police Dep't" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the court of appeals denying Appellant's third motion for relief from judgment filed after the court of appeals dismissed Appellant's complaint for a writ of mandamus, holding that the court of appeals correctly denied the motion.Appellant, who was serving sentences for aggravated murder and other crimes, filed an original action in the court of appeals seeking a writ of mandamus. The court of appeals dismissed the complaint and denied the writ. Appellant did not appeal the dismissal of his complaint but instead filed three motions for relief from judgment under Civ. R. 60(B), which the court of appeals denied. Appellant appealed from the court of appeals' denial of his third motion. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that Appellant should have raised his claims of error in a timely appeal from the court of appeals' motion, not in a Civ.R. 60(B) motion. View "State ex rel. Hatfield v. French" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court granted writs of prohibition and mandamus ordering Judge John P. O'Donnell of the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court to stop exercising jurisdiction over the underlying case and to dismiss the underlying case, holding that the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation was entitled to the writs.The City of Cleveland and the City of Parma sued the Bureau in separate actions. The Supreme Court held that the court of claims had exclusive jurisdiction over Cleveland's action. Judge O'Donnell then dismissed Parma's action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Thereafter, Parma filed the underlying lawsuit seeking a declaratory judgment. Judge O'Donnell denied the Bureau's motion to dismiss. Parma also filed an action against the Bureau in the court of claims, which dismissed the complaint on limitations grounds. The Bureau then brought this action against Judge O'Donnell, arguing that the common pleas court patently and unambiguously lacked jurisdiction over the underlying case. The Supreme Court granted relief, holding that the Court of Claims Act, Ohio Rev. Code 2743.01 et seq., patently and unambiguously divested the common pleas court of jurisdiction. View "State ex rel. Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation v. O'Donnell" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court granted a writ of mandamus ordering the City of East Cleveland to satisfy a civil judgment against it won by Marilyn Conard and Charles Hunt, plus pre- and post-judgment interest, or to take steps set forth in Ohio Rev. Code 1744.06(A) for appropriating the funds necessary to satisfy the judgment, holding that mandamus relief was warranted.Conard and Hunt sued the City for injuries they received after a police vehicle collided with their vehicle. A jury returned a verdict in favor of Hunt and Conard and entered a separate order awarding prejudgment interest. Hunt and the administrator of the estate of Conard later commenced this action seeking a writ of mandamus ordering the City to satisfy the judgment. The Supreme Court granted the writ, holding that section 2744.06(A) imposed a clear legal duty on the City to satisfy the judgment rendered in favor of Hunt and Conard. View "State ex rel. Hunt v. City of East Cleveland" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed Appellant's complaint for a writ of prohibition to prevent Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Deena Calabrese from exercising jurisdiction in the underlying matter brought to enforce a divorce decree, holding that the court of appeals properly dismissed the complaint for failure to state a claim.In 2016, the divorce decree at issue was entered dissolving the marriage of Neil and Erica Heyside. Erica later sued Neil in the general division of the common pleas court alleging that Neil owed her thousands of dollars in spousal support and seeking to enforce the property division under the decree. Neil filed a motion to dismiss, which the trial court denied. Neil then filed a complaint for a writ of prohibition seeking to have Judge Calabrese barred from continuing to exercise judicial power over Erica's lawsuit. The court of appeals dismissed the complaint for failure to state a claim. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that that the general division of the common pleas court did not patently or unambiguously lack jurisdiction over Erica's lawsuit. View "State ex rel. Heyside v. Calabrese" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the court of appeals dismissing Appellant's petition for a writ of habeas corpus against the warden of the North Central Correctional Complex, where Appellant was an inmate, holding that the court of appeals properly denied Appellant relief in habeas corpus.In his petition for a writ of habeas corpus, Appellant sought immediate release from prison, arguing that he was unlawfully detained because he had fully served his sentences. The court of appeals granted summary judgment in favor of the warden. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the court of appeals correctly found that Appellant's maximum sentence had not expired. View "State ex rel. Jackson v. Watson" on Justia Law