Justia Ohio Supreme Court Opinion Summaries

The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the court of appeals denying U.S. Tubular Products, Inc.'s complaint in mandamus ordering the Industrial Commission to vacate its decision requesting John Roush's request for an award of additional compensation, holding that the Commission's decision was supported by evidence in the record.Under Ohio Const. art. II, 35, a worker who sustains injuries as a result of her employer's violation of a specific safety requirement (VSSR) may seek an award of additional compensation. Roush sustained injuries while working at U.S. Tubular, and his workers' compensation claim was allowed for numerous conditions. Roush later filed an application for a VSSR award, claiming that U.S. Tubular had violated specific safety requirements set forth in the Ohio Administrative Code. The Commission granted a VSSR award of an additional twenty-five percent in compensation. U.S. Tubular filed a mandamus complaint seeking a writ compelling the Commission to vacate the VSSR award. The court of appeals denied the writ. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the Commission's determinations were supported by evidence in the record. View "State ex rel. U.S. Tubular Products, Inc. v. Industrial Commission of Ohio" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the court of appeals dismissing Appellant's complaint for a writ of mandamus against Lake County Common Pleas Court Judge Vincent A. Culotta, holding that the mandamus complaint was properly dismissed.Appellant was convicted of conspiracy to commit aggravated murder and other felonies. After he was sentenced, Appellant filed a motion to correct his award of jail-time credit. Unhappy with the award, the judge awarded upon granting the motion, Appellant unsuccessfully appealed. Appellant then brought a mandamus complaint seeking to compel Judge Culotta to conduct a new sentencing hearing and to correct his jail-time-credit award. The court of appeals dismissed the complaint. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the complaint did not state a cognizable mandamus claim. View "State ex rel. Sands v. Culotta" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the court of appeals dismissing Appellant's complaint for a writ of mandamus and a writ of prohibition against Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge Daniel R. Hawkins, holding that the court of appeals correctly dismissed the cause for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.CitiMortgage Inc. brought a foreclosure action against Appellant, and the trial court granted summary judgment to CitiMortgage. After a trial on damages, the trial court entered a judgment on directed verdict in the full amount owed as claimed by CitiMortgage. Appellant later brought this action alleging, among other things, that alleged defects in the foreclosure case stripped the trial court of jurisdiction. The court of appeals dismissed the complaint. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that Appellant had an adequate remedy by defending the foreclosure action and appealing the trial court's adverse judgment. View "State ex rel. Nyamusevya v. Hawkins" on Justia Law

In this animal seizure case, the Supreme Court denied a writ of procedendo to compel Respondent, Willoughby Municipal Court Judge Marisa Cornachio, to enter a final judgment regarding a magistrate's probable cause finding in an animal seizure case, holding that the case was moot.Relators commenced this action to compel Judge Cornachio to issue a final judgment in the seizure case. Judge Cornachio subsequently issued a judgment entry in the seizure case. The Supreme Court denied the writ, holding that because Judge Cornachio provided the relief that Relators sought in procedendo and because procedendo will not compel the performance of a duty that has already been performed, the case was moot. View "State ex rel. Bechtel v. Cornachio" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court denied a writ of mandamus compelling Secretary of State Frank LaRose to appoint Sharon Sweda to the Lorain County Board of Elections, holding that the Lorain County Democratic Party Committee did not demonstrate its entitlement to a writ of mandamus under the circumstances of this case.In rejecting the Committee's recommendation to appoint Sweda for appointment to the Lorain County Board of Elections, LaRose concluded that Sweda had not demonstrated "the judgment or adequate level of integrity necessary to ensure voter confidence." Thereafter, the Committee commenced this expedited action for a writ of mandamus. The Supreme Court denied the writ, holding that the Committee failed to prove that LaRose abused his discretion when he rejected the Committee's recommendation. View "State ex rel. Lorain County Democratic Party Executive Committee v. LaRose" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court granted in part and denied in part a writ of mandamus to compel changes to ballot language for a proposed amendment to the Cincinnati City Charter, holding that Relators showed that the Hamilton County Board of Elections abused its discretion and disregarded applicable law.Relators sought to amend the Charter to require the City of Cincinnati to require the City to provide funding for affordable housing and neighborhood stabilization. The Secretary of State approved the ballot language over Relators' objection. Relators then brought this action seeking to compel the Board and Secretary of State to approve new ballot language. The Supreme Court granted the writ in part, holding (1) Relators failed to show that City Council or the Secretary of State had a clear legal duty to provide the requested relief; and (2) the Board improperly prepared and certified ballot language stating that the use of two potential funding sources for a proposed affordable housing trust fund would violate state law. View "State ex rel. Cincinnati Action for Housing Now v. Hamilton County Board of Elections" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court denied a writ of prohibition filed by Mark W. Miller seeking to bar the Hamilton County Board of Elections and its members from placing the name of Aftab Pureval on the ballot as a candidate for mayor of Cincinnati in the May 4, 2021 nonpartisan primary election, holding that the board did not abuse its discretion.On appeal, Miller argued that the Board abused its discretion and clearly disregarded applicable law by denying his protest of Pureval's candidacy. Specifically, Miller argued that Pureval's part-petitions did not include sworn affidavits of the petition circulators in alleged violation of the Cincinnati City Charter. The Supreme Court denied the writ, holding that Pureval's part-petitions included in circulator statements substantially complied with the charter's prescribed form. View "State ex rel. Miller v. Hamilton County Board of Elections" 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 Warden Lyneal Wainwright, holding that Appellant was not entitled to immediate release.Between 1992 and 2007 Appellant was paroled four times. In 2008, Appellant was convicted of several offenses and sentenced. In his petition for writ of habeas corpus Appellant alleged that the 2008 sentencing court did not order him to serve his firearm-specification sentences consecutively to his two prior robbery sentences and that he should have been released on December 13, 2019. The court of appeals dismissed the petition. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that because Appellant was not complete his lawfully imposed sentences until 2025 he was not entitled to immediate release. View "State ex rel. Hunley v. Wainwright" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court denied a writ of mandamus sought by Relators compelling Respondents - the Ohio Secretary of State, the Medina County Board of Elections, and the City of Medina - to change the ballot language of a local issue on the May 4, 2021 primary-election ballot, holding that there was no abuse of discretion.In this case arising out of the City's efforts to move the Medina Municipal Court to the Medina County courthouse building and citizen opposition to those efforts, Relators filed a complaint seeking a writ of mandamus to compel Respondents to amend the ballot language for Ordinance No. 222-20, as Relators requested. The Supreme Court denied the writ, holding (1) Relators failed to show that the Secretary of State and the City were proper respondents for the relief they sought; and (2) the Board did not abuse its discretion or disregard applicable law in approving the ballot language. View "State ex rel. Walker v. LaRose" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the court of appeals dismissing Appellant's petition for a writ of habeas corpus, holding that the court of appeals correctly dismissed the habeas petition for failure to comply with Ohio Rev. Code 2969.25(A).Appellant pleaded guilty to four counts of trafficking in cocaine and one count or engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. The trial court sentenced Appellant to an aggregate prison sentence of fourteen years. Appellant later filed his habeas petition alleging that his sentences were void because the trial court failed to make the findings required under Ohio Rev. Code 2929.14(C)(4) before imposing consecutive prison sentences. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the petition was properly dismissed. View "State ex rel. Sanchez v. Wainwright" on Justia Law